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What is the story about?
India has already chosen the Marathi film Gondhal as its official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards. Yet, another Indian film, Angh, is also eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category.
The reason is a new Oscar qualification route introduced by the Academy this year.
Angh, the feature directorial debut of Naga filmmaker Theja Rio, won the Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 20, 2026. The win gives the Nagaland-set film a separate route to Oscar consideration, without having to be selected as India’s official entry.
How does Angh qualify for the Oscars?
Angh was the only Indian film selected for TIFF’s Platform Competition this year and went on to win the top prize in the section.
The Platform Competition is one of TIFF’s competitive sections and focuses on distinctive directorial voices. Angh became the first Indian film to win the award.
Under the Academy’s updated rules for the 99th Oscars, winning the Platform Award at TIFF can make a non-English-language film eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category.
According to an explainer by Brut, the Academy has introduced this as a second route alongside the traditional country-selection process. A film does not have to be its country’s official submission if it wins one of six specified festival awards.
These include the:
Angh has entered the Oscar consideration process through its TIFF win.
Importantly, this does not mean the film has been nominated for an Oscar. It will still have to go through the Academy’s eligibility review, shortlist and final nomination stages.
Where does Gondhal stand?
The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, as India’s official submission for the 99th Academy Awards on September 18.
The Marathi film was chosen from more than 30 contenders, including Dhurandhar, Hanuman Ansh, Main Vaapas Aaunga and Border 2.
Gondhal takes its name from the traditional all-night Maharashtrian ritual involving music, drumming and dance, which forms the backdrop of the film.
The film stars Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni and Nishad Bhoir. Its music has been composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with cinematography by Amalendu Chaudhary.
Gondhal was released in Maharashtra theatres in November 2025 and has also won awards at the International Film Festival of India, Bengaluru International Film Festival, Pune International Film Festival and Third Eye Asian International Film Festival.
So, can two Indian films be in Oscar contention?
Yes. Gondhal remains India’s official submission, while Angh has qualified for consideration through the Academy’s separate festival-award route.
The two films therefore do not have to compete for the same country nomination. Both can potentially be considered in the International Feature Film category under the Academy’s rules.
The Academy will review eligible films before announcing the 15-film International Feature Film shortlist on December 15, 2026. Five films from that shortlist will eventually receive nominations.
What Theja Rio said about Angh’s Oscar journey
Speaking to Forbes India, Rio, producer Nancy Beso and executive producer Gaurav Dhingra discussed the film’s emphasis on authenticity, its roots in Nagaland and its journey to a global platform.
On Angh qualifying through TIFF rather than as India’s official Oscar entry, Rio said the team was happy with the route it had taken.
“We're happy with the route that we've been selected through. Not saying that being selected as the Indian Oscar entry isn't through merit, but being honoured by a festival like TIFF with so much competition—not just going up against Indian films, but competing with so many amazing films from different countries—feels validating. I didn't expect us to win. My producers were a bit more arrogant than I was, but we're happy and looking forward to the Oscar journey.”
Also Read: Hanuman Ansh Box Office: How the film defied norms, earned record collections weeks after release
The reason is a new Oscar qualification route introduced by the Academy this year.
Angh, the feature directorial debut of Naga filmmaker Theja Rio, won the Platform Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 20, 2026. The win gives the Nagaland-set film a separate route to Oscar consideration, without having to be selected as India’s official entry.
How does Angh qualify for the Oscars?
Angh was the only Indian film selected for TIFF’s Platform Competition this year and went on to win the top prize in the section.
The Platform Competition is one of TIFF’s competitive sections and focuses on distinctive directorial voices. Angh became the first Indian film to win the award.
Under the Academy’s updated rules for the 99th Oscars, winning the Platform Award at TIFF can make a non-English-language film eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category.
According to an explainer by Brut, the Academy has introduced this as a second route alongside the traditional country-selection process. A film does not have to be its country’s official submission if it wins one of six specified festival awards.
These include the:
- Platform Award at TIFF
- Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival
- Busan Award for Best Film
- Palme d’Or at Cannes
- World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance
- Golden Lion at Venice
Angh has entered the Oscar consideration process through its TIFF win.
Importantly, this does not mean the film has been nominated for an Oscar. It will still have to go through the Academy’s eligibility review, shortlist and final nomination stages.
Where does Gondhal stand?
The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, as India’s official submission for the 99th Academy Awards on September 18.
The Marathi film was chosen from more than 30 contenders, including Dhurandhar, Hanuman Ansh, Main Vaapas Aaunga and Border 2.
Gondhal takes its name from the traditional all-night Maharashtrian ritual involving music, drumming and dance, which forms the backdrop of the film.
The film stars Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni and Nishad Bhoir. Its music has been composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with cinematography by Amalendu Chaudhary.
Gondhal was released in Maharashtra theatres in November 2025 and has also won awards at the International Film Festival of India, Bengaluru International Film Festival, Pune International Film Festival and Third Eye Asian International Film Festival.
So, can two Indian films be in Oscar contention?
Yes. Gondhal remains India’s official submission, while Angh has qualified for consideration through the Academy’s separate festival-award route.
The two films therefore do not have to compete for the same country nomination. Both can potentially be considered in the International Feature Film category under the Academy’s rules.
The Academy will review eligible films before announcing the 15-film International Feature Film shortlist on December 15, 2026. Five films from that shortlist will eventually receive nominations.
What Theja Rio said about Angh’s Oscar journey
Speaking to Forbes India, Rio, producer Nancy Beso and executive producer Gaurav Dhingra discussed the film’s emphasis on authenticity, its roots in Nagaland and its journey to a global platform.
On Angh qualifying through TIFF rather than as India’s official Oscar entry, Rio said the team was happy with the route it had taken.
“We're happy with the route that we've been selected through. Not saying that being selected as the Indian Oscar entry isn't through merit, but being honoured by a festival like TIFF with so much competition—not just going up against Indian films, but competing with so many amazing films from different countries—feels validating. I didn't expect us to win. My producers were a bit more arrogant than I was, but we're happy and looking forward to the Oscar journey.”
Also Read: Hanuman Ansh Box Office: How the film defied norms, earned record collections weeks after release
