Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa's 'Homebound' advances in Oscars race for Best International Feature

'Homebound,' the acclaimed film by Neeraj Ghaywan, has secured a spot among the 15 films advancing to the next round of voting for the Best International Feature category at this year’s Academy Awards. The Academy recently announced the updated list on X, revealing the films that are now in contention.

India's 'Homebound' is competing alongside films from Argentina (Belen), Brazil (The Secret Agent), France (It Was Just an Accident), Germany (Sound of Falling), Iraq (The President's Cake), Japan (Kukoho), Jordan (All That is Left of You), Norway (Sentimental Value), Palestine (Palestine 36), South Korea (No Other Choice), Spain (Sirat), Switzerland (Late Shift), Taiwan (Left-Handed Girl), and Tunisia (The Voice of Hind Rajab).

As the film advances in the race for an Oscar, Martin Scorsese, who serves as an executive producer on Homebound, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. In a video, Scorsese discussed the film with Ghaywan, expressing his deep connection to the story.

“I’m very happy to be associated as an executive producer on Homebound (@homeboundthefilm), shortlisted for the Best International Feature category at this year’s Academy Awards,” Scorsese wrote in his caption. “I was deeply moved by this true story of two young men whose friendship and quest for dignity speak to the need for empathy and human connection in a divided world.”

In the video, Scorsese recalled reading the script and working on it with Ghaywan. "I remember working on the script with you. In a way, I've been living with it for about three years. It’s very satisfying to see it here,” Scorsese said. “I want American audiences to experience this film because it's based on a true story. What stood out to me was that I didn’t know the story before."

He continued, “Beyond the tragedy of the situation, the film also captures the joy of life—particularly the joy shared by the two young men. I’m impressed by how you approached this, not as a heavy-handed lecture but through the humanity of these characters and their families.”

Ghaywan, reflecting on his approach to the film, emphasized that he avoided "sloganeering" or delivering political statements. “I wanted to tell the story without resorting to grandstanding or preaching,” he said.