December 15, 2017
India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language
Film at the Oscars 2018, "Newton", is out of the race for the honour. But the
movie's team is feeling far from defeated.
The Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced that nine features out of 92 will
advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for
the 90th Academy Awards, according to the official website of the Oscars.
"Newton", directed by Amit V. Masurkar and starring the stellar Rajkummar
Rao in a story set against the backdrop of elections in the world's largest
democracy, was not a part of it.
Masurkar said: "The Foreign Film
Category is like the Olympics. We are competing with the best in the world, so
it's extremely tough. The response from Academy members to 'Newton' was very
positive and we are grateful to everyone who supported us on this journey.
"The experience has enriched us and has encouraged me to push my limits each
time I make a new film."
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who has always lent
unrelenting support his blue-eyed boy Rajkummar and "Newton" -- even when it was
caught in a plagiarism row, also said that missing the Oscar bus changes nothing
for this film's credentials.
Mehta, claimed he was trolled after "Newton"
was ousted from the competition, tweeted: "Oscars or no Oscars, it remains one
of the finest films made in our country in a long time."
When the film
was chosen as India's Oscar entry by the Film Federation of India, there was
buzz that it was inspired by a 2001 Iranian movie titled "Secret Ballot".
At that time, Mehta, who has worked closely with Rajkummar on award-winning
films like "Shahid" and "CityLights", had spoken out in favour of the "Newton"
team.
Mehta's latest Twitter post on Friday also found support from
filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who was at the forefront of slamming the plagiarism
claims against the film's makers. He had contacted "Secret Ballot" producer
Marco Mueller to take his feedback on the similarities.
"There is not
even a hint of plagiarisation," Mueller had told him.
The shortlisted
films for the Foreign Language Film category for Oscars this time include: "A
Fantastic Woman" (Chile), "In the Fade" (Germany), "On Body and Soul" (Hungary),
"Foxtrot" (Israel), "The Insult" (Lebanon), "Loveless" (Russia), "Felicite"
(Senegal), "The Wound" (South Africa) and "The Square" (Sweden).
Final
nominations for all categories of the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on
January 23. The Oscars ceremony will be held on March 4 at the Dolby Theatre
here.
So far, "Mother India", "Salaam Bombay!" and "Lagaan: Once Upon a
Time in India" are the only Indian films that made it to the top five in the
Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards, but none have won the
honour.