Dec. 23: For the 96th Academy Awards, the Nepali film ‘Halkara’ was submitted as Nepal’s representative in the Foreign Language Film category. 

The International Film Selection Committee for the Oscars in Nepal had chosen this film as the country’s entry for the renowned global award competition.

Unfortunately, as in the past years, the film did not make it to the shortlist. 

Directed by Bikram Sapkota, the film starts Mahesh Tripathi and Binita Thapa Magar in the lead roles.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disclosed shortlists across 10 categories for the upcoming Oscars on Thursday.

Similar to Nepal, no Indian film secured a spot at the Oscars.

The Malayalam film ‘2018 - Everyone is a Hero’, featuring Tovino Thomas in a survival drama, was submitted to the Oscars as India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category, but unfortunately did not make it into the competition.

Last year, the Telugu-language blockbuster hit film ‘RRR’ directed by SS Rajamouli, achieved a remarkable feat at the Oscars. The popular dance song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from the film made history by becoming the first Indian film song to win an Oscar. Likewise, another Indian documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' won the Best Documentary Short Film in the Oscars.

On the contrary, Bhutan has secured a spot two times. ‘The Monk and the Gun’ from Bhutan has once again been shortlisted for the Oscars. 

Bhutan’s entry, ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’ made it to the shortlist at the 94th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

The shortlisted categories for Oscar include documentary feature film, documentary short film, international feature film, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), music (original song), animated short film, live-action short film, sound, and visual effects. 

Noteworthy films such as ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, ‘The Color Purple’, and ‘The Zone of Interest’ have earned spots on multiple lists.

The Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood and will be broadcast live on ABC. 

Jimmy Kimmel is set to return as the host.