The superhit Malayalam film ‘2018: Everyone's a Hero 'has been selected as India's official entry for the "Best International Feature Film" category at the 96th Academy Awards 2024 (popularly known as Oscar Awards). The 96th Academy Awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles, United States of America, on March 10, 2024.
In 2022, the Gujarati film “ Chhello Show (Last Film Show)”, directed by Pan Nalin, was India's official nominee for the 'Best International Feature Film category' at the 95th Oscar Award 2023.
Selection Committee of the Film Federation of India
The Malayalam film ‘2018 'was selected by a 16-member committee of the Film Federation of India headed by renowned filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli. According to Girish Kasaravalli, "the film was chosen due to its relevant theme of climate change and the challenges of people in the midst of what is called development in the society."
The Film Federation of India is an apex body of film producer distributors in India.
The committee reviewed 22 films nominated to represent India at the 96th Oscar awards . It included films like Sudipto Sen's The Kerala Story, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and Rani Mukherjee's Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (Hindi); Balagam (Telugu); Vaalvi and Baaplyok (Marathi); and August 16, 1947 (Tamil). However, they finally selected Tovino Thomas' superhit film ‘2018: Everyone's a Hero.
The 2018: Everyone's a Hero film is based on the 2018 floods which devastated Kerala. The film has been directed by Jude Anthany Joseph and stars Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Narain and Lal.
The film released in 2023 is the highest-earning Malayalam film of all time.
To date, 56 Indian films have been nominated for the 'Best International Feature Film' category at the Oscars. The first film to be nominated was Mother India (Hindi), directed by Mehboob Khan in 1957.
To date, only three Indian films, Mother India (1958), Salaam Bombay (1989) and Lagaaan (2001), have made it to the final list of nominees for the Oscar award.
None of the Indian films has won the Best International Feature Film category award at the Oscars.
Serial No |
Award Winner |
Category |
Film |
Year |
1. |
Mrs. Bhanu Athaiya |
Costume Designing |
Gandhi |
1982 |
2 |
Satyajit Ray |
Honourary Academy Award |
- |
1992 |
3 |
Resul Pookuty |
Best Sound Mixing |
Slumdog Millionaire |
2008 |
4 |
A R Rahman |
Best Original Score |
Slumdog Millionaire |
2008 |
5 |
A R Rahman (Music Composer) and Gulzar (Lyricist) |
Best Original Song (Jai Ho song) |
Slumdog Millionaire |
2008 |
6 |
M. M. Keeravani (Music) Chandrabose (Lyrics) |
Best Original Song (Nattu Nattu) |
RRR |
2023 |
7 |
Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga |
Best Documentary (Short Subject) |
Elephant Whispers |
2023 |