This week's episode of SNL, hosted by actor Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet, featured a surprise guest. In the cold open, Lin-Manuel Miranda surprised audiences by reprising his famous Broadway role as Alexander Hamilton. The SNL sketch depicted Miranda, along with his fellow founding fathers of the United States, during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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<h2>This Week&rsquo;s Cold Open</h2>
During the sketch, Lin-Manuel Miranda raised a glass to freedom, saying, "In America, we will never have a king," but was interrupted by Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, who responded, "Never say never."
The sketch continued to poke fun at various events&nbsp;that took place during and after Trump&rsquo;s inauguration, addressing a wide range of topics, including the current president's policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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It also poked fun at First Lady Melania Trump and the large hat she wore during the inauguration last week. The sketch ended with the joke, &ldquo;Women will wear the makeup. No more makeup on men, unless you need it to be president.&rdquo;
<h2>Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet&rsquo;s Musical Performance</h2>
Host Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet, who was promoting his latest release,&nbsp;A Complete Unknown, a biopic of the legendary singer Bob Dylan, also served as the musical guest for this week's show. He performed covers of three Dylan songs: Outlaw Blues, Three Angels, and Tomorrow Is a Long Time.
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The actor is nominated for Best Actor at the 2025 Oscars for his role as the iconic folk singer. The Oscars will take place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
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Entertainment: Returning to SNL, Lin-Manuel Miranda delighted fans by stepping back into the shoes of Alexander Hamilton, setting the tone for the show's opening skit.

This week's episode of SNL, hosted by actor Timothée Chalamet, featured a surprise guest. In the cold open, Lin-Manuel Miranda surprised audiences by reprising his famous Broadway role as Alexander Hamilton. The SNL sketch depicted Miranda, along with his fellow founding fathers of the United States, during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Also Read: Angelina Jolie's son Pax meets with another accident, crashes his e-bike into a car This Week’s Cold Open During the sketch, Lin-Manuel Miranda raised a glass to freedom, saying, "In America, we will never have a king," but was interrupted by Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, who responded, "Never say never." The sketch continued to poke fun at various events that took place during and after Trump’s inauguration, addressing a wide range of topics, including the current president's policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also Read: Billy Ray's Son Braison Cyrus weighs in on brother Trace's recent post about their dad It also poked fun at First Lady Melania Trump and the large hat she wore during the inauguration last week. The sketch ended with the joke, “Women will wear the makeup. No more makeup on men, unless you need it to be president.” Timothée Chalamet’s Musical Performance Host Timothée Chalamet, who was promoting his latest release, A Complete Unknown, a biopic of the legendary singer Bob Dylan, also served as the musical guest for this week's show. He performed covers of three Dylan songs: Outlaw Blues, Three Angels, and Tomorrow Is a Long Time. Also Read: 'No One Will Save You' star Kaitlyn Dever joins the cast of upcoming Godzilla X Kong sequel The actor is nominated for Best Actor at the 2025 Oscars for his role as the iconic folk singer. The Oscars will take place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien. Also Read: Barbarian director Zach Cregger to helm upcoming Resident Evil movie

Alexander Hamilton returns to SNL: Lin-Manuel Miranda reprises role for this week's cold open

For decades, the Academy Awards have been one of the most prestigious and widely recognised prizes in the world of cinema. Yet, since its inception, the Academy has shown a clear bias against films belonging to the science fiction and fantasy genres.&nbsp;While these genres have received more recognition in recent years, particularly in technical categories, the Best Picture award has remained elusive for most of its history.
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<h2>A History of Snubs</h2>
The sci-fi and fantasy genres are often treated as second-class citizens by the Academy and its members, struggling to achieve the same level of recognition given to period dramas and biopics, no matter how groundbreaking they may be.
Although The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won the Best Picture award &ndash; making it the only fantasy film to do so &ndash; this remains a rare anomaly. Groundbreaking films such as E.T., Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange, The Seventh Seal, Arrival, and Mad Max: Fury Road, despite earning nominations, fell short of the top prize.
<h2>Real-World Issues</h2>
The Academy has historically favoured films that deal with real-world issues and are grounded in realism, often dismissing sci-fi and fantasy films as mere escapism. However, these genres frequently tackle profound themes, explore real-world issues, and portray genuine human emotions.
Films like Children of Men, Gattaca, and the recent adaptation of Dune are not only visually stunning but also examine the human condition, addressing themes such as class warfare, the rise of authoritarianism, and religious dogma. Despite this, such films are typically relegated to technical categories &ndash; areas in which they excel &ndash; but are rarely recognised for the broader themes they explore.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-actress-will-be-playing-the-lead-in-the-upcoming-addition-to-universal-studios-monsterverse-8652132">'No One Will Save You' star Kaitlyn Dever joins the cast of the upcoming Godzilla X Kong sequel.</a>
<h2>A Shift in Attitude</h2>
In recent years, there has been a slight shift in attitude, with films like The Shape of Water and Everything Everywhere All at Once challenging and overcoming the Academy&rsquo;s biases.
However, for every recognition, countless visionary films remain overlooked, such as The Matrix, Blade Runner, Terminator 2, The Green Knight, and Big Fish. These omissions highlight the Academy's ongoing resistance to embracing these genres, despite changing audience tastes and critical acclaim.
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<h2>The Way Forward</h2>
The divide between the Academy&rsquo;s preferences and audience expectations has become increasingly apparent, with sci-fi and fantasy fans often left disappointed. The Academy must learn to embrace these genres and rethink its definition of what makes a film &ldquo;great.&rdquo;
Until that time, it's upto fans to champion these films and continue supporting the creative filmmakers who push the boundaries of storytelling and cinema.
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Entertainment | Hollywood Despite occasional recognition, the perception of bias against sci-fi and fantasy persists, although there have been signs of a more inclusive approach recently.

For decades, the Academy Awards have been one of the most prestigious and widely recognised prizes in the world of cinema. Yet, since its inception, the Academy has shown a clear bias against films belonging to the science fiction and fantasy genres. While these genres have received more recognition in recent years, particularly in technical categories, the Best Picture award has remained elusive for most of its history. Also Read: Pamela Anderson reveals she posed for Playboy to get over her shyness A History of Snubs The sci-fi and fantasy genres are often treated as second-class citizens by the Academy and its members, struggling to achieve the same level of recognition given to period dramas and biopics, no matter how groundbreaking they may be. Although The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won the Best Picture award – making it the only fantasy film to do so – this remains a rare anomaly. Groundbreaking films such as E.T., Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange, The Seventh Seal, Arrival, and Mad Max: Fury Road, despite earning nominations, fell short of the top prize. Real-World Issues The Academy has historically favoured films that deal with real-world issues and are grounded in realism, often dismissing sci-fi and fantasy films as mere escapism. However, these genres frequently tackle profound themes, explore real-world issues, and portray genuine human emotions. Films like Children of Men, Gattaca, and the recent adaptation of Dune are not only visually stunning but also examine the human condition, addressing themes such as class warfare, the rise of authoritarianism, and religious dogma. Despite this, such films are typically relegated to technical categories – areas in which they excel – but are rarely recognised for the broader themes they explore. Also Read: 'No One Will Save You' star Kaitlyn Dever joins the cast of the upcoming Godzilla X Kong sequel. A Shift in Attitude In recent years, there has been a slight shift in attitude, with films like The Shape of Water and Everything Everywhere All at Once challenging and overcoming the Academy’s biases. However, for every recognition, countless visionary films remain overlooked, such as The Matrix, Blade Runner, Terminator 2, The Green Knight, and Big Fish. These omissions highlight the Academy's ongoing resistance to embracing these genres, despite changing audience tastes and critical acclaim. Also Read: Conan O'Brien navigates personal losses ahead of Oscars: "'It has been a lot happening in a very short time' The Way Forward The divide between the Academy’s preferences and audience expectations has become increasingly apparent, with sci-fi and fantasy fans often left disappointed. The Academy must learn to embrace these genres and rethink its definition of what makes a film “great.” Until that time, it's upto fans to champion these films and continue supporting the creative filmmakers who push the boundaries of storytelling and cinema. Also Read: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: First reactions roll In for MCU's animated Spider-Man show

The Oscars Blindspot: How the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences snubs the Fantasy and Sci-fi genre

Comedian Conan O'Brien, who will be hosting the upcoming 97th Academy Awards for the first time, opened up in an interview with People about coping with the recent loss of parents and the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. The comedian was attending the premiere of his film If I Had Legs I'd Kick You at the Sundance Film Festival when he shared his thoughts.
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<h2>One Day at a Time</h2>
Conan O'Brien lost both his parents in December: they died just days apart. His father, Dr Thomas O&rsquo;Brien, passed away at 95 on 9 December, and his mother died at 92 on 12 December.
"It has been a lot happening in a very short time, and there's a lot that happened in my personal life starting in December that was intense, and then going into this month with the fires and prep for what's coming up," O&rsquo;Brien shared.
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<h2>The LA Wildfires</h2>
Although the comedian's house was spared from destruction, he acknowledged that many others have not been as fortunate and are still dealing with the loss of their homes. O'Brien emphasised the importance of empathy during such challenging times.
"It's the time to be asking other people how they're doing, listening to them."
He went on to note that events like film premieres and award shows can seem frivolous and trivial. "But they're also important at the same time because we keep going," he continued.
"We keep going. We keep making stuff."
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<h2>The Upcoming Academy Awards</h2>
O'Brien also revealed he and his team of writers and producers will be mindful of the losses caused by the fires and hope to shine a spotlight on the issue.
The 97th Oscars will air live on Sunday, 2 March, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
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Entertainment , Hollywood : With the Oscars looming, the host reflected on the personal grief from his parents' passing and the broader devastation brought by the fires in Los Angeles.

Comedian Conan O'Brien, who will be hosting the upcoming 97th Academy Awards for the first time, opened up in an interview with People about coping with the recent loss of parents and the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. The comedian was attending the premiere of his film If I Had Legs I'd Kick You at the Sundance Film Festival when he shared his thoughts. Also Read: Stars and politics converge at Sundance fim festival 2025 One Day at a Time Conan O'Brien lost both his parents in December: they died just days apart. His father, Dr Thomas O’Brien, passed away at 95 on 9 December, and his mother died at 92 on 12 December. "It has been a lot happening in a very short time, and there's a lot that happened in my personal life starting in December that was intense, and then going into this month with the fires and prep for what's coming up," O’Brien shared. Also Read: Oscars 2025: When and where to watch the nominated films online The LA Wildfires Although the comedian's house was spared from destruction, he acknowledged that many others have not been as fortunate and are still dealing with the loss of their homes. O'Brien emphasised the importance of empathy during such challenging times. "It's the time to be asking other people how they're doing, listening to them." He went on to note that events like film premieres and award shows can seem frivolous and trivial. "But they're also important at the same time because we keep going," he continued. "We keep going. We keep making stuff." Also Read:Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: First reactions roll In for MCU's animated Spider-Man show The Upcoming Academy Awards O'Brien also revealed he and his team of writers and producers will be mindful of the losses caused by the fires and hope to shine a spotlight on the issue. The 97th Oscars will air live on Sunday, 2 March, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Also Read: The Brutalist star Adrien Brody opens up about his Oscar-nominated role: 'It was an honour'

Conan O'Brien navigates personal losses ahead of Oscars: 'A lot happening in very short time'

The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, follows a Hungarian-born Jewish Holocaust survivor and his family as they struggle to achieve the American Dream.&nbsp;The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival to rave reviews and Brady Corbet won the coveted Silver Lion for Best Direction. The film has since become a critical hit, earning an impressive 10 nominations for this year's Oscars. Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/priyanka-chopra-on-anujas-oscar-nomination-calls-it-an-incredible-moment-8648402">Priyanka Chopra reacts on Anuja's Oscar nomination, calls it 'an incredible moment'</a>
<h2>Adrien Brody shares his thoughts</h2>
Actor Adrien Brody, who portrayed L&aacute;szl&oacute; T&oacute;th, spoke to the BBC about the role and expressed his honour in playing it: "The wonderful thing is, it's an opportunity for me to honour my ancestral struggles."
He went on to say that the movie reminded him of the struggles his grandparents endured during the Second World War and their journey to America. Also Read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/colman-kicks-off-sundance-as-film-world-reels-from-la-fires-8648706">Colman kicks off Sundance as film world reels from LA fires</a>
Brody also addressed the film's three-and-a-half-hour runtime, which impacted its box office performance: "For me, I think that the length of a movie is similar to the length of a book, a double album, or a painting with a big canvas."
<h2>The Oscar race begins</h2>
Adrien Brody is also a nominee for the Best Actor award at this year's Oscars, he holds the distinction of being the youngest actor to win the award at the age of 29 for his role in the 2002 film The Pianist, and it remains to be seen if he will take home the prize for a second time.
While The Brutalist is a strong contender for the Best Picture award at this year's Oscars, it faces stiff competition from its fellow nominees. The list includes films such as The Substance, Anora, A Complete Unknown, The Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia P&eacute;rez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, and Wicked. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscar-awards-2025-full-list-of-nominees-8647795" rel="dofollow">See the full list of nominees here.</a>
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The 97th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025, and will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien. Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/all-we-imagine-is-light-oscar-hopes-dashed-neftlixs-anuja-bags-nomination-for-best-live-action-short-film-8647847">All We Imagine As Light Oscar hopes dashed, Netflix's Anuja bags nomination for Best live-action short film</a>

Entertainment | Hollywood In a detailed interview, the celebrated actor discussed the depth and authenticity required for his transformative role in the epic period drama The Brutalist.

The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, follows a Hungarian-born Jewish Holocaust survivor and his family as they struggle to achieve the American Dream. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival to rave reviews and Brady Corbet won the coveted Silver Lion for Best Direction. The film has since become a critical hit, earning an impressive 10 nominations for this year's Oscars. Also Read:Priyanka Chopra reacts on Anuja's Oscar nomination, calls it 'an incredible moment' Adrien Brody shares his thoughts Actor Adrien Brody, who portrayed László Tóth, spoke to the BBC about the role and expressed his honour in playing it: "The wonderful thing is, it's an opportunity for me to honour my ancestral struggles." He went on to say that the movie reminded him of the struggles his grandparents endured during the Second World War and their journey to America. Also Read: Colman kicks off Sundance as film world reels from LA fires Brody also addressed the film's three-and-a-half-hour runtime, which impacted its box office performance: "For me, I think that the length of a movie is similar to the length of a book, a double album, or a painting with a big canvas." The Oscar race begins Adrien Brody is also a nominee for the Best Actor award at this year's Oscars, he holds the distinction of being the youngest actor to win the award at the age of 29 for his role in the 2002 film The Pianist, and it remains to be seen if he will take home the prize for a second time. While The Brutalist is a strong contender for the Best Picture award at this year's Oscars, it faces stiff competition from its fellow nominees. The list includes films such as The Substance, Anora, A Complete Unknown, The Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, and Wicked. See the full list of nominees here. Also Read: The Fantastic Four: First Steps star Natasha Lyonne teases MCU fans about her role in the upcoming superhero flick The 97th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025, and will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien. Also Read: All We Imagine As Light Oscar hopes dashed, Netflix's Anuja bags nomination for Best live-action short film

The Brutalist star Adrien Brody opens up about his Oscar-nominated role: 'It was an honour'

Oscar nominations 2025 were announced on Thursday morning and the Indian short film Anuja found a mention in the nomination list in Best Live-Action Short Film category. However, Payal Kapadia's&nbsp;All We Imagine As Light, did not get any nods at this year's Oscars.&nbsp;
Anuja follows a 9-year-old girl and her sister whose daily struggle for survival takes a turn for the better when one of them is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. The movie&nbsp;is directed by Adam J. Graves, who previously directed the critically acclaimed short film Cycle Verit&eacute;. Adam J Graves described the film as "a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and untold stories of working children".
 The movie is produced by Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga, and Suchitra Mattai.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscar-awards-2025-full-list-of-nominees-8647795">&nbsp;Oscar Awards 2025: Guneet Monga's Anuja gets a nod, Conclave leads the list; see full list here</a>
<h2>Meet the cast</h2>
Sajda Pathan, Ananya Shanbhag, Nagesh Bhonsle and Gulshan Walia play the lead roles in the film. The movie began production in October of 2024 and&nbsp;was shot in Delhi.
<h2>Top contenders at Oscars 2025</h2>
While All We Imagine is Light did not get a nomination, fan favorites like Wicked, The Substance and The Brutalist walked away with several nominations under their belt.
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<h2>The Oscars 2025</h2>
The 97th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025. The event will be hosted for the first time by veteran comedian Conan O'Brien. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/comedian-conan-obrien-to-host-oscars-2025-776593">Comedian Conan O'Brien to host Oscars 2025</a>

Entertainment | Hollywood Despite All We Imagine is Light missing out on Oscar recognition, Netflix's Anuja gains a spotlight with a prestigious nomination for her live-action short film.

Oscar nominations 2025 were announced on Thursday morning and the Indian short film Anuja found a mention in the nomination list in Best Live-Action Short Film category. However, Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, did not get any nods at this year's Oscars. Anuja follows a 9-year-old girl and her sister whose daily struggle for survival takes a turn for the better when one of them is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. The movie is directed by Adam J. Graves, who previously directed the critically acclaimed short film Cycle Verité. Adam J Graves described the film as "a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and untold stories of working children". The movie is produced by Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga, and Suchitra Mattai. Also Read: Oscar Awards 2025: Guneet Monga's Anuja gets a nod, Conclave leads the list; see full list here Meet the cast Sajda Pathan, Ananya Shanbhag, Nagesh Bhonsle and Gulshan Walia play the lead roles in the film. The movie began production in October of 2024 and was shot in Delhi. Top contenders at Oscars 2025 While All We Imagine is Light did not get a nomination, fan favorites like Wicked, The Substance and The Brutalist walked away with several nominations under their belt. Also Read: Ariana Grande shares support for transgender community following Trump's executive order The Oscars 2025 The 97th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025. The event will be hosted for the first time by veteran comedian Conan O'Brien. Also Read: Comedian Conan O'Brien to host Oscars 2025

All We Imagine As Light Oscar hopes dashed, Netflix's Anuja bags nomination for Best live-action short film

After a series of delays due to the Los Angeles Wildfires, the Oscars 2025 nominations were announced on Thursday morning. Hosted by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott, the nominations were announced on Oscar.com, Oscars. org and the Academy&rsquo;s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook channels.
Indian film Anuja, backed by Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, found a nomination in the Best Live Action Short category. However, Cannes 2024 Grand Prix winner All We Imagine As Light by filmmaker Payal Kapadia did not get any nominations. Many had predicted that the film would find a mention in the Best International category even though it wasn't India's official entry to the Oscars this year.
Jacques Audiard&rsquo;s Spanish-language musical&nbsp;Emilia Perez leads the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards with 13, including best film, best director, and best actress for Karla Sof&iacute;a Gascon. The Brutalist and The Wicked followed with 10 nods each.&nbsp;
<h2> Here is the list of Oscars 2025 nominees (the list is being updated live) </h2>
Best Picture Anora The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Emilia P&eacute;rez I'm Still Here Nickel Boys The Substance Wicked
 Best Actress Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia P&eacute;rez) Mikey Madison (Anora) Demi Moore (The Substance) Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)
Best Actor Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) Timothee Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
 Best Supporting Actress Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) Ariana Grande, (Wicked) Felicity Jones, (The Brutalist) Isabella Rossellini, (Conclave) Zoe Salda&ntilde;a, (Emilia P&eacute;rez)
Best Supporting Actor Yura Borisov (Anora) Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown) Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
 Best Director Sean Baker (Anora) Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) Jacques Audiard (Emilia P&eacute;rez) Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Best Original Screenplay Anora The Brutalist A Real Pain September 5 The Substance
 Best Adapted Screenplay A Complete Unknown Conclave Emilia P&eacute;rez Nickel Boys Sing Sing
Best Cinematography The Brutalist Dune: Part Two Emilia P&eacute;rez Maria Nosferatu
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Best Original Score The Brutalist Conclave Emilia P&eacute;rez Wicked The Wild Robot
Best Editing Anora The Brutalist Conclave Emilia P&eacute;rez Wicked
Best Production Design The Brutalist Conclave Dune: Part Two Nosferatu Wicked
 Best Costume Design A Complete Unknown Conclave Gladiator II Nosferatu Wicked
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-apprentice-review-jeremy-strong-delivers-stand-out-performance-in-abbasis-film-on-donald-trump-768733">The Apprentice review: Jeremy Strong delivers stand out performance in Abbasi's film on Donald Trump</a> Best Makeup and Hairstyling A Different Man Emilia P&eacute;rez Nosferatu The Substance Wicked Best Sound A Complete Unknown Dune: Part Two Emilia P&eacute;rez Wicked The Wild Robot
Best Visual Effects Alien: Romulus Better Man Dune: Part Two Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Wicked Best International Feature I'm Still Here The Girl With the Needle Emilia P&eacute;rez The Seed of the Sacred Fig Flow
Best Animated Feature Flow Inside Out 2 Memoir of a Snail The Wild Robot
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
Anuja Dovecote The Last Ranger A Lien The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/anujaoscar-shortlisted-indian-film-anuja-to-stream-on-this-ott-deets-inside-8622483">Oscar-shortlisted Indian film Anuja to stream on this OTT; deets inside</a>
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
A Beautiful Man In the Shadow of Cypress Magic Candies Wander to Wonder Yuck
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Never Too Late from Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John &amp; Brandi Carlile) El Mal from Emilia P&eacute;rez (Cl&eacute;ment Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard) Sick in the Head from Kneecap (M&oacute;gla&iacute; Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Pr&oacute;va&iacute;, Adrian Louis Richard Mcleod, and Toddla T) The Journey from The Six Triple Eight (Diane Warren) Kiss the Sky from The Wild Robot (Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack &amp; Ali Tamposi)
&nbsp;
The 97th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on March 2. Conan O'Brein will be hosting the awards ceremony this year.&nbsp;

Entertainment Hollywood | After a series of delays due to the Los Angeles Wildfires, the Oscars 2025 Nominations were announced on Thursday morning. 

After a series of delays due to the Los Angeles Wildfires, the Oscars 2025 nominations were announced on Thursday morning. Hosted by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott, the nominations were announced on Oscar.com, Oscars. org and the Academy’s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook channels. Indian film Anuja, backed by Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga, found a nomination in the Best Live Action Short category. However, Cannes 2024 Grand Prix winner All We Imagine As Light by filmmaker Payal Kapadia did not get any nominations. Many had predicted that the film would find a mention in the Best International category even though it wasn't India's official entry to the Oscars this year. Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez leads the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards with 13, including best film, best director, and best actress for Karla Sofía Gascon. The Brutalist and The Wicked followed with 10 nods each. Here is the list of Oscars 2025 nominees (the list is being updated live) Best Picture Anora The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez I'm Still Here Nickel Boys The Substance Wicked Best Actress Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Pérez) Mikey Madison (Anora) Demi Moore (The Substance) Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here) Best Actor Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) Timothee Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice) Best Supporting Actress Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) Ariana Grande, (Wicked) Felicity Jones, (The Brutalist) Isabella Rossellini, (Conclave) Zoe Saldaña, (Emilia Pérez) Best Supporting Actor Yura Borisov (Anora) Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown) Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) Best Director Sean Baker (Anora) Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) Best Original Screenplay Anora The Brutalist A Real Pain September 5 The Substance Best Adapted Screenplay A Complete Unknown Conclave Emilia Pérez Nickel Boys Sing Sing Best Cinematography The Brutalist Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez Maria Nosferatu Christopher Nolan picks his favourite film of 2024 and it's not what you would expect Best Original Score The Brutalist Conclave Emilia Pérez Wicked The Wild Robot Best Editing Anora The Brutalist Conclave Emilia Pérez Wicked Best Production Design The Brutalist Conclave Dune: Part Two Nosferatu Wicked Best Costume Design A Complete Unknown Conclave Gladiator II Nosferatu Wicked The Apprentice review: Jeremy Strong delivers stand out performance in Abbasi's film on Donald Trump Best Makeup and Hairstyling A Different Man Emilia Pérez Nosferatu The Substance Wicked Best Sound A Complete Unknown Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez Wicked The Wild Robot Best Visual Effects Alien: Romulus Better Man Dune: Part Two Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Wicked Best International Feature I'm Still Here The Girl With the Needle Emilia Pérez The Seed of the Sacred Fig Flow Best Animated Feature Flow Inside Out 2 Memoir of a Snail The Wild Robot BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT Anuja Dovecote The Last Ranger A Lien The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent Oscar-shortlisted Indian film Anuja to stream on this OTT; deets inside BEST ANIMATED SHORT A Beautiful Man In the Shadow of Cypress Magic Candies Wander to Wonder Yuck BEST ORIGINAL SONG Never Too Late from Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John & Brandi Carlile) El Mal from Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard) Sick in the Head from Kneecap (Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí, Adrian Louis Richard Mcleod, and Toddla T) The Journey from The Six Triple Eight (Diane Warren) Kiss the Sky from The Wild Robot (Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack & Ali Tamposi) The 97th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on March 2. Conan O'Brein will be hosting the awards ceremony this year.

Oscar Awards 2025: Guneet Monga's Anuja gets a nod, Emilia Perez leads the noms; see full list here

Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott will announce the highly anticipated list of nominees for the 97th Academy Award on Thursday. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed earlier this week that the announcement will take place on January 23rd. The announcements were delayed several times due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
<h2>Where to watch the nominations live</h2>
The full list of nominees for all 23 categories will be announced on January 23 at 5:30 AM PT at the iconic Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Los Angeles. Indian fans can live-stream the event on platforms like Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy&rsquo;s official YouTube, Instagram and Facebook accounts at 7 PM IST.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/anujaoscar-shortlisted-indian-film-anuja-to-stream-on-this-ott-deets-inside-8622483">Oscar-shortlisted Indian film Anuja to stream on this OTT; deets inside</a>
<h2>Wildfires delay announcement&nbsp;</h2>
The nominations were originally intended to be announced on January 17th but were postponed twice due to the widespread devastation caused by the recent wildfires that gripped the city of Los Angeles and delayed the Academy's voting process.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/razzie-awards-2025-nominations-out-joker-folie-&agrave;-deux-madame-web-worst-films-of-2024-8644454">Razzie Awards 2025 nominations out! Joker: Folie &agrave; Deux, Madame Web nominated in worst film category</a>
The Academy also chose to cancel this year's nominee luncheon and instead donated the entire budget of the event&mdash;a whopping 250 thousand dollars&mdash;to the victims of the wildfire.&nbsp;
<h2>2025 front runners&nbsp;</h2>
This year, 10 movies will be competing for a nomination in the Best Picture category. They include&nbsp;Anora, Conclave, Wicked, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Emilia P&eacute;rez, Dune Part 2, The Substance, Girls Will Be Girls, and Santosh.
<figure class="image"><img alt="Emilia Perez" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/01/03/fAK6T6MYj12mdJBjQ7WL.png" style="width: 1280px;">
<figcaption>Poster of Emilia Perez Photograph: (Netflix)</figcaption>
</figure>
It will be interesting to see which movies and performances manage to impress the Academy and which get snubbed.&nbsp;
<h2>Oscars on track</h2>
Despite rumours that the event might be cancelled this year due to the wildfires, The Academy has confirmed that the 97th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-2025-cancelled-97th-academy-awards-los-angeles-wildfires-fact-check-8624849">Oscars 2025 cancelled due to Los Angeles wildfires? Here's what we know</a>
This year's Oscars will be hosted for the first time by veteran late-night talk show host Conon O&rsquo;Brian.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/comedian-conan-obrien-to-host-oscars-2025-776593">Comedian Conan O'Brien to host Oscars 2025</a>
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Entertainment Hollywood: Anticipation builds as Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott prepare to announce the 97th Academy Awards nominees, marking a key moment in the film industry's annual calendar.

Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott will announce the highly anticipated list of nominees for the 97th Academy Award on Thursday. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed earlier this week that the announcement will take place on January 23rd. The announcements were delayed several times due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. Where to watch the nominations live The full list of nominees for all 23 categories will be announced on January 23 at 5:30 AM PT at the iconic Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Los Angeles. Indian fans can live-stream the event on platforms like Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy’s official YouTube, Instagram and Facebook accounts at 7 PM IST. Oscar-shortlisted Indian film Anuja to stream on this OTT; deets inside Wildfires delay announcement The nominations were originally intended to be announced on January 17th but were postponed twice due to the widespread devastation caused by the recent wildfires that gripped the city of Los Angeles and delayed the Academy's voting process. Razzie Awards 2025 nominations out! Joker: Folie à Deux, Madame Web nominated in worst film category The Academy also chose to cancel this year's nominee luncheon and instead donated the entire budget of the event—a whopping 250 thousand dollars—to the victims of the wildfire. 2025 front runners This year, 10 movies will be competing for a nomination in the Best Picture category. They include Anora, Conclave, Wicked, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, Dune Part 2, The Substance, Girls Will Be Girls, and Santosh. Poster of Emilia Perez Photograph: (Netflix) It will be interesting to see which movies and performances manage to impress the Academy and which get snubbed. Oscars on track Despite rumours that the event might be cancelled this year due to the wildfires, The Academy has confirmed that the 97th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Oscars 2025 cancelled due to Los Angeles wildfires? Here's what we know This year's Oscars will be hosted for the first time by veteran late-night talk show host Conon O’Brian. Comedian Conan O'Brien to host Oscars 2025

Oscar Nominations 2025: Here's where and when you can catch this year's nominees Live

India&rsquo;s official Oscars entry, Laapata Ladies, might have lost the race for Best International Feature, but there is&nbsp;Anuja, another Indian film which is still in the running. Netflix has now acquired the streaming rights of the film backed by Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga and Mindy Kaling. &nbsp;
Anuja is a husband-wife passion project, directed by Adam J Graves and produced by Suchitra Mattai. It centres on the nine-year-old title character who works in a back-alley garment factory with her older sister Palak. The narrative follows the young protagonist as she faces a decision that will impact both her future and her family.
<h2>Anuja shortlisted for Live-Action Short at Oscars</h2>
The film has been shortlisted for Live-Action Short at this year&rsquo;s Academy Awards.&nbsp;
Anuja was developed in partnership with Mira Nair&rsquo;s Salaam Baalak Trust and features Sajda Pathan, who is herself a beneficiary of the nonprofit in a leading role.&nbsp;
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Guneet Monga, who recently picked up an Oscar for Best Documentary Short&nbsp;The Elephant Whisperers, said: &ldquo;Anuja is a story of unparalleled courage, a film made with a lot of heart. Director Adam J. Graves delivers a message through an empowered and entertaining lens. I&rsquo;m honoured to be part of the journey ahead, alongside producers Mindy Kaling, Suchitra Mattai and Krushan Naik, and now one of the most powerful Brown voices to champion our story &mdash; Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In anticipation and hope of an Academy Award nomination, I&rsquo;m thankful to Netflix for embracing Anuja and providing it with the platform and voice it truly deserves, bringing our story to a global audience, with Netflix&rsquo;s presence in over 190 countries.&rdquo;
Watch Anuja trailer here:
<iframe width="1262" height="710" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a-7vIgQLjdM" title="ANUJA | Sneak Peek | Netflix" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Sharing the news of Anuja streaming on Netflix, Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram stories and wrote, "Proud of this beautiful film."
Anuja features Ananya Shanbhag and Nagesh Bhosle, with cinematography by Akash Raje and music from Fabrizio Mancinelli. 
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<h2>Oscars 2025 nominations</h2>
Meanwhile, the Oscars 2025 nominations list will be out on January 19. The date was pushed from January 17 to 19 amid the Los Angeles Wildfires which has wreaked havoc in the lives of the residents there including some of the biggest names from Hollywood showbiz.&nbsp;
<h2 class="gh-archive-page-post-title"><a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-nominees-lunch-la-wildfires-oscar-nominations-announcement-8619970" aria-label="Oscars nominees' lunch cancelled amid LA wildfires, nominations announcement pushed further"></a></h2>

India's Anuja, competing at the Academy Awards 2025 in the category Live-Action Short, will now be available to stream on this OTT platform ahead of the Oscars ceremony. 

India’s official Oscars entry, Laapata Ladies, might have lost the race for Best International Feature, but there is Anuja, another Indian film which is still in the running. Netflix has now acquired the streaming rights of the film backed by Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga and Mindy Kaling. Anuja is a husband-wife passion project, directed by Adam J Graves and produced by Suchitra Mattai. It centres on the nine-year-old title character who works in a back-alley garment factory with her older sister Palak. The narrative follows the young protagonist as she faces a decision that will impact both her future and her family. Anuja shortlisted for Live-Action Short at Oscars The film has been shortlisted for Live-Action Short at this year’s Academy Awards. Anuja was developed in partnership with Mira Nair’s Salaam Baalak Trust and features Sajda Pathan, who is herself a beneficiary of the nonprofit in a leading role. Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces fresh lawsuit, accused of raping a minor in 2000 Guneet Monga, who recently picked up an Oscar for Best Documentary Short The Elephant Whisperers, said: “Anuja is a story of unparalleled courage, a film made with a lot of heart. Director Adam J. Graves delivers a message through an empowered and entertaining lens. I’m honoured to be part of the journey ahead, alongside producers Mindy Kaling, Suchitra Mattai and Krushan Naik, and now one of the most powerful Brown voices to champion our story — Priyanka Chopra Jonas. In anticipation and hope of an Academy Award nomination, I’m thankful to Netflix for embracing Anuja and providing it with the platform and voice it truly deserves, bringing our story to a global audience, with Netflix’s presence in over 190 countries.” Watch Anuja trailer here: Sharing the news of Anuja streaming on Netflix, Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram stories and wrote, "Proud of this beautiful film." Anuja features Ananya Shanbhag and Nagesh Bhosle, with cinematography by Akash Raje and music from Fabrizio Mancinelli. Oscars nominees' lunch cancelled amid LA wildfires, nominations announcement pushed further Oscars 2025 nominations Meanwhile, the Oscars 2025 nominations list will be out on January 19. The date was pushed from January 17 to 19 amid the Los Angeles Wildfires which has wreaked havoc in the lives of the residents there including some of the biggest names from Hollywood showbiz.

Oscar-shortlisted Indian film Anuja to stream on this OTT; deets inside

The body that awards the Oscars said Monday it was cancelling its ritzy nominees' luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with enormous wildfires.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also moved its nomination announcement online, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season.
"We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang.
"The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship."
The names of Oscar finalists will now be announced in a virtual event on January 23, while the nominees' luncheon -- a champagne-swilling celebration of all those up for statuettes -- is off, the Academy said.
Huge fires have razed whole communities around Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures.
Seven days after the blazes erupted, 92,000 people remain displaced.
Stars including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal lost their homes to the fires, and production was halted for TV and film.
Hollywood studios and streamers have pledged eight-figure donations to emergency response and rebuilding efforts.
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Warner Bros Discovery and Disney each committed $15 million, while Netflix, Amazon and Universal parent company Comcast said they would give $10 million apiece.
"Our studio has called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on what needs to be done to help those impacted rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead," said a Warner statement.
<h2>- 'Resilient' -</h2>
The industry is weighing how to navigate its just-started award season -- an endless series of swanky premieres, galas and prize-giving ceremonies.
Hollywood insiders are wary of appearing tone-deaf to the suffering of a city that is home to hundreds of thousands of people working in and around the TV and film industries.&nbsp;
"Hacks" actress Jean Smart has advocated scrapping the entire season, urging TV networks to donate "the revenue they would have garnered to the victims of the fires and the firefighters" instead.
But the Academy said Monday that it would go ahead with its gala evening, the traditional finale to the season of gong-giving, hinting first responders would be present at the Dolby Theatre on March 2. "Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry," a statement said.
"We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/la-wildfires-home-of-ceo-who-offered-to-pay-any-amount-for-private-fire-protection-goes-down-in-flames-8619854">LA wildfires: Home of CEO who offered to pay &lsquo;any amount&rsquo; for private fire protection goes down in flames</a>
Music's equivalent awards ceremony, The Grammys, would also proceed as planned, organizers said Monday.
In a letter to Academy members obtained by AFP, organizers said the 67th annual music awards gala would take place at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles "in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources."
As well as honoring nominees including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, the show will look to raise cash to support relief efforts, and will pay tribute to first responders engaged in the battle against the blazes, the letter said.
The Sundance Film Festival, which begins next week in Utah, will also proceed.
"Right now, we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on," said organizers.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/producers-guild-awards-nominations-delayed-again-due-to-los-angeles-wildfire-8617926">Producers Guild Awards nominations delayed again due to LA wildfire</a>

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also moved its nomination announcement online, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season.

The body that awards the Oscars said Monday it was cancelling its ritzy nominees' luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with enormous wildfires. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also moved its nomination announcement online, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season. "We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang. "The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship." The names of Oscar finalists will now be announced in a virtual event on January 23, while the nominees' luncheon -- a champagne-swilling celebration of all those up for statuettes -- is off, the Academy said. Huge fires have razed whole communities around Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures. Seven days after the blazes erupted, 92,000 people remain displaced. Stars including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal lost their homes to the fires, and production was halted for TV and film. Hollywood studios and streamers have pledged eight-figure donations to emergency response and rebuilding efforts. Los Angeles Wildfires: James Woods breaks down in tears on live TV on losing home Warner Bros Discovery and Disney each committed $15 million, while Netflix, Amazon and Universal parent company Comcast said they would give $10 million apiece. "Our studio has called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on what needs to be done to help those impacted rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead," said a Warner statement. - 'Resilient' - The industry is weighing how to navigate its just-started award season -- an endless series of swanky premieres, galas and prize-giving ceremonies. Hollywood insiders are wary of appearing tone-deaf to the suffering of a city that is home to hundreds of thousands of people working in and around the TV and film industries. "Hacks" actress Jean Smart has advocated scrapping the entire season, urging TV networks to donate "the revenue they would have garnered to the victims of the fires and the firefighters" instead. But the Academy said Monday that it would go ahead with its gala evening, the traditional finale to the season of gong-giving, hinting first responders would be present at the Dolby Theatre on March 2. "Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry," a statement said. "We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts." LA wildfires: Home of CEO who offered to pay ‘any amount’ for private fire protection goes down in flames Music's equivalent awards ceremony, The Grammys, would also proceed as planned, organizers said Monday. In a letter to Academy members obtained by AFP, organizers said the 67th annual music awards gala would take place at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles "in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources." As well as honoring nominees including Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, the show will look to raise cash to support relief efforts, and will pay tribute to first responders engaged in the battle against the blazes, the letter said. The Sundance Film Festival, which begins next week in Utah, will also proceed. "Right now, we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on," said organizers. Producers Guild Awards nominations delayed again due to LA wildfire

Oscars nominees' lunch cancelled amid LA wildfires, nominations announcement pushed further

Los Angeles has been engulfed by raging fires and it has so far led to the death of five people and loss of capital. As a result, the Academy Awards has pushed its announcement date for the Oscars Nominations List from January 17 to January 19. This gives an extended window to voters.
Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members began on January 8 and was set to close on January 12 but since many have had to pack up or facilitate pack up for others because of the plausible damage that these LA fires have caused to their properties, The Academy took a decision by giving an extension in the deadline.&nbsp;
<h2>The Academy sent an email detailing changes due to LA fires</h2>
The Academy sent an email to members last night detailing the date changes from CEO Bill Kramer. The email read: &nbsp;&ldquo;We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.&rdquo;
The email also listed some additional scheduling changes. These include:&nbsp;
The International Feature Shortlist Screening set for Wednesday night in Los Angeles has been postponed to later in the week.
The in-person Los Angeles Sound Branch Bake-Off and Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Bake-Offs in L.A. and New York City on Jan. 11 have been cancelled.
The in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs in Los Angeles and New York on Jan. 11 have been cancelled as have the in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Bake-Offs.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/la-wildfires-five-dead-thousands-evacuated-as-catastrophic-inferno-burns-with-zero-containment-8603305">LA wildfires: Five dead as fires continue to burn with 'zero containment'</a>
In addition to the nominations list announcement, a slew of Los Angeles premieres and events have been cancelled as the authorities have focused their attention on containing the horrific fires. The first to lead by example was Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Studios which cancelled their premieres of Unstoppable and Wolf Man. Paramount and Max have also cancelled their Better Man and The Pitt premieres.
Also, the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony has been postponed from January 12 to January 26. &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kanguva-oscars-2025-kanguva-budget-collection-suriya-8599902">Kanguva in Oscars race? Biggest flop of 2024 included in contenders' list with 6 other Indian films</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kangana-ranaut-says-oscar-picks-only-those-films-that-are-anti-india-8601875">Kangana Ranaut says Oscar picks only those films that are anti-India</a>
<h2>Oscars 2025: Ceremony date and host</h2>
Meanwhile, the Oscars ceremony will still take place on March 2 with Conan O&rsquo;Brien as the host.&nbsp;

As a result of raging fires in Los Angeles, the Academy has postponed the announcement of its official Oscars nominations list to January 19, giving voters an extended window. 

Los Angeles has been engulfed by raging fires and it has so far led to the death of five people and loss of capital. As a result, the Academy Awards has pushed its announcement date for the Oscars Nominations List from January 17 to January 19. This gives an extended window to voters. Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members began on January 8 and was set to close on January 12 but since many have had to pack up or facilitate pack up for others because of the plausible damage that these LA fires have caused to their properties, The Academy took a decision by giving an extension in the deadline. The Academy sent an email detailing changes due to LA fires The Academy sent an email to members last night detailing the date changes from CEO Bill Kramer. The email read: “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.” The email also listed some additional scheduling changes. These include: The International Feature Shortlist Screening set for Wednesday night in Los Angeles has been postponed to later in the week. The in-person Los Angeles Sound Branch Bake-Off and Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch Bake-Offs in L.A. and New York City on Jan. 11 have been cancelled. The in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Branch Bake-Offs in Los Angeles and New York on Jan. 11 have been cancelled as have the in-person Los Angeles and Bay Area Visual Effects Bake-Offs. LA wildfires: Five dead as fires continue to burn with 'zero containment' In addition to the nominations list announcement, a slew of Los Angeles premieres and events have been cancelled as the authorities have focused their attention on containing the horrific fires. The first to lead by example was Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Studios which cancelled their premieres of Unstoppable and Wolf Man. Paramount and Max have also cancelled their Better Man and The Pitt premieres. Also, the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony has been postponed from January 12 to January 26. Kanguva in Oscars race? Biggest flop of 2024 included in contenders' list with 6 other Indian films Kangana Ranaut says Oscar picks only those films that are anti-India Oscars 2025: Ceremony date and host Meanwhile, the Oscars ceremony will still take place on March 2 with Conan O’Brien as the host.

The Academy postpones official nominations list announcement due to LA fires

Kangana Ranaut, who is busy promoting her upcoming film Emergency, has lashed out at the Oscars for choosing a particular genre of films that tend to show India in a poor light. The actress spoke about the Oscars, weeks after Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies&nbsp;did not make the cut in the Best International Film category at Oscars 2025. The film was India's official entry to the Oscars this year.&nbsp;
<h2>Kangana Ranaut says Oscars pick anti-India films</h2>
Kangana Ranaut stated that films portraying India as a "s**thole" are often selected for the Oscars. She said, "Usually, the agenda they push for India is very different. Jo Oscar pick karta hai is anti-India. Abhi bhi jo film praise garner kar rahi hai (even now, the film that is garnering praise), I was very excited about it. I heard the director say, in India, you don&rsquo;t have the freedom to love the way you want to love because of religious intolerance. I haven&rsquo;t even seen the film. For the Oscars, it has to be a film that makes the country look bad. Slumdog Millionaire, etc. It always has to be a film that makes the country look like a s**thole."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nice-come-back-story-best-meme-kangana-ranaut-reacts-to-donald-trumps-victory-773980">&lsquo;Nice come back story,&rsquo; &lsquo;best meme&rsquo;: Kangana Ranaut reacts to Donald Trump&rsquo;s victory</a> She further added, "Emergency is not that film. The West is ready to see how India stands today. I have never cared about these awards. I don&rsquo;t care about Indian awards or Western awards. It is a film that&rsquo;s brilliantly made, and it is as good as any international film. But at the same time, I know how geopolitics works. We, as nationalist people, don&rsquo;t have much hope with these award functions."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-kangana-ranaut-announces-new-release-date-of-her-film-emergency-777027">Kangana Ranaut announces new release date of her film Emergency</a>
<h2>About Emergency</h2>
Emergency is a biographical drama directed by Kangana Ranaut, who also features as former Indian PM Indira Gandhi in the film. The film also features Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, and Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. Emergency is based on the Emergency imposed in India for 21 months from 1975 to 1977 and its aftermath. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on January 17 after multiple delays.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/witches-are-women-kangana-ranaut-gets-support-from-samantha-ruth-prabhu-for-this-769250">&lsquo;Witches are women...&rsquo;: Kangana Ranaut gets support from Samantha Ruth Prabhu for THIS</a>

Entertainment | Bollywood | India News: Following the Oscars' snub of Laapataa Ladies, Kangana Ranaut comments on the intricacies of international film selections and the challenges faced by Indian cinema.

Kangana Ranaut, who is busy promoting her upcoming film Emergency, has lashed out at the Oscars for choosing a particular genre of films that tend to show India in a poor light. The actress spoke about the Oscars, weeks after Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies did not make the cut in the Best International Film category at Oscars 2025. The film was India's official entry to the Oscars this year. Kangana Ranaut says Oscars pick anti-India films Kangana Ranaut stated that films portraying India as a "s**thole" are often selected for the Oscars. She said, "Usually, the agenda they push for India is very different. Jo Oscar pick karta hai is anti-India. Abhi bhi jo film praise garner kar rahi hai (even now, the film that is garnering praise), I was very excited about it. I heard the director say, in India, you don’t have the freedom to love the way you want to love because of religious intolerance. I haven’t even seen the film. For the Oscars, it has to be a film that makes the country look bad. Slumdog Millionaire, etc. It always has to be a film that makes the country look like a s**thole." ‘Nice come back story,’ ‘best meme’: Kangana Ranaut reacts to Donald Trump’s victory She further added, "Emergency is not that film. The West is ready to see how India stands today. I have never cared about these awards. I don’t care about Indian awards or Western awards. It is a film that’s brilliantly made, and it is as good as any international film. But at the same time, I know how geopolitics works. We, as nationalist people, don’t have much hope with these award functions." Kangana Ranaut announces new release date of her film Emergency About Emergency Emergency is a biographical drama directed by Kangana Ranaut, who also features as former Indian PM Indira Gandhi in the film. The film also features Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, and Satish Kaushik in pivotal roles. Emergency is based on the Emergency imposed in India for 21 months from 1975 to 1977 and its aftermath. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on January 17 after multiple delays. ‘Witches are women...’: Kangana Ranaut gets support from Samantha Ruth Prabhu for THIS

Kangana Ranaut says Oscar picks only those films that are anti-India

Actor Suriya's highly ambitious, big-budget film Kanguva may not worked at the box office, but it has found a spot in the contenders list of Oscars 2025. The film was released in November 2024 and was helmed by Siva. The action-adventure featured Suriya along with Bobby Deol and Disha Patani.&nbsp; While Suriya's performance was praised by fans, the film received negative reviews for its execution, with many calling it loud and jarring.&nbsp; The film garnered more attention when actor and Suriya&rsquo;s wife Jyothika said the negative reactions to Kanguva felt like propaganda. The makers even trimmed the film by 12 minutes and re-censored it post-release due to criticism, yet the film failed to make a mark at the box office.&nbsp; Produced by KE Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green, Kanguva ends with a hint at a sequel.&nbsp;
After The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently revealed the names of 323 films eligible for the Oscars this year, 207 movies met the eligibility criteria for the Best Picture category, which also includes Kanguva. Apart from Kanguva, other films in the running for nominations are Girls will be Girls, Santosh, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, All We Imagine as Light, Putul and Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/payal-kapadia-all-we-imagine-as-light-make-it-to-bafta-awards-2025-longlist-8588943">Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine As Light make it to BAFTA Awards 2025 longlist</a>
The voting for nominations is set to begin on January 8, 2025, and will conclude on January 12, 2025. The final list of nominated movies will be out on January 17, 2025.
<h2>Laapata Ladies out of Oscar race</h2>
Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapata Ladies was India's official entry to Oscars 2025 this year. However, the film failed to make the shortlist of 15 movies that will vie for the big prize from the final five in the Best International Film category.&nbsp; The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry.
<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-laapataa-ladies-out-of-oscars-race-netizens-upset-with-film-federation-of-india-784834" aria-label="Laapataa Ladies out of Oscars race; netizens upset with Film Federation of India">Laapataa Ladies out of Oscars race; netizens upset with Film Federation of India</a>
The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia.&nbsp;
Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country.&nbsp; The Oscars will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood., United States.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/best-hindi-films-of-2024-from-amar-singh-chamkila-to-kill-8568427">Best Hindi Films of 2024: From Amar Singh Chamkila to Kill</a>

Entertainment: Actor Suriya's highly ambitious, big-budget film Kanguva may not have worked at the box office, but it has found a spot in the contenders list of Oscars 2025.

Actor Suriya's highly ambitious, big-budget film Kanguva may not worked at the box office, but it has found a spot in the contenders list of Oscars 2025. The film was released in November 2024 and was helmed by Siva. The action-adventure featured Suriya along with Bobby Deol and Disha Patani. While Suriya's performance was praised by fans, the film received negative reviews for its execution, with many calling it loud and jarring. The film garnered more attention when actor and Suriya’s wife Jyothika said the negative reactions to Kanguva felt like propaganda. The makers even trimmed the film by 12 minutes and re-censored it post-release due to criticism, yet the film failed to make a mark at the box office. Produced by KE Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green, Kanguva ends with a hint at a sequel. After The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently revealed the names of 323 films eligible for the Oscars this year, 207 movies met the eligibility criteria for the Best Picture category, which also includes Kanguva. Apart from Kanguva, other films in the running for nominations are Girls will be Girls, Santosh, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, All We Imagine as Light, Putul and Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life. Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine As Light make it to BAFTA Awards 2025 longlist The voting for nominations is set to begin on January 8, 2025, and will conclude on January 12, 2025. The final list of nominated movies will be out on January 17, 2025. Laapata Ladies out of Oscar race Kiran Rao's critically acclaimed film Laapata Ladies was India's official entry to Oscars 2025 this year. However, the film failed to make the shortlist of 15 movies that will vie for the big prize from the final five in the Best International Film category. The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry. Laapataa Ladies out of Oscars race; netizens upset with Film Federation of India The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia. Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country. The Oscars will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood., United States. Best Hindi Films of 2024: From Amar Singh Chamkila to Kill

Kanguva in Oscars race? Biggest flop of 2024 included in contenders' list with 6 other Indian films

New Delhi
Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually. On Monday, the Academy shared a video clip of Aishwarya Rai from the hit film Jodha Akbar with a special announcement. The 2008 film featured Aishwarya Rai as Queen Jodhabai and Hrithik Roshan as Mughal Emperor Akbar. The film was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, whose film Lagaan was nominated at the Best Foreign Language Film Awards in 2002. 
Aishwarya, the Queen
The Academy announced that Jodha's wedding lehenga from the movie will be part of an exhibition at the Academy Museum. “A lehenga fit for a queen, designed for the silver screen. In JODHA AKBAR (2008), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s red wedding lehenga is a feast for the eyes: vibrant zardozi embroidery, centuries-old craftsmanship, and a hidden gem—quite literally. Look closely and you’ll spot a peacock, India’s national bird, made entirely of jewels. Neeta Lulla didn’t design a costume; she crafted a legacy. Step into history (and color) at the Academy Museum's COLOR IN MOTION exhibition," the caption read. 
The video features scenes from the Ashutosh Gowariker movie and gives glimpses of Aishwarya's regal lehenga. The lehenga is now, draped on a mannequin- also shown in the video. 
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Fans reactions
Needless to say, Aishwarya's fans were excited to find her video on the Academy page. 
“Dear Hollywood, Can you beat these aesthetics,” wrote one. “So academy finally recognised Aishwarya Rai Movie,” wrote another.
Another pointed out that the clip used is not the same as that featured the lehenga. The red lehenga with orange blouse was worn by Aishwarya in the royal feast scene. 
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-what-divorce-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-spotted-wearing-wedding-ring-at-paris-fashion-week-watch-video-761245">What divorce? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spotted wearing wedding ring at Paris Fashion Week, watch video</a>
This isn't the first time that the Academy has mentioned or featured a Bollywood movie scene on their social media pages. Previously, the Academy had shared movie scenes from Bajirao Mastani, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and even Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Oscars race
Meanwhile, Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17. Laapataa Ladies was India's entry this year in the Best International Feature category. The film unfortunately is already out of the race. All hopes now rest with Payal Kapadia securing an independent nomination in Best Director and Best Film categories for All We Imagine As Light.
Guneet Monga's Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. The film sheds light on the important issue of child labour in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role.
Apart from Anuja, another Indian film has been shortlisted in the Oscar race. Santosh, a British -Indian Film directed by Sandhya Suri is the United Kingdom's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film features Shahana Goswami in the lead.
The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 3, 2025.

Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually.



New Delhi Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually. On Monday, the Academy shared a video clip of Aishwarya Rai from the hit film Jodha Akbar with a special announcement. The 2008 film featured Aishwarya Rai as Queen Jodhabai and Hrithik Roshan as Mughal Emperor Akbar. The film was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, whose film Lagaan was nominated at the Best Foreign Language Film Awards in 2002. Aishwarya, the Queen The Academy announced that Jodha's wedding lehenga from the movie will be part of an exhibition at the Academy Museum. “A lehenga fit for a queen, designed for the silver screen. In JODHA AKBAR (2008), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s red wedding lehenga is a feast for the eyes: vibrant zardozi embroidery, centuries-old craftsmanship, and a hidden gem—quite literally. Look closely and you’ll spot a peacock, India’s national bird, made entirely of jewels. Neeta Lulla didn’t design a costume; she crafted a legacy. Step into history (and color) at the Academy Museum's COLOR IN MOTION exhibition," the caption read. The video features scenes from the Ashutosh Gowariker movie and gives glimpses of Aishwarya's regal lehenga. The lehenga is now, draped on a mannequin- also shown in the video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Academy (@theacademy) × Fans reactions Needless to say, Aishwarya's fans were excited to find her video on the Academy page. “Dear Hollywood, Can you beat these aesthetics,” wrote one. “So academy finally recognised Aishwarya Rai Movie,” wrote another. Another pointed out that the clip used is not the same as that featured the lehenga. The red lehenga with orange blouse was worn by Aishwarya in the royal feast scene. Also read: What divorce? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spotted wearing wedding ring at Paris Fashion Week, watch video This isn't the first time that the Academy has mentioned or featured a Bollywood movie scene on their social media pages. Previously, the Academy had shared movie scenes from Bajirao Mastani, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and even Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Oscars race Meanwhile, Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17. Laapataa Ladies was India's entry this year in the Best International Feature category. The film unfortunately is already out of the race. All hopes now rest with Payal Kapadia securing an independent nomination in Best Director and Best Film categories for All We Imagine As Light. Guneet Monga's Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. The film sheds light on the important issue of child labour in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role. Apart from Anuja, another Indian film has been shortlisted in the Oscar race. Santosh, a British -Indian Film directed by Sandhya Suri is the United Kingdom's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film features Shahana Goswami in the lead. The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 3, 2025.

Aishwarya Rai makes an appearance on Academy's Instagram page thanks to Jodha Akbar

Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually. On Monday, the Academy shared a video clip of Aishwarya Rai from the hit film Jodha Akbar with a special announcement. The 2008 film featured Aishwarya Rai as Queen Jodhabai and Hrithik Roshan as Mughal Emperor Akbar. The film was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, whose film Lagaan was nominated at the Best Foreign Language Film Awards in 2002.&nbsp; 
 
Aishwarya, the Queen 
 
The Academy announced that Jodha's wedding lehenga from the movie will be part of an exhibition at the Academy Museum. “A lehenga fit for a queen, designed for the silver screen. In JODHA AKBAR (2008), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s red wedding lehenga is a feast for the eyes: vibrant zardozi embroidery, centuries-old craftsmanship, and a hidden gem—quite literally. Look closely and you’ll spot a peacock, India’s national bird, made entirely of jewels. Neeta Lulla didn’t design a costume; she crafted a legacy. Step into history (and color) at the Academy Museum's COLOR IN MOTION exhibition," the caption read.&nbsp; 
 
The video features scenes from the Ashutosh Gowariker movie and gives glimpses of Aishwarya's regal lehenga. The lehenga is now, draped on a mannequin- also shown in the video.&nbsp;

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Fans reactions 
 
Needless to say, Aishwarya's fans were excited to find her video on the Academy page.&nbsp; 
 
“Dear Hollywood, Can you beat these aesthetics,” wrote one. “So academy finally recognised Aishwarya Rai Movie,” wrote another. 
 
Another pointed out that the clip used is not the same as that featured the lehenga. The red lehenga with orange blouse was worn by Aishwarya in the royal feast scene.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-what-divorce-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-spotted-wearing-wedding-ring-at-paris-fashion-week-watch-video-761245">What divorce? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spotted wearing wedding ring at Paris Fashion Week, watch video</a> 
 
This isn't the first time that the Academy has mentioned or featured a Bollywood movie scene on their social media pages. Previously, the Academy had shared movie scenes from Bajirao Mastani,&nbsp;Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and even Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Oscars race 
 
Meanwhile, Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17. Laapataa Ladies was India's entry this year in the Best International Feature category. The film unfortunately is already out of the race. All hopes now rest with Payal Kapadia securing an independent nomination in Best Director and Best Film categories for All We Imagine As Light.

Guneet Monga's Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. The film sheds light on the important issue of child labour in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role. 
 
Apart from Anuja, another Indian film has been shortlisted in the Oscar race. Santosh, a British -Indian Film directed by Sandhya Suri is the United Kingdom's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film features Shahana Goswami in the lead. 
 
The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 3, 2025.

Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually.

Aishwarya Rai just got featured on the official social media accounts of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences- the body that organises the Oscars annually. On Monday, the Academy shared a video clip of Aishwarya Rai from the hit film Jodha Akbar with a special announcement. The 2008 film featured Aishwarya Rai as Queen Jodhabai and Hrithik Roshan as Mughal Emperor Akbar. The film was directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, whose film Lagaan was nominated at the Best Foreign Language Film Awards in 2002. Aishwarya, the Queen The Academy announced that Jodha's wedding lehenga from the movie will be part of an exhibition at the Academy Museum. “A lehenga fit for a queen, designed for the silver screen. In JODHA AKBAR (2008), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s red wedding lehenga is a feast for the eyes: vibrant zardozi embroidery, centuries-old craftsmanship, and a hidden gem—quite literally. Look closely and you’ll spot a peacock, India’s national bird, made entirely of jewels. Neeta Lulla didn’t design a costume; she crafted a legacy. Step into history (and color) at the Academy Museum's COLOR IN MOTION exhibition," the caption read. The video features scenes from the Ashutosh Gowariker movie and gives glimpses of Aishwarya's regal lehenga. The lehenga is now, draped on a mannequin- also shown in the video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Academy (@theacademy) × Fans reactions Needless to say, Aishwarya's fans were excited to find her video on the Academy page. “Dear Hollywood, Can you beat these aesthetics,” wrote one. “So academy finally recognised Aishwarya Rai Movie,” wrote another. Another pointed out that the clip used is not the same as that featured the lehenga. The red lehenga with orange blouse was worn by Aishwarya in the royal feast scene. Also read: What divorce? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spotted wearing wedding ring at Paris Fashion Week, watch video This isn't the first time that the Academy has mentioned or featured a Bollywood movie scene on their social media pages. Previously, the Academy had shared movie scenes from Bajirao Mastani, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and even Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Oscars race Meanwhile, Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17. Laapataa Ladies was India's entry this year in the Best International Feature category. The film unfortunately is already out of the race. All hopes now rest with Payal Kapadia securing an independent nomination in Best Director and Best Film categories for All We Imagine As Light. Guneet Monga's Anuja has been shortlisted in the Best Live-Action Short Film category. The film sheds light on the important issue of child labour in the garment industry and features actor Nagesh Bhonsle in a key role. Apart from Anuja, another Indian film has been shortlisted in the Oscar race. Santosh, a British -Indian Film directed by Sandhya Suri is the United Kingdom's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film features Shahana Goswami in the lead. The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 3, 2025.

Academy Awards 2025: Sad news for Indian fans as Laapata Ladies failed to make it to the shortlisted names. In the category for Best International Feature, a total of 15 names was announced and India’s official entry failed to make the cut. The shortlisted names was announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, who organises the Oscars.

The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry.

The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia.&nbsp;

Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country.&nbsp;

Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, was unanimously selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards earlier this year.

At the time of its selection, many believed that Kapadia's Cannes-winning film All We Imagine As Light was a stronger contender.

<h2>Here’s what the netizens said</h2>

One X user wrote, "FFI snubbed AWIAL, destroying our chances to be on the list. The Film Federation of India requires a full revamp. The ones who are there now should step down and let others who understand and know the art of cinema take over.”

Another user added, “Guess what is Missing or Laapata from the Oscars shortlist. Future lesson for that confederacy of dunces of Film Federation of India committee - An oscar campaign for your beloved desi film can't start in October. All We Imagine As Light had a direct path to an Oscar nod.”

India's official entry to the Oscars is selected by the FFI, an independent body tasked by the Academy for this job. Given the controversies around India's official selections in recent years and their subsequent dismal record at the Oscars, many called for the body to be dissolved.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rapper-badshah-violates-traffic-rules-in-gurugram-fined-for-rs-15000-784689">Rapper Badshah violates traffic rules in Gurugram, fined Rs 15,000</a>

Another person wrote, "Film federation of India does it again; the cinema lovers of India should protest.” Another wrote, “A shattering humiliation for India. A calamitous defeat for the Film Federation that could be seen coming from afar. If the only measure of success is to make choices that make you competitive, they have utterly &amp; entirely failed. FFI needs an overhaul &amp; people need to be fired.”

<h2>About Laapata Ladies and All We Imagine As Light</h2>

Laapata Ladies featured newcomers Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel, alongside Ravi Kishen and Chhaya Kadam.

The film is about two brides being interchanged in rural 1990s India.

All We Imagine As Light is an ode to the working class of Mumbai.

The film starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and secured nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

&nbsp;

Academy Awards 2025: Sad news for Indian fans as Laapata Ladies failed to make it to the shortlisted names. In the category for Best International Feature, a total of 15 names was announced and India’s official entry failed to make the cut.

Academy Awards 2025: Sad news for Indian fans as Laapata Ladies failed to make it to the shortlisted names. In the category for Best International Feature, a total of 15 names was announced and India’s official entry failed to make the cut. The shortlisted names was announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, who organises the Oscars. The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry. The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia. Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country. Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, was unanimously selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards earlier this year. At the time of its selection, many believed that Kapadia's Cannes-winning film All We Imagine As Light was a stronger contender. Here’s what the netizens said One X user wrote, "FFI snubbed AWIAL, destroying our chances to be on the list. The Film Federation of India requires a full revamp. The ones who are there now should step down and let others who understand and know the art of cinema take over.” Another user added, “Guess what is Missing or Laapata from the Oscars shortlist. Future lesson for that confederacy of dunces of Film Federation of India committee - An oscar campaign for your beloved desi film can't start in October. All We Imagine As Light had a direct path to an Oscar nod.” India's official entry to the Oscars is selected by the FFI, an independent body tasked by the Academy for this job. Given the controversies around India's official selections in recent years and their subsequent dismal record at the Oscars, many called for the body to be dissolved. Also read: Rapper Badshah violates traffic rules in Gurugram, fined Rs 15,000 Another person wrote, "Film federation of India does it again; the cinema lovers of India should protest.” Another wrote, “A shattering humiliation for India. A calamitous defeat for the Film Federation that could be seen coming from afar. If the only measure of success is to make choices that make you competitive, they have utterly & entirely failed. FFI needs an overhaul & people need to be fired.” About Laapata Ladies and All We Imagine As Light Laapata Ladies featured newcomers Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel, alongside Ravi Kishen and Chhaya Kadam. The film is about two brides being interchanged in rural 1990s India. All We Imagine As Light is an ode to the working class of Mumbai. The film starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and secured nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

Laapataa Ladies out of Oscars race; netizens upset with Film Federation of India

New Delhi
Academy Awards 2025: Sad news for Indian fans as Laapata Ladies failed to make it to the shortlisted names. In the category for Best International Feature, a total of 15 names was announced and India’s official entry failed to make the cut. The shortlisted names was announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, who organises the Oscars.
The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry.
The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia. 
Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country. 
Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, was unanimously selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards earlier this year.
At the time of its selection, many believed that Kapadia's Cannes-winning film All We Imagine As Light was a stronger contender.
<h2>Here’s what the netizens said</h2>
One X user wrote, "FFI snubbed AWIAL, destroying our chances to be on the list. The Film Federation of India requires a full revamp. The ones who are there now should step down and let others who understand and know the art of cinema take over.”
Another user added, “Guess what is Missing or Laapata from the Oscars shortlist. Future lesson for that confederacy of dunces of Film Federation of India committee - An oscar campaign for your beloved desi film can't start in October. All We Imagine As Light had a direct path to an Oscar nod.”
India's official entry to the Oscars is selected by the FFI, an independent body tasked by the Academy for this job. Given the controversies around India's official selections in recent years and their subsequent dismal record at the Oscars, many called for the body to be dissolved.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rapper-badshah-violates-traffic-rules-in-gurugram-fined-for-rs-15000-784689">Rapper Badshah violates traffic rules in Gurugram, fined Rs 15,000</a>
Another person wrote, "Film federation of India does it again; the cinema lovers of India should protest.” Another wrote, “A shattering humiliation for India. A calamitous defeat for the Film Federation that could be seen coming from afar. If the only measure of success is to make choices that make you competitive, they have utterly &amp; entirely failed. FFI needs an overhaul &amp; people need to be fired.”
<h2>About Laapata Ladies and All We Imagine As Light</h2>
Laapata Ladies featured newcomers Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel, alongside Ravi Kishen and Chhaya Kadam.
The film is about two brides being interchanged in rural 1990s India.
All We Imagine As Light is an ode to the working class of Mumbai.
The film starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and secured nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

Laapata Ladies was India's official entry for the Academy Awards' Best International Feature category. 



New Delhi Academy Awards 2025: Sad news for Indian fans as Laapata Ladies failed to make it to the shortlisted names. In the category for Best International Feature, a total of 15 names was announced and India’s official entry failed to make the cut. The shortlisted names was announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, who organises the Oscars. The list included expected names like Emilia Perez and From Ground Zero but missed India's official entry. The news upset Indian fans who felt that another film would have done better than Laapata Ladies. The internet was abuzz with suggestions like the most obvious one, All We Imagine As Light, the much-awarded indie film by Payal Kapadia. Netizens blamed the Indian authorities for not naming All We Imagine As Light and making a poor choice. They blamed the Film Federation of India for 'humiliating' the country. Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, was unanimously selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards earlier this year. At the time of its selection, many believed that Kapadia's Cannes-winning film All We Imagine As Light was a stronger contender. Here’s what the netizens said One X user wrote, "FFI snubbed AWIAL, destroying our chances to be on the list. The Film Federation of India requires a full revamp. The ones who are there now should step down and let others who understand and know the art of cinema take over.” Another user added, “Guess what is Missing or Laapata from the Oscars shortlist. Future lesson for that confederacy of dunces of Film Federation of India committee - An oscar campaign for your beloved desi film can't start in October. All We Imagine As Light had a direct path to an Oscar nod.” India's official entry to the Oscars is selected by the FFI, an independent body tasked by the Academy for this job. Given the controversies around India's official selections in recent years and their subsequent dismal record at the Oscars, many called for the body to be dissolved. Also read: Rapper Badshah violates traffic rules in Gurugram, fined Rs 15,000 Another person wrote, "Film federation of India does it again; the cinema lovers of India should protest.” Another wrote, “A shattering humiliation for India. A calamitous defeat for the Film Federation that could be seen coming from afar. If the only measure of success is to make choices that make you competitive, they have utterly & entirely failed. FFI needs an overhaul & people need to be fired.” About Laapata Ladies and All We Imagine As Light Laapata Ladies featured newcomers Sparsh Srivastava, Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel, alongside Ravi Kishen and Chhaya Kadam. The film is about two brides being interchanged in rural 1990s India. All We Imagine As Light is an ode to the working class of Mumbai. The film starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and secured nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

Not just Kiran Rao and Payal Kapadia, but other Indian artists are also making waves globally. Musician Bickram Ghosh and singer Iman Chakraborty are now officially in the Oscar race in the Best Original Song category. Iman's song Iti Maa from the Bengali film Putul and Bickram Ghosh's composed song Ishq Walla Daqu from the film Band of Maharajas have been included in the list of 89 songs shortlisted for the Best Original Soundtrack category.&nbsp; 
 
An estatic Chakraborty spoke to a local daily in Kolkata and said,, “Iti Maa has made it to the list of 89 songs as the only Bengali entry. This feels surreal. I’m deeply grateful to our music director, Sayan, and film director for entrusting me with this opportunity.” 
 
The Oscar Shortlist also includes two songs from Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life- Istigfar, and Puthu Mazha- composed by Oscar winner AR Rahman.&nbsp; 
 
Also part of the esteemed list is the soundtrack from Albany Road, &nbsp;Moana 2, Left Behind, Mufasa: The Lion King, Twisters and Your Monster. 
 
Meanwhile, India's official entry to Oscar 2025 in Best International Feature this year is Kiran Rao's directorial Laapataa Ladies. The Oscar campaign of the film has already begun in the US with producers Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao touring various cities with the film, which has been released for the international audience as Lost Ladies.&nbsp; 
 
The film garnered tremendous love from both audiences and critics during its theatrical and OTT release in India. It also had its screening at the Supreme Court of India in the presence of producers Aamir Khan and director Kiran Rao.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/laapataa-ladies-oscar-campaign-roma-director-alfonso-cuaron-to-host-screening-of-the-film-781239">Laapataa Ladies Oscar campaign: Roma director Alfonso Cuaron to host screening of the film</a></h2>

Not just Kiran Rao and Payal Kapadia, but other Indian artists are also making waves globally. Musician Bickram Ghosh and singer Iman Chakraborty are now officially in the Oscar race in the Best Original Song category.

Not just Kiran Rao and Payal Kapadia, but other Indian artists are also making waves globally. Musician Bickram Ghosh and singer Iman Chakraborty are now officially in the Oscar race in the Best Original Song category. Iman's song Iti Maa from the Bengali film Putul and Bickram Ghosh's composed song Ishq Walla Daqu from the film Band of Maharajas have been included in the list of 89 songs shortlisted for the Best Original Soundtrack category. An estatic Chakraborty spoke to a local daily in Kolkata and said,, “Iti Maa has made it to the list of 89 songs as the only Bengali entry. This feels surreal. I’m deeply grateful to our music director, Sayan, and film director for entrusting me with this opportunity.” The Oscar Shortlist also includes two songs from Aadujeevitham – The Goat Life- Istigfar, and Puthu Mazha- composed by Oscar winner AR Rahman. Also part of the esteemed list is the soundtrack from Albany Road, Moana 2, Left Behind, Mufasa: The Lion King, Twisters and Your Monster. Meanwhile, India's official entry to Oscar 2025 in Best International Feature this year is Kiran Rao's directorial Laapataa Ladies. The Oscar campaign of the film has already begun in the US with producers Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao touring various cities with the film, which has been released for the international audience as Lost Ladies. The film garnered tremendous love from both audiences and critics during its theatrical and OTT release in India. It also had its screening at the Supreme Court of India in the presence of producers Aamir Khan and director Kiran Rao. Laapataa Ladies Oscar campaign: Roma director Alfonso Cuaron to host screening of the film

Oscars 2025 best song shortlist includes Indian artists Bickram Ghosh and Iman Chakraborty's songs

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light has won the Best International Film at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. 
 
The update was shared by US-based portal Deadline. The outlet also reported that the Best Animated Feature award went to Gints Zilbalodis' Flow. 
 
This is the 90th anniversary of NYFCC whose members include Indiewire's David Ehlrich (2024 vice chair) and Kate Erbland, New York Magazine's Alison Wilmore and Bilge Ebiri, The Atlantic's David Sims (2024 chair), and Time's Stephanie Zacharek. 
 
Notably, on Monday, All We Imagine as Light won Best International Feature trophy at the reputed Gotham Awards 2024. Other nominees in the category included Green Border, Hard Truths, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell and Vermiglio. The Gothams Film Awards were held at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday in New York. 
 
Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam, the film is an official Indo-French co-production between petit chaos from France and Chalk &amp; Cheese and Another Birth from India.The film follows Prabha, a troubled nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to confront their desires.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/all-we-imagine-as-light-wins-best-international-feature-at-gotham-awards-2024-781171">All We Imagine As Light wins Best International Feature at Gotham Awards 2024</a> 
 
Earlier this year, the film won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light has won the Best International Film at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The update was shared by US-based portal Deadline.

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light has won the Best International Film at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The update was shared by US-based portal Deadline. The outlet also reported that the Best Animated Feature award went to Gints Zilbalodis' Flow. This is the 90th anniversary of NYFCC whose members include Indiewire's David Ehlrich (2024 vice chair) and Kate Erbland, New York Magazine's Alison Wilmore and Bilge Ebiri, The Atlantic's David Sims (2024 chair), and Time's Stephanie Zacharek. Notably, on Monday, All We Imagine as Light won Best International Feature trophy at the reputed Gotham Awards 2024. Other nominees in the category included Green Border, Hard Truths, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell and Vermiglio. The Gothams Film Awards were held at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday in New York. Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam, the film is an official Indo-French co-production between petit chaos from France and Chalk & Cheese and Another Birth from India.The film follows Prabha, a troubled nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to confront their desires. All We Imagine As Light wins Best International Feature at Gotham Awards 2024 Earlier this year, the film won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light wins best international film at New York Film Critics Circle Awards

Earlier this year, Taiwan‘s Ministry of Culture submitted Old Fox&nbsp;as its entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2025 Oscars. The movie is set in 1989, a time of rapid economic growth and political change in Taiwan. The martial law in the country was removed and democracy was finding its place back in the country.

Filmmaker Hsiao Ya-Chuan's directorial is a poignant parable of humanism and survival of the fittest. In an exclusive interaction with WION, the director talked about his inspiration and what he expects from this submission at the Academy.&nbsp;

What inspired you to direct Old Fox?

I am a father with two children. When they were about 10 years old, they started to ask questions such as whether there is justice or equality in society. I wanted to take their questions seriously. &nbsp;So, for several years, I collected these questions and had internal debates. In some ways, this film is an answer to my children. 
 
Your film looked very personal. Which part of your film was inspired by a real-life experience?

Yes, this film is very personal. One of the engagements between father and son comes from my family background and experiences. There are minor differences between the character of the father and my mother in real life. The father character in the film played saxophones, but my mother played the piano in real life. Other than that many other interactions between the father and sons come from my personal stories.

How is Taiwan and the rest of the world responding to your movie?&nbsp;

After we screened our film in Taiwan, we got a lot of positive feedback. The film has also received a good response in Japan and Hong Kong. I think that's probably because we have similarities in our living experiences. 
 
Speaking of that, what according to you connects the Asian countries culturally?

I think in many Asian families, we learn about empathy and not being selfish. We learn that from our parents. Also, we emphasise in our society that altruism should be prioritised. The act of thinking about others first is a common thing between Asian countries.

If Old Fox&nbsp;wins an Oscar, how significant will it be for Taiwan?

I hope that with these opportunities more people look at the films made in Taiwan. There was a time when Taiwanese films were well-received in other countries and markets but that time has passed. I hope that with this opportunity, the Taiwan film market revives, and brings Taiwan-based films back to the list as options for audiences around the world.

Who has been your favourite Taiwanese director?&nbsp;

Hou Hsiao-Hsien is a legendary filmmaker in Taiwan. He was my executive producer, and I have worked as an Assistant Director in his films. He inspires me a lot. My favourite film by him is A City of Sadness. It was the first ever Taiwanese film to win the Golden Lion award at the 1989 Venice Film Festival. 
 
What inspired you to be a filmmaker?

I experienced Taiwan back in the late 1980s and&nbsp;90s. Taiwan lifted its martial laws in 1987. Afterwards, I witnessed a lot of changes. At that time I was studying Arts in College. I think that filming is such a gentle way to tell my stories. I found that moving images can be stronger and more direct. That's when I decided to shift from fine arts to cinema.

Earlier this year, Taiwan‘s Ministry of Culture submitted Old Fox as its entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2025 Oscars. The movie is set in 1989, a time of rapid economic growth and political change in Taiwan.

Earlier this year, Taiwan‘s Ministry of Culture submitted Old Fox as its entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2025 Oscars. The movie is set in 1989, a time of rapid economic growth and political change in Taiwan. The martial law in the country was removed and democracy was finding its place back in the country. Filmmaker Hsiao Ya-Chuan's directorial is a poignant parable of humanism and survival of the fittest. In an exclusive interaction with WION, the director talked about his inspiration and what he expects from this submission at the Academy. What inspired you to direct Old Fox? I am a father with two children. When they were about 10 years old, they started to ask questions such as whether there is justice or equality in society. I wanted to take their questions seriously. So, for several years, I collected these questions and had internal debates. In some ways, this film is an answer to my children. Your film looked very personal. Which part of your film was inspired by a real-life experience? Yes, this film is very personal. One of the engagements between father and son comes from my family background and experiences. There are minor differences between the character of the father and my mother in real life. The father character in the film played saxophones, but my mother played the piano in real life. Other than that many other interactions between the father and sons come from my personal stories. How is Taiwan and the rest of the world responding to your movie? After we screened our film in Taiwan, we got a lot of positive feedback. The film has also received a good response in Japan and Hong Kong. I think that's probably because we have similarities in our living experiences. Speaking of that, what according to you connects the Asian countries culturally? I think in many Asian families, we learn about empathy and not being selfish. We learn that from our parents. Also, we emphasise in our society that altruism should be prioritised. The act of thinking about others first is a common thing between Asian countries. If Old Fox wins an Oscar, how significant will it be for Taiwan? I hope that with these opportunities more people look at the films made in Taiwan. There was a time when Taiwanese films were well-received in other countries and markets but that time has passed. I hope that with this opportunity, the Taiwan film market revives, and brings Taiwan-based films back to the list as options for audiences around the world. Who has been your favourite Taiwanese director? Hou Hsiao-Hsien is a legendary filmmaker in Taiwan. He was my executive producer, and I have worked as an Assistant Director in his films. He inspires me a lot. My favourite film by him is A City of Sadness. It was the first ever Taiwanese film to win the Golden Lion award at the 1989 Venice Film Festival. What inspired you to be a filmmaker? I experienced Taiwan back in the late 1980s and 90s. Taiwan lifted its martial laws in 1987. Afterwards, I witnessed a lot of changes. At that time I was studying Arts in College. I think that filming is such a gentle way to tell my stories. I found that moving images can be stronger and more direct. That's when I decided to shift from fine arts to cinema.

Interview: Hsiao Ya-chuan on 'Old Fox' becoming Taiwan's official Oscar entry and more

Indian film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know has qualified for Oscars 2025 in the Live Action Short Film category. The Kannada short film is produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).&nbsp;

Interestingly, the short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know won first prize earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection. The film which is 16-minutes long is inspired from Indian folk stories and traditions.

The film has Suraj Thakur as the cinematographer, Manoj V as the editor and Abhishek Kadam on sound design.

<h2>Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know Critical Acclaim</h2>

Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know also received a lot of appreciation at Cannes. The La Cinef Jury at Cannes had commended the film for its illuminating storytelling and masterful direction and said, “An illumination that, from the depths of the night, shines with humour and a keen sense of direction, the first prize is awarded to Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know by Chidananda S Naik.”

Director Chidananda on the film said, “I have aspired to tell this story for as long as I can remember. Our goal was to recreate the experience of not merely hearing these stories but of genuinely living them—an experience I hope resonates with audiences around the globe.”

Watch the trailer here:

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<h2>Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know Plot</h2>

The short film centres on an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, which causes sunlight to cease. A prophecy is invoked to restore order, and the woman is exiled from the village. The woman’s family undertakes a desperate mission to retrieve the rooster.

The whole film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know was shot in the night. The film received the Best Indian Competition award at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival. It will now compete alongside the world's best short films.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-diljit-dosanjh-addresses-fake-ticket-scam-at-his-dil-luminati-concert-i-apologise-to-those-affected-773220">Diljit Dosanjh addresses fake ticket scam at his Dil-Luminati concert: I apologise to those affected</a>

Indian film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know has qualified for Oscars 2025 in the Live Action Short Film category. The Kannada short film is produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

Indian film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know has qualified for Oscars 2025 in the Live Action Short Film category. The Kannada short film is produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Interestingly, the short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know won first prize earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection. The film which is 16-minutes long is inspired from Indian folk stories and traditions. The film has Suraj Thakur as the cinematographer, Manoj V as the editor and Abhishek Kadam on sound design. Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know Critical Acclaim Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know also received a lot of appreciation at Cannes. The La Cinef Jury at Cannes had commended the film for its illuminating storytelling and masterful direction and said, “An illumination that, from the depths of the night, shines with humour and a keen sense of direction, the first prize is awarded to Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know by Chidananda S Naik.” Director Chidananda on the film said, “I have aspired to tell this story for as long as I can remember. Our goal was to recreate the experience of not merely hearing these stories but of genuinely living them—an experience I hope resonates with audiences around the globe.” Watch the trailer here: Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know Plot The short film centres on an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, which causes sunlight to cease. A prophecy is invoked to restore order, and the woman is exiled from the village. The woman’s family undertakes a desperate mission to retrieve the rooster. The whole film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know was shot in the night. The film received the Best Indian Competition award at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival. It will now compete alongside the world's best short films. Also read: Diljit Dosanjh addresses fake ticket scam at his Dil-Luminati concert: I apologise to those affected

Oscars 2025: Kannada short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know qualifies

Oscars 2025: Bad news for China’s entertainment industry as its official entry for Best International Feature has been deemed ineligible. China sent the film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary feature as its official entry.&nbsp;

However, days after the submission was made, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed that the film failed to meet their minimum language requirement for the award. According to the rules, any film to compete must have “a predominantly (more than 50 per cent) non-English dialogue track”.&nbsp;

Also, the films had to be submitted before the October 2 deadline.

Now that the film has been deemed ineligible, China will not be able to send a replacement because it’s too late now.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/it-makes-you-angry-matthew-perrys-family-talk-about-actors-death-investigation-771527">‘It makes you angry’: Matthew Perry's family talks about investigation into actor's death</a>

<h2>What is The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru about?</h2>

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru is directed by Fang Li. It tells the story of the titular “ship of death,” a cargo liner that was requisitioned by the Japanese Army during World War II. On Oct. 1, 1942, the ship was being used to transport POWs between Hong Kong and Japan when it was torpedoed in the East China Sea by an unwitting U.S. submarine. About three hundred and eighty-four British POWs were rescued by Chinese fishermen, but 828 died. They either drowned or were shot by Japanese soldiers while attempting to escape.

While out of the Oscars race, the film will next screen at the Asian World Film Festival on November 18.

Oscars 2025: Bad news for China’s entertainment industry as its official entry for Best International Feature has been deemed ineligible. China sent the film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary feature as its official entry.

Oscars 2025: Bad news for China’s entertainment industry as its official entry for Best International Feature has been deemed ineligible. China sent the film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a documentary feature as its official entry. However, days after the submission was made, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed that the film failed to meet their minimum language requirement for the award. According to the rules, any film to compete must have “a predominantly (more than 50 per cent) non-English dialogue track”. Also, the films had to be submitted before the October 2 deadline. Now that the film has been deemed ineligible, China will not be able to send a replacement because it’s too late now. Also read: ‘It makes you angry’: Matthew Perry's family talks about investigation into actor's death What is The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru about? The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru is directed by Fang Li. It tells the story of the titular “ship of death,” a cargo liner that was requisitioned by the Japanese Army during World War II. On Oct. 1, 1942, the ship was being used to transport POWs between Hong Kong and Japan when it was torpedoed in the East China Sea by an unwitting U.S. submarine. About three hundred and eighty-four British POWs were rescued by Chinese fishermen, but 828 died. They either drowned or were shot by Japanese soldiers while attempting to escape. While out of the Oscars race, the film will next screen at the Asian World Film Festival on November 18.

Oscars 2025: China out of race as Oscar entry deemed ineligible because....

Payal Kapadia whose film All We Imagine As Light was not selected as India’s entry to Oscars 2025 despite Cannes honour, has said she is happy that Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies will be representing India at the Academy Awards.&nbsp; 
 
While speaking to the Times Of India, Payal expressed what it meant to win big at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and how important Oscar awards are to her.&nbsp; 
 
"Cannes gave us so much attention in India, and the nicest thing is that recognition gave me distribution. There is no bigger joy than screening your film in cinemas, which people can buy a ticket for and watch. I have done that all my life for films that I liked. People wanting to watch a film in cinemas or film festivals is the reason we want to make films." 
 
Many have speculated that Payal’s film may still be a part of the Oscar race an independent entry. The filmmaker reacted to the speculations and said, “The film will be released in India and the US next month, so we will see how people respond to it. Will we send the film independently? It's not really in my hands. I am happy that Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars. It's such a fun, wonderful movie. As an audience, I am happy about it. I also loved Kiran Rao's previous film Dhobhi Ghat. Whatever my film gets, it's a bonus for me." 
 
About All We Imagine As Light 
 
All We Imagine As Light recently opened with a full-house screening at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The film made history as the first film from India to win the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.&nbsp; 
 
It is a Malayalam-Hindi language movie about Prabha (Kani Kusruti), a Mumbai nurse whose life is thrown into disarray when she receives a rice cooker from her estranged husband. Divya Prabha plays Anu, her roommate and colleague, who struggles to find a private spot in the city to spend time with her boyfriend. Prabha’s best friend Parvati (Chhaya Kadam), a widow, is being forced out of her home by property developers.

About Laapataa Ladies 
 
Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies is a comedy-drama film directed by Kiran Rao. It stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan and narrates the story of two missing brides in a fictitious state in India.&nbsp;

Payal Kapadia whose film All We Imagine As Light was not selected as India’s entry to Oscars 2025 despite Cannes honour, has said she is happy that Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies will be representing India at the Academy Awards.

Payal Kapadia whose film All We Imagine As Light was not selected as India’s entry to Oscars 2025 despite Cannes honour, has said she is happy that Kiran Rao’s film Laapataa Ladies will be representing India at the Academy Awards. While speaking to the Times Of India, Payal expressed what it meant to win big at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and how important Oscar awards are to her. "Cannes gave us so much attention in India, and the nicest thing is that recognition gave me distribution. There is no bigger joy than screening your film in cinemas, which people can buy a ticket for and watch. I have done that all my life for films that I liked. People wanting to watch a film in cinemas or film festivals is the reason we want to make films." Many have speculated that Payal’s film may still be a part of the Oscar race an independent entry. The filmmaker reacted to the speculations and said, “The film will be released in India and the US next month, so we will see how people respond to it. Will we send the film independently? It's not really in my hands. I am happy that Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars. It's such a fun, wonderful movie. As an audience, I am happy about it. I also loved Kiran Rao's previous film Dhobhi Ghat. Whatever my film gets, it's a bonus for me." About All We Imagine As Light All We Imagine As Light recently opened with a full-house screening at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The film made history as the first film from India to win the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. It is a Malayalam-Hindi language movie about Prabha (Kani Kusruti), a Mumbai nurse whose life is thrown into disarray when she receives a rice cooker from her estranged husband. Divya Prabha plays Anu, her roommate and colleague, who struggles to find a private spot in the city to spend time with her boyfriend. Prabha’s best friend Parvati (Chhaya Kadam), a widow, is being forced out of her home by property developers. About Laapataa Ladies Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies is a comedy-drama film directed by Kiran Rao. It stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan and narrates the story of two missing brides in a fictitious state in India.

Payal Kapadia on Laapataa Ladies going to Oscars: Happy that it has been chosen to represent India 

Indian filmmaker Amit Sharma, who has helmed projects like National Award-winning film Badhaai Ho&nbsp;and Tevar&nbsp;among others, is on cloud nine with the achievements of his recent offering, Maidaan. The movie revolving around the life and times of Syed Abdul Rahim, a pioneering football coach in India between 1952 and 1962, won the prestigious Best Asian Film Award at the Septimius Awards 2024 in Amsterdam.

"It's a proud moment, and it's for all of us. It is not Maidaan, it's the best Indian film in the whole of Asia. That's a bigger term and when an Indian film gets an award, competing with the whole of Asia, I just wanted to flaunt our Indian flag at that moment..." said the filmmaker in an exclusive interview with WION.

"I actually saw all the nominations over there on the screen - just before announcing the award. Then the announcement happened," said Sharma. "Nobody knew who I was. But then after I had the award in my hand, everybody wanted to know me," he said, adding, "They were coming from all over the world. So,&nbsp;in my heart, I wanted it. I wasn't expecting it and I was expecting it at the same time."

The Lust Stories 2&nbsp;director also revealed a little about his conversation with Cuba Gooding Junior at the award ceremony. "He came to me and he said, you know, 'I've heard of Bollywood. I have seen some things, but, you know, all the films are music, dance and all that, and I've heard of this film. But I saw the saw trailer, it's on football.' So he said, 'even I got the award - let's click a picture together. Let's do cheers!" Sharma added that while people at the award ceremony weren't expecting an Indian film to take home the trophy, many of them reached out to him after watching Maidaan&nbsp;and appreciated his work.

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While Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn, Priyamani and Gajraj Rao, received rave reviews, the film didn't score as well at the box office, and Sharma makes no bones about sharing that he wasn't happy with the movie's performance at the ticket windows.

"I was not very happy with the kind of numbers the film did. I was expecting more - because the kind of film it was, the feel it was giving on the big screen when you have Ajay Devgn, Gajraj Rao and Priyamani on your side," he said. Notably, the sports drama's subsequent release on OTT gave the film a bigger viewing window and many reached out to the filmmaker expressing how much they liked the film.

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"It took about five and a half years to make that film. But the kind of reviews I got for the film, like everybody wrote amazing about this. I got so many calls... So, appreciation is the biggest award and it compensated for that," he shared.

Maidaan&nbsp;was also amongst the films submitted in the race to become India's official entry for Oscars 2025. With Laapataa Ladies&nbsp;being announced as the Film Federation of India's pick, Sharma said, "I don't have to say anything about it - the selectors have selected the film. They must have thought about it. Everybody was expecting their film going for Oscars and even I was expecting that. But the selectors must have thought about it and only then taken the decision."

When asked if Maidaan&nbsp;will be submitted as an individual entry, Sharma said he would have a conversation with his producers and added, "I think this is the kind of story which will resonate with the world. Firstly, it's on a sport which is played by the whole world. Then it's an underdog story and nobody knows that India was so good in football at that time. Let's see what everybody collectively decides and takes this call." The director, however, has only good things to say about the movie revolving around two lost brides. "It is a wonderful film. I really liked it. So a big congratulations to Kiran Rao. It's a fantastic film, superb film."

Sharma, who was also elected to the Cannes Lions Craft Jury in 2016, explained how the perception towards Indian films is now changing. "The discrimination of how Indian films are treated or perceived outside India - it's important to break that. Because that is something which you need to tell them - the kind of emotions we carry, the western culture is not like that. Their emotion is dry. We are big on family, culture and expressing our feelings - things that might be considered loud otherwise. So, when an Indian film makes the cut, everyone takes notice," he explained.

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The director-producer also shed light on India's performance at the Oscars over the years. "In the past, films like 'Lagaan' have made it to Academy Awards, and it should have won, but the competition is so huge. We have to make, produce and direct the kind of films that can actually go and compete to win an Oscar because we haven't received an Oscar for a film yet... We got for Naatu Naatu, but not for the film. The western mindset is also changing for Indian films - example is in front of us - so now it's our responsibility also that we make those kinds of films and we enter those films. It can be in any language, not just Hindi. It can be Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or any other language. We have such a vast culture - we should promote and send those films for competition. The main thing is Indian film winning -&nbsp;teri nahi, meri nahi, India ki film jeetni chaiye - that's the most important thing. I am really hoping Laapataa Ladies&nbsp;wins at the Academy Awards," he opined.&nbsp;

At a time when re-releasing old films is helping the Indian box office make its way out of a slump, the filmmaker-producer is positive that good films which may not have worked during their initial release will get their due now. "Some of the good films that did not do too well at the time, like some of them are performing even better than their first release. 'Tumbbad', for example, I don't follow collections as such, but somebody told me the film broke its lifetime collection record in the first week only. It's good appreciation for the makers," he said, adding, that it's also a positive sign that people are returning to cinema halls for the big-screen experience. 
 
Up next, Sharma is juggling between two subjects - one of which is a war film that he's certain he'd make one day. "I have always wanted to make a war film - I've loved watching war films since I was a kid - it was always on my wishlist. I'll definitely make a war film - whether it's made now or in 2-3 years. I don't want to see what the trend is, I want to do things that excite me... Also, you need to get the actors - so for whichever film I find the cast, I will make that first," he signed off.

Indian filmmaker Amit Sharma, who has helmed projects like National Award-winning film Badhaai Ho and Tevar among others, is on cloud nine with the achievements of his recent offering, Maidaan.

Indian filmmaker Amit Sharma, who has helmed projects like National Award-winning film Badhaai Ho and Tevar among others, is on cloud nine with the achievements of his recent offering, Maidaan. The movie revolving around the life and times of Syed Abdul Rahim, a pioneering football coach in India between 1952 and 1962, won the prestigious Best Asian Film Award at the Septimius Awards 2024 in Amsterdam. "It's a proud moment, and it's for all of us. It is not Maidaan, it's the best Indian film in the whole of Asia. That's a bigger term and when an Indian film gets an award, competing with the whole of Asia, I just wanted to flaunt our Indian flag at that moment..." said the filmmaker in an exclusive interview with WION. "I actually saw all the nominations over there on the screen - just before announcing the award. Then the announcement happened," said Sharma. "Nobody knew who I was. But then after I had the award in my hand, everybody wanted to know me," he said, adding, "They were coming from all over the world. So, in my heart, I wanted it. I wasn't expecting it and I was expecting it at the same time." The Lust Stories 2 director also revealed a little about his conversation with Cuba Gooding Junior at the award ceremony. "He came to me and he said, you know, 'I've heard of Bollywood. I have seen some things, but, you know, all the films are music, dance and all that, and I've heard of this film. But I saw the saw trailer, it's on football.' So he said, 'even I got the award - let's click a picture together. Let's do cheers!" Sharma added that while people at the award ceremony weren't expecting an Indian film to take home the trophy, many of them reached out to him after watching Maidaan and appreciated his work. While Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn, Priyamani and Gajraj Rao, received rave reviews, the film didn't score as well at the box office, and Sharma makes no bones about sharing that he wasn't happy with the movie's performance at the ticket windows. "I was not very happy with the kind of numbers the film did. I was expecting more - because the kind of film it was, the feel it was giving on the big screen when you have Ajay Devgn, Gajraj Rao and Priyamani on your side," he said. Notably, the sports drama's subsequent release on OTT gave the film a bigger viewing window and many reached out to the filmmaker expressing how much they liked the film. "It took about five and a half years to make that film. But the kind of reviews I got for the film, like everybody wrote amazing about this. I got so many calls... So, appreciation is the biggest award and it compensated for that," he shared. Maidaan was also amongst the films submitted in the race to become India's official entry for Oscars 2025. With Laapataa Ladies being announced as the Film Federation of India's pick, Sharma said, "I don't have to say anything about it - the selectors have selected the film. They must have thought about it. Everybody was expecting their film going for Oscars and even I was expecting that. But the selectors must have thought about it and only then taken the decision." When asked if Maidaan will be submitted as an individual entry, Sharma said he would have a conversation with his producers and added, "I think this is the kind of story which will resonate with the world. Firstly, it's on a sport which is played by the whole world. Then it's an underdog story and nobody knows that India was so good in football at that time. Let's see what everybody collectively decides and takes this call." The director, however, has only good things to say about the movie revolving around two lost brides. "It is a wonderful film. I really liked it. So a big congratulations to Kiran Rao. It's a fantastic film, superb film." Sharma, who was also elected to the Cannes Lions Craft Jury in 2016, explained how the perception towards Indian films is now changing. "The discrimination of how Indian films are treated or perceived outside India - it's important to break that. Because that is something which you need to tell them - the kind of emotions we carry, the western culture is not like that. Their emotion is dry. We are big on family, culture and expressing our feelings - things that might be considered loud otherwise. So, when an Indian film makes the cut, everyone takes notice," he explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amit Sharma (@iamitrsharma) × The director-producer also shed light on India's performance at the Oscars over the years. "In the past, films like 'Lagaan' have made it to Academy Awards, and it should have won, but the competition is so huge. We have to make, produce and direct the kind of films that can actually go and compete to win an Oscar because we haven't received an Oscar for a film yet... We got for Naatu Naatu, but not for the film. The western mindset is also changing for Indian films - example is in front of us - so now it's our responsibility also that we make those kinds of films and we enter those films. It can be in any language, not just Hindi. It can be Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or any other language. We have such a vast culture - we should promote and send those films for competition. The main thing is Indian film winning - teri nahi, meri nahi, India ki film jeetni chaiye - that's the most important thing. I am really hoping Laapataa Ladies wins at the Academy Awards," he opined. At a time when re-releasing old films is helping the Indian box office make its way out of a slump, the filmmaker-producer is positive that good films which may not have worked during their initial release will get their due now. "Some of the good films that did not do too well at the time, like some of them are performing even better than their first release. 'Tumbbad', for example, I don't follow collections as such, but somebody told me the film broke its lifetime collection record in the first week only. It's good appreciation for the makers," he said, adding, that it's also a positive sign that people are returning to cinema halls for the big-screen experience. Up next, Sharma is juggling between two subjects - one of which is a war film that he's certain he'd make one day. "I have always wanted to make a war film - I've loved watching war films since I was a kid - it was always on my wishlist. I'll definitely make a war film - whether it's made now or in 2-3 years. I don't want to see what the trend is, I want to do things that excite me... Also, you need to get the actors - so for whichever film I find the cast, I will make that first," he signed off.

Maidaan director Amit Sharma on Laapataa Ladies' selection for Oscars 2025: 'Hope it wins' | EXCLUSIVE

Oscars 2025:&nbsp;China has selected a film titled The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru to represent it at the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film is a World War II documentary on an under-documented event in which an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship carrying British POWs (prisoners of war) started sinking and Chinese fishermen scurried to their rescue.&nbsp;

The film is by director Fang Li. This is the first time that China has sent a documentary to represent the country at the biggest global awards.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bts-suga-fined-11000-for-drunken-e-scooter-incident-yonhap-763125">BTS' Suga fined $11,000 for drunken e-scooter incident: Yonhap</a>

<h2>The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru: The Plot</h2>

The film opened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June. It is about an episode from 1942 during WWII when an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship — The Lisbon Maru — was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy. The vessel was being used to transport prisoners of war at the time, and over 800 British troops died as the ship went down, either from drowning or Japanese gunfire.&nbsp;

While a large percentage of people went down with the ship, close to 380 other British POWs were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen, who risked their lives to rescue and shelter the prisoners from Japanese forces.&nbsp;

Fang Li, recently while discussing his film said that he travelled across China, the UK, Japan, the U.S. and Canada, tracking down surviving POWs or their families. He also worked to discover what’s believed to be the actual shipwreck of the Lisbon Maru, documenting the process on film.&nbsp;

Feng told Chinese media outlets that he interviewed over 130 descendants and collected tens of thousands of historical photos to piece it all together.

The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was released in China on September 6. The film has good ratings and has been received well at the box office.&nbsp;

Oscars 2025: China has selected a film titled The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru to represent it at the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

Oscars 2025: China has selected a film titled The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru to represent it at the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film is a World War II documentary on an under-documented event in which an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship carrying British POWs (prisoners of war) started sinking and Chinese fishermen scurried to their rescue. The film is by director Fang Li. This is the first time that China has sent a documentary to represent the country at the biggest global awards. Also read: BTS' Suga fined $11,000 for drunken e-scooter incident: Yonhap The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru: The Plot The film opened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June. It is about an episode from 1942 during WWII when an unmarked Japanese troop transport ship — The Lisbon Maru — was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy. The vessel was being used to transport prisoners of war at the time, and over 800 British troops died as the ship went down, either from drowning or Japanese gunfire. While a large percentage of people went down with the ship, close to 380 other British POWs were saved by nearby Chinese fishermen, who risked their lives to rescue and shelter the prisoners from Japanese forces. Fang Li, recently while discussing his film said that he travelled across China, the UK, Japan, the U.S. and Canada, tracking down surviving POWs or their families. He also worked to discover what’s believed to be the actual shipwreck of the Lisbon Maru, documenting the process on film. Feng told Chinese media outlets that he interviewed over 130 descendants and collected tens of thousands of historical photos to piece it all together. The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was released in China on September 6. The film has good ratings and has been received well at the box office.

Oscars 2025: China to send WWII doc The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru for Best International Feature

The British Academy has selected British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's critically acclaimed thriller Santosh as the UK's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the International Feature Film category. The Hindi-language film features Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar in key roles.&nbsp; 
 
Earlier this year, Santosh was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The film enters the race with certain pressure as last year the UK marked its first win in the International feature film category at Oscars as Jonathan Glazer's The Zone Of Interest was declared the winner in the category.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shahana-goswami-stuns-in-a-cream-saree-and-swarovski-crystal-blouse-at-cannes-film-festival-2024-723918">Shahana Goswami stuns in a cream saree and Swarovski crystal blouse at Cannes Film Festival 2024</a>

<h2>About Santosh</h2>

Santosh is the directorial feature debut of British Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri. She has earlier made documentaries like I for India (2005) and Around India with a Movie Camera (2018).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/breaking-news-laapataa-ladies-is-indias-official-entry-to-oscars-2025-761109">Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to Oscars 2025</a>

Santosh is set in rural northern India, where newly-widowed Santosh inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. When an underage girl from one of India’s so-called “lower castes” is murdered, Santosh gets involved in the investigation reporting to a charismatic feminist inspector. 
 
Written and directed by Suri, Santosh stars Shahana Goswami in the titular role, alongside Sunita Rajwar. 
 
The film has been produced by James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, Mike Goodridge, and Alan McAlex. It has been co-financed by Good Chaos, Razor Film Produktion, Haut et Court, BBC Film, and BFI.

The British Academy has selected British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's critically acclaimed thriller Santosh as the UK's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the International Feature Film category.

The British Academy has selected British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's critically acclaimed thriller Santosh as the UK's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the International Feature Film category. The Hindi-language film features Indian actors Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar in key roles. Earlier this year, Santosh was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The film enters the race with certain pressure as last year the UK marked its first win in the International feature film category at Oscars as Jonathan Glazer's The Zone Of Interest was declared the winner in the category. Shahana Goswami stuns in a cream saree and Swarovski crystal blouse at Cannes Film Festival 2024 About Santosh Santosh is the directorial feature debut of British Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri. She has earlier made documentaries like I for India (2005) and Around India with a Movie Camera (2018). Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to Oscars 2025 Santosh is set in rural northern India, where newly-widowed Santosh inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. When an underage girl from one of India’s so-called “lower castes” is murdered, Santosh gets involved in the investigation reporting to a charismatic feminist inspector. Written and directed by Suri, Santosh stars Shahana Goswami in the titular role, alongside Sunita Rajwar. The film has been produced by James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, Mike Goodridge, and Alan McAlex. It has been co-financed by Good Chaos, Razor Film Produktion, Haut et Court, BBC Film, and BFI.

Shahana Goswami starrer Santosh to represent UK in Oscar race 

Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature Film category. While the decision, made by the Film Federation of India, has been greeted with a lot of joy by cinema lovers, it has also left the internet divided. Like every year, some have disagreed with FFI's decision and expressed that there was a better film that should have represented India this year at the Oscars. Some on social media have stated that Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light would have been a worthy pick.&nbsp; 
 
All We Imagine As Light premiered earlier this year at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year. It became the first Indian film to win a Grand Prix festival. Most netizens felt that the film had a fair chance at winning at the Oscars considering it had already got a Cannes nod.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/cannes-2024-all-we-imagine-as-light-becomes-the-first-indian-film-to-win-the-prestigious-palme-dor-725420">Cannes 2024: All We Imagine As Light wins the Grand Prix, first Indian film to win the honour</a> 
 
All We Imagine As Light got a limited release in India earlier this month to qualify for the Oscar race. However, the FFI decided to choose Laapataa Ladies.&nbsp; 
 
A delightful tale of two missing brides, set in rural india in the early 2000s, Laapataa Ladies earned critical praise upon its release. The film featured Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava and Pratibha Ranta in their Bollywood debuts, along with seasoned actors Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. 
 
The film has been backed by Aamir Khan and directed by Kiran Rao. 
 
On Monday, as the news of the film's entry to the Oscar race came to light, several fans took to X to celebrate, calling the film a worthy contender for Oscars. &nbsp;

“Face hi to sab kuch hota hai...face dhak dena matlab pehchan dhak dena&nbsp;A deserving entry to the Oscars 2025. #KiranRao the Director 🫡 A special thanks to megastar #AamirKhan to back this kind of movies #LaapataaLadies.” 
 
There were others who expressed disappointment at the decision.&nbsp; 
 
“This is truly tragic. A movie that can get a confirmed Oscar nom gets lost and chose #LaapataaLadies. Hope other countries take this movie #allweimagineaslight to the Oscars”, whereas another angry social media user shared, “Absurd decision not to choose All We Imagine As Light - a film that won the Cannes Grand Prix, received international recognition and already widely praised, as our official selection. Much as I loved Laapata Ladies…”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-deeply-honoured-kiran-rao-on-laapataa-ladies-being-selected-as-indias-official-oscars-entry-761181">Deeply honoured: Kiran Rao on Laapataa Ladies being selected as India’s official Oscars entry</a> 
 
Interestingly, both Laapataa Ladies and All We Imagine As Light have one commonality. Both films feature the incredible Chhaya Kadam, who plays key characters in both films.&nbsp; 
 
Laapataa Ladies will begin its Oscar campaign in a few weeks in the US. We will have to wait and watch if the film can qualify and get nominated in the Best International Feature Film category.&nbsp;

Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature Film category. While the decision, made by the Film Federation of India, has been greeted with a lot of joy by cinema lovers, it has also left the internet divided.

Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India's official entry to Oscars 2025 in the Best International Feature Film category. While the decision, made by the Film Federation of India, has been greeted with a lot of joy by cinema lovers, it has also left the internet divided. Like every year, some have disagreed with FFI's decision and expressed that there was a better film that should have represented India this year at the Oscars. Some on social media have stated that Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light would have been a worthy pick. All We Imagine As Light premiered earlier this year at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year. It became the first Indian film to win a Grand Prix festival. Most netizens felt that the film had a fair chance at winning at the Oscars considering it had already got a Cannes nod. Cannes 2024: All We Imagine As Light wins the Grand Prix, first Indian film to win the honour All We Imagine As Light got a limited release in India earlier this month to qualify for the Oscar race. However, the FFI decided to choose Laapataa Ladies. A delightful tale of two missing brides, set in rural india in the early 2000s, Laapataa Ladies earned critical praise upon its release. The film featured Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastava and Pratibha Ranta in their Bollywood debuts, along with seasoned actors Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. The film has been backed by Aamir Khan and directed by Kiran Rao. On Monday, as the news of the film's entry to the Oscar race came to light, several fans took to X to celebrate, calling the film a worthy contender for Oscars. “Face hi to sab kuch hota hai...face dhak dena matlab pehchan dhak dena A deserving entry to the Oscars 2025. #KiranRao the Director 🫡 A special thanks to megastar #AamirKhan to back this kind of movies #LaapataaLadies.” There were others who expressed disappointment at the decision. “This is truly tragic. A movie that can get a confirmed Oscar nom gets lost and chose #LaapataaLadies. Hope other countries take this movie #allweimagineaslight to the Oscars”, whereas another angry social media user shared, “Absurd decision not to choose All We Imagine As Light - a film that won the Cannes Grand Prix, received international recognition and already widely praised, as our official selection. Much as I loved Laapata Ladies…” Deeply honoured: Kiran Rao on Laapataa Ladies being selected as India’s official Oscars entry Interestingly, both Laapataa Ladies and All We Imagine As Light have one commonality. Both films feature the incredible Chhaya Kadam, who plays key characters in both films. Laapataa Ladies will begin its Oscar campaign in a few weeks in the US. We will have to wait and watch if the film can qualify and get nominated in the Best International Feature Film category.

Laapataa Ladies worthy contender for Oscars? Fans feel All We Imagine As Light had better chance 

On Monday, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced that Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film was in contention with 29 other films like Kalki 2898 AD, Animal, Chandu Champion, Srikanth and Sam Bahadur. The decision was taken unanimously by a 13-member select committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua.

A major reason for the film winning hearts across the nation was the film's female protagonist Phool Kumari, played by Nitanshi Goel. After she gets separated from her husband on the train, she proves herself to be immensely resourceful, determined and strong. Despite being naïve, she manages to survive alone at a railway station and learn new things during the hard times.

Here are 5 things all the girls can learn from Phool Kumari.

Being resourceful: Despite being all alone in a new place, Phool manages to win Manju Maai's heart. She even convinced Manju Maai to hire her at her tea stall. She proved to be resourceful and found creative ways to overcome obstacles.&nbsp;

Adapting and not sulking: Getting stuck in a railway station wasn't something Phool had in mind when she stepped out of her home after the marriage. But instead of sulking at her situation, she decides to adapt to the hardships and pave her own path.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-lizzo-shuts-down-ozempic-rumours-after-drastic-body-transformation-761054">Lizzo shuts down Ozempic rumours after drastic body transformation</a>

Welcoming criticism: Manju Maai wasn't too easy on Phool. But she decided to accept the criticism and learn from it.

Not losing hope: Phool never loses hope when her husband doesn't turn up at the railway station even after a few days. She remained optimistic that her husband would find her one day.

Never stop learning: Phool is always keen on learning new things. Seeing Manju Maai run her small business, she learns how to be independent and utilise her skills to earn a living.

On Monday, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced that Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film was in contention with 29 other films like Kalki 2898 AD, Animal, Chandu Champion, Srikanth and Sam Bahadur.

On Monday, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced that Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry for Oscars 2025. The film was in contention with 29 other films like Kalki 2898 AD, Animal, Chandu Champion, Srikanth and Sam Bahadur. The decision was taken unanimously by a 13-member select committee headed by Assamese director Jahnu Barua. A major reason for the film winning hearts across the nation was the film's female protagonist Phool Kumari, played by Nitanshi Goel. After she gets separated from her husband on the train, she proves herself to be immensely resourceful, determined and strong. Despite being naïve, she manages to survive alone at a railway station and learn new things during the hard times. Here are 5 things all the girls can learn from Phool Kumari. Being resourceful: Despite being all alone in a new place, Phool manages to win Manju Maai's heart. She even convinced Manju Maai to hire her at her tea stall. She proved to be resourceful and found creative ways to overcome obstacles. Adapting and not sulking: Getting stuck in a railway station wasn't something Phool had in mind when she stepped out of her home after the marriage. But instead of sulking at her situation, she decides to adapt to the hardships and pave her own path. Also read: Lizzo shuts down Ozempic rumours after drastic body transformation Welcoming criticism: Manju Maai wasn't too easy on Phool. But she decided to accept the criticism and learn from it. Not losing hope: Phool never loses hope when her husband doesn't turn up at the railway station even after a few days. She remained optimistic that her husband would find her one day. Never stop learning: Phool is always keen on learning new things. Seeing Manju Maai run her small business, she learns how to be independent and utilise her skills to earn a living.

Laapataa Ladies Oscars 2025: 5 things every girl must learn from Phool Kumari

Laapataa Ladies Oscars 2025:&nbsp;Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to the Oscars 2025. After winning the hearts of the whole country with its heartwarming story and incredible performances, the&nbsp;movie has been chosen to compete at the&nbsp;97th Academy Awards.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;movie&nbsp;will&nbsp;be submitted in the Best Foreign Language Film category.&nbsp;

<h2>Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to the Oscars 2025</h2>

On Monday, The Film Federation of India announced Kiran Rao's rural drama as the official entry at the 97th Academy Awards.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-deeply-honoured-kiran-rao-on-laapataa-ladies-being-selected-as-indias-official-oscars-entry-761181">Deeply honoured: Kiran Rao on Laapataa Ladies being selected as India's official Oscars entry</a>

The movie that&nbsp;chronicles the story of two young brides has beaten 29 Indian films in the race to the Oscars. The film was against big titles like Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light, Animal, Sam Bahadur, Chandu Champion, Kalki 2898 AD,&nbsp;Joram, and Maidaan.&nbsp;

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India's Official Entry for the 2024-25 Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) is " Laapataa Ladies (Hindi)" <a href="https://t.co/Gm0B7fidF2">pic.twitter.com/Gm0B7fidF2</a>
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The big announcement came a few days after director Roa shared that her dream would be fulfilled if her movie was selected as&nbsp;India's official entry at the 2025 Academy Awards.

“My dream would be fulfilled if it was, if it would go (to Oscars). But it's a process, and I'm hoping it'll (Laapataa Ladies) be considered. I'm sure the best film will go, whoever they choose in the scheme of things,” Rao told news agency PTI. &nbsp;

Released in March, the movie garnered outstanding response from critics and audiences alike.&nbsp;Set in rural India, the film&nbsp;tells the empowering story of two brides, who accidentally got swapped during a train journey. The movie gives a strong message on gender equality,&nbsp;women's education and empowerment.

The film features&nbsp;Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastav and Pratibha Ranta in the lead roles alongside Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/laapataa-ladies-ott-platform-where-to-watch-kiran-raos-film-online-761162">Laapataa Ladies on OTT : Where to watch Kiran Rao's film online</a>

The movie has been co-produced by actor Aamir Khan. Interestingly, Khan has also produced and starred in the movie Lagaan,&nbsp;which was&nbsp;the third Indian film&nbsp;to be nominated for the&nbsp;Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film&nbsp; 
after&nbsp;Mother India&nbsp;(1957) and&nbsp;Salaam Bombay!&nbsp;(1988). Hope Laapataa Ladies also&nbsp;found a mention in&nbsp;the final list of nominations.

<h2>Laapataa Ladies Review:</h2>

Wion's film critic Shomini Sen wrote in her review that Kiran Rao's film feels like a giant warm hug

The review of the movie reads, ''The story may be set in fictitious locations but the problems are real. The beauty lies in the brilliant screenplay by Desai and Divyanidhi who adapt the story from writer Biplab Goswami and manage to put a smile on the face with little details. As she waits for her husband to come back looking for her, Phool befriends a beggar, a street vendor, and a chai&nbsp;wali&nbsp;at the station. The four form an unusual bond with Phool learning a thing or two on feminism from the elderly lady who gets work at her shop,'' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-laapataa-ladies-review-kiran-raos-film-feels-like-a-giant-warm-hug-695341">read the review here.</a>

Laapataa Ladies Oscars 2025: Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to the Oscars 2025. After winning the hearts of the whole country with its heartwarming story and incredible performances, the movie has been chosen to compete at the 97th Academy Awards.

Laapataa Ladies Oscars 2025: Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to the Oscars 2025. After winning the hearts of the whole country with its heartwarming story and incredible performances, the movie has been chosen to compete at the 97th Academy Awards. The movie will be submitted in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to the Oscars 2025 On Monday, The Film Federation of India announced Kiran Rao's rural drama as the official entry at the 97th Academy Awards. Also read: Deeply honoured: Kiran Rao on Laapataa Ladies being selected as India's official Oscars entry The movie that chronicles the story of two young brides has beaten 29 Indian films in the race to the Oscars. The film was against big titles like Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light, Animal, Sam Bahadur, Chandu Champion, Kalki 2898 AD, Joram, and Maidaan. India's Official Entry for the 2024-25 Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars 2025) is " Laapataa Ladies (Hindi)" pic.twitter.com/Gm0B7fidF2 — Nikil Murukan (@onlynikil) September 23, 2024 × The big announcement came a few days after director Roa shared that her dream would be fulfilled if her movie was selected as India's official entry at the 2025 Academy Awards. “My dream would be fulfilled if it was, if it would go (to Oscars). But it's a process, and I'm hoping it'll (Laapataa Ladies) be considered. I'm sure the best film will go, whoever they choose in the scheme of things,” Rao told news agency PTI. Released in March, the movie garnered outstanding response from critics and audiences alike. Set in rural India, the film tells the empowering story of two brides, who accidentally got swapped during a train journey. The movie gives a strong message on gender equality, women's education and empowerment. The film features Nitanshi Goel, Sparsh Shrivastav and Pratibha Ranta in the lead roles alongside Ravi Kishan, Chhaya Kadam and Geeta Aggarwal Sharma. Also read: Laapataa Ladies on OTT : Where to watch Kiran Rao's film online The movie has been co-produced by actor Aamir Khan. Interestingly, Khan has also produced and starred in the movie Lagaan, which was the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay! (1988). Hope Laapataa Ladies also found a mention in the final list of nominations. Laapataa Ladies Review: Wion's film critic Shomini Sen wrote in her review that Kiran Rao's film feels like a giant warm hug The review of the movie reads, ''The story may be set in fictitious locations but the problems are real. The beauty lies in the brilliant screenplay by Desai and Divyanidhi who adapt the story from writer Biplab Goswami and manage to put a smile on the face with little details. As she waits for her husband to come back looking for her, Phool befriends a beggar, a street vendor, and a chai wali at the station. The four form an unusual bond with Phool learning a thing or two on feminism from the elderly lady who gets work at her shop,'' read the review here.

Breaking! Laapataa Ladies is India's official entry to Oscars 2025

As the race for Oscars intensifies with countries looking through their portfolios to send their best of the year for Best International Feature submission, Iran has joined the competition with family drama In the Arms of the Tree.&nbsp;

The film, In the Arms of the Tree, has been selected as Iran’s official submission for the best international feature film category of the 2025 Academy Awards. The decision was announced by the Farabi Cinema Foundation.&nbsp;

<h2>In the Arms of the Tree</h2>

The Babak Khajeh Pasha-directed film was&nbsp;chosen after 10 days of scouting through their best cinema work in the last year.&nbsp;

In the Arms of the Tree tells the story of a couple married for twelve years, whose life crisis shatters their children’s world. The film features actors Maral Baniadam, Javad Ghamati and Rouhollah Zamani.&nbsp;

The Oscar hopeful had its world premiere at Iran’s Fajr Film Festival in February last year and also played at the Shanghai International Film Festival this year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-oscars-2025-france-to-send-emilia-perez-for-best-international-feature-759988">Oscars 2025: France to send Emilia Perez for Best International Feature</a>

Iran is currently going through a tough time in terms of cinema liberty. Many Iranian filmmakers are currently working outside the official system, due to censorship and other restrictions. Some have retorted to this as part of their protest against authoritarian clampdowns. Many others have left Iran and are making films about their home from outside the country.&nbsp;

Notably, one of the most talked about Iranian films of the year, Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig has become the official submission of Germany for Oscars 2025. The film even received a special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

In Iran, Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the political content of his films.

As the race for Oscars intensifies with countries looking through their portfolios to send their best of the year for Best International Feature submission, Iran has joined the competition with family drama In the Arms of the Tree.

As the race for Oscars intensifies with countries looking through their portfolios to send their best of the year for Best International Feature submission, Iran has joined the competition with family drama In the Arms of the Tree. The film, In the Arms of the Tree, has been selected as Iran’s official submission for the best international feature film category of the 2025 Academy Awards. The decision was announced by the Farabi Cinema Foundation. In the Arms of the Tree The Babak Khajeh Pasha-directed film was chosen after 10 days of scouting through their best cinema work in the last year. In the Arms of the Tree tells the story of a couple married for twelve years, whose life crisis shatters their children’s world. The film features actors Maral Baniadam, Javad Ghamati and Rouhollah Zamani. The Oscar hopeful had its world premiere at Iran’s Fajr Film Festival in February last year and also played at the Shanghai International Film Festival this year. Also read: Oscars 2025: France to send Emilia Perez for Best International Feature Iran is currently going through a tough time in terms of cinema liberty. Many Iranian filmmakers are currently working outside the official system, due to censorship and other restrictions. Some have retorted to this as part of their protest against authoritarian clampdowns. Many others have left Iran and are making films about their home from outside the country. Notably, one of the most talked about Iranian films of the year, Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig has become the official submission of Germany for Oscars 2025. The film even received a special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In Iran, Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the political content of his films.

Oscars: Iran selects drama film In the Arms of the Tree as official entry for Best International Feature

Oscars next year promises to be a mixed bag as Frannce selects a Spanish language film for its Best International Feature entry. The film is a thriller by Jacques Audiard and has already earned two major awards at the Cannes Film Festival. &nbsp;

Emilia Perez stars Karla Sofía Gascón as a fearsome drug lord who embraces her true self as a woman. The film stars an ensemble cast including Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz.

Emilia Perez got one of the longest-standing ovations at Cannes and went on to win the Jury Prize on top of the Best Actress Prize for the ensemble cast.&nbsp;

<h2>Who is Jacques Audiard?</h2>

He is a revered French auteur who won a Palme d’Or with Dheepan. His name was in the Oscars when he was previously nominated for a foreign-language Oscar with A Prophet starring Tahar Rahim.

Watch Emilia Perez trailer here:

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<h2>Emilia Perez has earned wide praise</h2>

As for Emilia Perez, the film fought severe competition to be enlisted for the Best International feature race along with The Count of Monte Cristo, Misericordia and Matthieu Delaporte.

Alexandre de La Patellière’s The Count of Monte Cristo was a box office hit in France and has since earned critical praise since world premiering out of competition at Cannes.

Last year the committee which decides the film to send for the Oscars race faced backlash for not picking Anatomy of a Fall and instead sent the culinary romance The Taste of Things. Anatomy of a Fall earned five Oscar nominations in major categories and won Best Original Screenplay.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/saturday-might-live-ropes-in-mega-stars-for-its-50th-season-759968">Saturday Night Live ropes in mega stars for its 50th season</a>

Oscars next year promises to be a mixed bag as Frannce selects a Spanish language film for its Best International Feature entry. The film is a thriller by Jacques Audiard and has already earned two major awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

Oscars next year promises to be a mixed bag as Frannce selects a Spanish language film for its Best International Feature entry. The film is a thriller by Jacques Audiard and has already earned two major awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Emilia Perez stars Karla Sofía Gascón as a fearsome drug lord who embraces her true self as a woman. The film stars an ensemble cast including Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz. Emilia Perez got one of the longest-standing ovations at Cannes and went on to win the Jury Prize on top of the Best Actress Prize for the ensemble cast. Who is Jacques Audiard? He is a revered French auteur who won a Palme d’Or with Dheepan. His name was in the Oscars when he was previously nominated for a foreign-language Oscar with A Prophet starring Tahar Rahim. Watch Emilia Perez trailer here: Emilia Perez has earned wide praise As for Emilia Perez, the film fought severe competition to be enlisted for the Best International feature race along with The Count of Monte Cristo, Misericordia and Matthieu Delaporte. Alexandre de La Patellière’s The Count of Monte Cristo was a box office hit in France and has since earned critical praise since world premiering out of competition at Cannes. Last year the committee which decides the film to send for the Oscars race faced backlash for not picking Anatomy of a Fall and instead sent the culinary romance The Taste of Things. Anatomy of a Fall earned five Oscar nominations in major categories and won Best Original Screenplay. Also read: Saturday Night Live ropes in mega stars for its 50th season

Oscars 2025: France to send Emilia Perez for Best International Feature

The Academy Awards has started taking entries for its Best International Feature category.

The latest addition is from South Korea. The Korean nation has picked up its last year’s box office smash hit film, 12.12: The Day which is a political action drama.&nbsp;

<h2>Korean film 12.12: The Day</h2>

The film deals with a military coup in 1979. It is based on true events and takes place on December 12, 1979, when military commander Chun Doo-hwan staged a coup d’etat to seize power, less than two months after long-time dictator Park Chung-hee’s assassination. The date is considered a pivotal one in modern Korean history, opening another era of dictatorship.&nbsp;

The film was selected for Oscars by the Korean Film Council.&nbsp;

Directed by Kim Sung-su, the film was released in November last year. South Korea tasted major success with big wins in 2020 with Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite. In 2020, Parasite won Best Picture.

<h2>97th Academy Awards</h2>

The 97th Academy Awards are set for March 3, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The deadline for submission of films is October 2 and the shortlist of 15 finalists will be announced on December 17. The final five nominees will further be announced on January 17, 2025.&nbsp;

Last year, Japan’s Perfect Days, Italy’s Io Capitano, Spain’s Society Of The Snow, Germany’s The Teachers’ Lounge and the UK’s The Zone Of Interest were five finalists. The Zone of Interest won the Best International Feature Oscar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-perfect-couple-la-premiere-nicole-kidman-and-others-get-attacked-by-insects-at-red-carpet-756104">Perfect Couple LA premiere: Nicole Kidman and others get attacked by insects on red carpet</a>

The Academy Awards has started taking entries for its Best International Feature category. The latest addition is from South Korea. The Korean nation has picked up its last year’s box office smash hit film, 12.

The Academy Awards has started taking entries for its Best International Feature category. The latest addition is from South Korea. The Korean nation has picked up its last year’s box office smash hit film, 12.12: The Day which is a political action drama. Korean film 12.12: The Day The film deals with a military coup in 1979. It is based on true events and takes place on December 12, 1979, when military commander Chun Doo-hwan staged a coup d’etat to seize power, less than two months after long-time dictator Park Chung-hee’s assassination. The date is considered a pivotal one in modern Korean history, opening another era of dictatorship. The film was selected for Oscars by the Korean Film Council. Directed by Kim Sung-su, the film was released in November last year. South Korea tasted major success with big wins in 2020 with Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite. In 2020, Parasite won Best Picture. 97th Academy Awards The 97th Academy Awards are set for March 3, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The deadline for submission of films is October 2 and the shortlist of 15 finalists will be announced on December 17. The final five nominees will further be announced on January 17, 2025. Last year, Japan’s Perfect Days, Italy’s Io Capitano, Spain’s Society Of The Snow, Germany’s The Teachers’ Lounge and the UK’s The Zone Of Interest were five finalists. The Zone of Interest won the Best International Feature Oscar. Also read: Perfect Couple LA premiere: Nicole Kidman and others get attacked by insects on red carpet

Oscars 2025: Korea selects political thriller 12.12: The Day as official entry

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