Oscars 2026: 15 films including 'Homebound' advances towards next round of voting International Feature Film

The race for the Oscars is heating up, and India is right in the thick of it. The Academy has narrowed down the Best International Feature category to just fifteen films, and Ishan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor starrer Homebound has made the cut.

Competing against heavyweights from Japan, Germany and Argentina, this shortlisted entry proves that Indian content is garnering global praise like never before. It’s a proud day for the entire cast and crew as they move into the final round of voting.

Along with Homebound, the other shortlisted films are Belen (Argentina), The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sound of Falling (Germany), The President's Cake (Iraq), Kokuho (Japan), All That's Left of You (Jordan), Sentimental Value (Norway), Palestine 36 (Palestine), No Other Choice (South Korea), Sirat (Spain), Late Shift (Switzerland), Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan) and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).

Announcing the update, the official social media handle of The Academy posted, "Fifteen films advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category. Here's where they land on the map..."

The final nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22.

Homebound has received significant global acclaim, including premieres at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival.

With a recent Oscar shortlist, Homebound has now achieved a rare milestone, becoming the fifth film in Indian cinema to be shortlisted for Best International Feature Film in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa starrer Homebound has been selected among the 15 films that have become eligible for the final nominations in the International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2026.

"Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards. Films from 86 countries or regions were eligible in the category," said the website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

About Homebound

Homebound follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a story grounded in friendship, duty, and the pressures facing young India.

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, and co-produced by Marijke deSouza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as Executive Producers.