A Hindi-language film has made it to the prestigious Oscars 2025 shortlist, marking a significant achievement for Indian cinema. “Santosh,” a unique international co-production set in rural northern India, has been included in the list of 15 films shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Shortlist Announcement by AMPAS
On Wednesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed the names of the films that have made it to the shortlist for the Oscars 2025. Out of a total of 85 films submitted by countries from around the world, “Santosh” made it to the final 15 films in the Best International Feature Film category. This recognition is an exciting achievement for the film, its cast, and crew.
Santosh’s Journey
“Santosh” was submitted by the United Kingdom as its official entry for the Oscars. Directed by Sandhya Suri, the film tells the story of a young widow, played by Shahana Goswami, who inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. The film is set in rural north India, where the protagonist, caught up in the challenges of institutional corruption, works with a tough, experienced detective, Inspector Sharma (played by Sunita Rajwar), on a murder case. The victim is a teenage girl from a lower-caste Dalit community, which adds layers of social issues to the film’s plot.
The film premiered at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and received positive reviews from critics. The recognition at Cannes further solidified the film’s potential to make it to the Oscars, and now, being shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category is another major milestone.
Shahana Goswami’s Reaction
Actress Shahana Goswami, who plays the lead role in “Santosh,” expressed her joy and excitement after hearing the news. Taking to Instagram, she shared her happiness, thanking everyone who supported the film. She especially praised the film’s writer-director Sandhya Suri for her vision and effort in bringing the film to life. “So happy for the team, especially our writer-director Sandhya Suri for this little glory of recognition for our film Santosh! How incredible to be shortlisted from amongst 85 films. Thank you to everyone who loved it, supported it, and voted for it,” Shahana wrote.
The Full List of Shortlisted Films
The shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category includes 15 films, selected from 85 submissions worldwide. Here are the films that have made it to the next round:
- Armand (Norway) – IFC Films
- Dahomey (Senegal) – MUBI
- Emilia Perez (France) – Netflix
- Flow (Latvia) – Janus Films and Sideshow
- From Ground Zero (Palestine) – No U.S. Distribution
- The Girl With the Needle (Denmark) – MUBI
- How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand) – Well Go USA Entertainment
- I’m Still Here (Brazil) – Sony Pictures Classics
- Kneecap (Ireland) – Sony Pictures Classics
- Santosh (United Kingdom) – Metrograph Pictures
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany) – Neon
- Touch (Iceland) – Focus Features
- Universal Language (Canada) – Oscilloscope Laboratories
- Waves (Czech Republic) – No U.S. Distribution
- Vermiglio (Italy) – Janus Films
Next Steps and Oscar Voting
While these 15 films are officially eligible for the next round of the Academy Awards, being shortlisted does not guarantee a spot in the final nominations. The next important phase in the Oscars process is the voting to determine the nominees. Oscar voters will cast their ballots for all 23 categories from January 8 to January 12, 2025. The final list of nominees will be announced on January 17, 2025.
For “Santosh,” making it to this shortlist is already a significant accomplishment. Whether the film progresses to the final nomination stage will depend on the votes of the Academy’s members, but for now, it’s a proud moment for the filmmakers and all those involved in the project.
