
Pakistan chose the animated film The Glassworker as its official entry for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film Category. It is the first ever hand-drawn animated film in the country and is directed by debutant Usman Riaz. Only one film from the country has even made it to the shortlist till now. In 2022, Saim Sadiq's drama film Joyland was shortlisted among 10 films, including India's official 2022 entry, Last Film Show.
Last week, the Kiran Rao directorial Laapataa Ladies was chosen as India's official entry for the same. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and hit screens in India this March. It also won the Best Film (Critics' Choice) at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
In 2023, the Best Foreign Film Award at the Oscars was bagged by The Zone of Interest, directed by English filmmaker Jonathan Glazer.