Indian docu in Oscar race

Mumbai: Director Rintu Thomas says it is a great moment for the country and her team after the Indian documentary feature ‘Writing With Fire’ advanced to the next level in the documentary feature category at the 94th edition of the Academy Awards.

‘Pebbles’, India’s official entry in the international feature film category, however, is out of the Oscars race. Directed by Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, both debuants, ‘Writing With Fire’ chronicles the rise of Khabar Lahariya, India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women.

According to the shortlists announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, the documentary is among the fifteen films that have entered the next round of the 2022 Academy Awards.

One hundred thirty-eight films were originally eligible in the category Thomas took to Twitter and shared a screenshot of the announcement.

“#WritingWithFire is on the @TheAcademy Shortlist. What a moment for my entire team behind this indie Indian doc. What a moment for the Indian documentary community. We are richer with the stories we choose to tell, big love @KhabarLahariya,” she tweeted. “Writing With Fire” follows this ambitious group of Dalit wonder women as the team switches from print to digital in order to stay relevant. —(PTI)