Lights, camera, Oscars! Guess which Indian films are in the race?

Four Indian productions, along with a Hindi UK co-production, have been included in the list of films eligible for Oscars 2026 , highlighting India’s growing presence on the global awards stage. Among them are the much awaited Kannada epic Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and the Hindi drama Tanvi The Great .

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently released its reminder list for the 98th Academy Awards , a preliminary step before the official nominations are announced on January 22 .

Alongside Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 , directed by and starring Rishabh Shetty , and Tanvi The Great , directed by Anupam Kher , two other Indian productions made the list. These include the multilingual animated film Mahavatar Narsimha and the Tamil feature Tourist Family , directed by first time filmmaker Abishan Jeevinth .

The reminder list also includes Sister Midnight , a Hindi language UK India co-production starring Radhika Apte , further strengthening India’s representation at the global awards platform.

Importantly, these films are eligible for the general Oscar categories, not the International Feature Film category. This means they can compete for Best Picture, acting, direction, and various technical awards. In the case of Mahavatar Narsimha , the film is also eligible for Best Animated Feature Film. Inclusion in the reminder list does not guarantee a nomination, as films must still pass through the Academy’s voting process.

According to the Academy, while 317 feature films are eligible for the 98th Oscars , only 201 meet the additional requirements for Best Picture consideration. To qualify, films must have been released theatrically in select US metropolitan areas between January 1 and December 31, 2025.

Meanwhile, India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category is Homebound , directed by Neeraj Ghaywan , which has been shortlisted among the final 15 films in the category.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 15 , with awards presented across 24 categories.