Oscar applications open for Nepali films

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 28: Applications have officially opened for the selection of Nepali films to participate in the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars), the most prestigious film awards of the world.

 The Foreign Language Film Selection Committee, Nepal, has announced that it will recommend the country’s best film for the International Feature Film category, provided it meets all the criteria set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

According to the Academy, films publicly released between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, will be eligible for consideration. 

The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15, 2026, while the deadline for submission of films from Nepal has been set for September 5, 2025.

The selection committee informed that films applying for the selection must submit a censor certificate along with proof of at least seven days of public screening, verified through advertisements or news coverage in the case of films already released. 

If the film has been released on an OTT platform, the release certificate must also be provided. 

Technical requirements include a 35mm or 70mm print, a video resolution between 2048 and 1080 pixels, and audio in either 5.1 or 7.1 format.

 In addition, the applicants must submit a complete credit list including the director and producer, English subtitles, a short synopsis of the film, the director’s filmography and photograph, three to five still images, and the official release poster in 600 dpi TIFF format.

The committee has encouraged Nepali filmmakers who meet these requirements to apply within the deadline to secure an opportunity to represent Nepal on the global stage.