‘Top Gun,’ ‘Black Panther’ advance in Oscars shortlist

India’s official submission was not S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR, but rather Pan Nalin’s Last Film Show which made the cut becoming the first film from the country to do so in over 20 years

Blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way of Waterand pop stars like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Rihanna just got one step closer to getting Oscar nominations.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 95th Oscars, including documentary feature, international film, makeup and hairstyling, score, original song, sound, visual effects and shorts.

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths was along the 15 films shortlisted in the international film category, one of the most competitive. The category also includes already decorated films like Holy Spider (Denmark), All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany), Saint Omer (France), Corsage (Austria), EO (Poland), Return to Seoul (Cambodia), Decision to Leave (South Korea), Close (Belgium) and Argentina, 1985 (Argentina).

The inclusion of Joyland marks the first time Pakistan has ever made the shortlist. Most of the directors are first-timers on the shorlist too, with the exception being Iñárritu.

Also read: Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ makes the cut for Oscars 2023

India’s official submission was not S.S. Rajamouli’s popular action epic RRR, but rather Pan Nalin’s Last Film Showwhich made the cut becoming the first film from the country to do so in over 20 years. RRR could get nominations in other categories, including for the shortlisted original song Naatu Naatu.

Jafar Panâhi was also not put forward to represent Iran, whose selection was not among the 15 and Russia did not submit a film this year.