The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has good news for Indian movies. Four films from India can now try for the Best Picture award at the Oscars 2026.
This is the 98th Academy Awards. Out of 317 films that can enter, only 201 meet the extra tough rules for Best Picture. The Academy shared this reminder list on Thursday. Nominations come out on January 22. The main awards show happens on March 15.
The first film is Kantara: Chapter 1 from Kannada language. Rishab Shetty directs it and plays the lead role. It comes from Hombale Films. The story looks at old traditions of Daiva worship in the Tulunadu area. It goes back to the Kadamba dynasty in the fourth century. Shetty acts as Berme, a man who guards the forest and tribal ways.
Next is Tanvi The Great, a Hindi film. Anupam Kher directs it. It tells about a young girl named Tanvi Raina. She has autism but dreams of joining the Indian Army like her father who passed away. The cast includes Shubhangi, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Karan Tacker.
Two more Indian films made the list. Mahavatar Narsimha is a cartoon movie in many languages. It shows myths in bright pictures. Tourist Family is a Tamil film by new director Abishan Jeevinth. It stars M Sasikumar and looks at family life and moving to new places. Sister Midnight also got in. It is a Hindi film made by UK and India together. Radhika Apte stars in this close-up drama story.
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These films had to follow strict rules to join. For basic entry, they needed to play in a real cinema in one of six big US areas. These are Los Angeles County, New York City, Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Atlanta. This run had to happen from January 1 to December 31, 2025. It needed seven full days in a row at one place.
For Best Picture, there were more steps. Makers sent a private RAISE form about representation and inclusion. Films had to meet two of four rules on diversity from the Academy. They also needed seven days of shows in 10 of the top 50 US markets. These days could be together or spread out within 45 days of the film's start in 2025.
Just being on this list does not mean a nomination. Members from all 19 Academy groups vote in secret online rounds. They pick 10 films for Best Picture and five for each of the other 23 categories.
India has another win too. Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound made the shortlist of 15 for Best International Feature Film in December 2025. This shows Indian films from Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, cartoons, and more are reaching far after a so-so year for some local movie scenes in 2025.