The Film Federation of India selected the Marathi-language film Gondhal as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made on 18 September 2026, and the film was chosen from a list of 33 films considered for the national entry.
Academy Awards and International Feature Film category
The Academy Awards are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. The Best International Feature Film category is reserved for feature-length films produced outside the United States with predominantly non-English dialogue.
About Gondhal
Gondhal is a Marathi-language psychological and cultural thriller film written and directed by Santosh Davakhar. The film is set in rural Maharashtra and deals with ritual tradition, personal ambition, and human vulnerability.
Film Federation of India and selection process
The Film Federation of India is the body that selects India’s official submission for the Academy Awards in the international feature category. For the 99th Academy Awards, the federation considered 33 films before choosing Gondhal as the final entry.
Important Facts for Exams
- The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027.
- Gondhal won the Silver Peacock for Best Director for Santosh Davakhar at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025.
- Gondhal received the FIPRESCI Award at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival in 2026.
- Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language mainly spoken in Maharashtra and parts of neighbouring states.
Indian cinema at the Oscars
India submits one film each year for the Best International Feature Film category under the Academy Awards rules. The final Oscar nomination list is announced by the Academy after the national submission process is completed.
