Mumbai, March 16: In the 98th Academy Awards, India’s official entry, the film ‘Homebound’ directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, made it to the top 15 shortlist in the Best International Feature Film category but did not reach the final nominations. The prestigious award was won by Norway’s film ‘Sentimental Value,’ marking a historic achievement.

The Academy announced the film’s victory on its official social media platform X, stating, “Norway has made its mark on the world stage. Congratulations to ‘Sentimental Value’ for winning the Oscar for Best International Feature Film this year.”

Although ‘Homebound’ did not officially enter the Oscars this year, it was still a moment of pride for India, as Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra presented the award in this category. Priyanka took the stage alongside Javier Bardem to hand over the Oscar to the team of ‘Sentimental Value.’

Prior to winning the Oscar, ‘Sentimental Value’ received significant acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Neeraj Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’ was also highly praised at the 78th Cannes Film Festival (2025), where it received a lengthy nine-minute standing ovation during its premiere in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section. It was the only Indian feature film selected at Cannes in 2025.

The film portrays the story of two friends, Chandan and Shoaib, from a small village in North India, who dream of earning respect by wearing police uniforms. Their struggle to secure police jobs, the social dynamics, their friendship, and their journey home during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the painful realities of caste discrimination and poverty.

On the other hand, ‘Sentimental Value’ was directed by renowned Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier, who is already famous for his ‘Oslo Trilogy.’ Released in August 2025, the film received a total of nine nominations at the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and other major categories. It is a family drama centered around the complexities of relationships between an aging film director and his daughters, with Renate Reinsve delivering a remarkable performance.

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