Jallikkattu out of Oscars

India's Oscar hopes have been dashed as Lijo Jose Pelissery's 'Jalikkattu' has fallen out of the race for the 93rd Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the final shortlist of 15 films that will be contending for nomination but 'Jalikkattu' is not a part of that list.

The other contenders include entries from 93 countries like: Quo Vadis, Aida?" (Bosnia and Herzegovina), "Two of Us" (France), "La Llorona" (Guatemala), "Better Days" (Hong Kong), "Sun Children" (Iran), "Night of the Kings" (Ivory Coast), "I'm No Longer Here" (Mexico), "Hope" (Norway), "A Sun" (Taiwan) and "The Man Who Sold His Skin" (Tunisia).

The next round will involve Academy members viewing all fifteen films to select five finalists. Meanwhile another Indian filmmaker Karishma Dev-Dube and her film 'Bittu' have been shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film category in the Oscars. Karishma is part of the Women Rising collective that aims to promote women filmmakers in India and is helmed by the likes of Ekta Kapoor and Guneet Monga, whose 'Period. End of Sentence' won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2019.