Homebound advances to the voting round in Oscars 2026 race

India`s official entry to the Oscars 2026, Homebound, has now advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa starrer has been chosen among the top 15 films to become eligible for the final nominations.

Homebound moves to the voting round

The Academy, on Tuesday, announced that the top fifteen films from across the world have advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category. Homebound from India features in the list alongside entries from Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Palestine, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia.

Fifteen films advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category. Here’s where they land on the map:

Argentina, BELÉN
Brazil, THE SECRET AGENT
France, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Germany, SOUND OF FALLING
India, HOMEBOUND
Iraq, THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE… pic.twitter.com/BayF3hOfeM — The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 5, 2026

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

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

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

About Homebound

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

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

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

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

(With inputs from ANI)