Indian director Shubhashish Bhutiani's short film Kush has been short-listed by the Academy for 10 live-action shorts that will advance in the Oscar race.
Three or five films out of these 10 films will be selected for Oscar nomination by the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members.
Kush, a 25 minute film, stars Sonika Chopra, Shayaan Sameer and Anil Sharma. It has been produced by Shubhashish's father Sanjay Bhutiani through their Red Carpet Moving Pictures banner.
"The film is getting a great response and is set to travel to some more festivals. The big responsibility for us now it to get it noticed to as many people as possible," producer Sanjay Bhutiani said.
Shubhashish made the film, inspired by a true story, for his graduation project at New York's School of Visual Arts.
The film's story takes place during the riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. The story revolves around a school picnic where a teacher is trying to protect Kush, the only Sikh child in the group from the violence raging around them.
Kush won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the 70th Venice International Film Festival 2013 and jury prize at Hamptons International Film Festival.
Shubhashish now wants to make a feature film as he has some scripts ready. "I want to keep telling stories that engage people and are about something at the core," he said.
The other nine short listed films include Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me) by director Esteban Crespo, Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything) by director Xavier Legrand, Dva (Two) by Mickey Nedimovic, Helium by director Anders Walter, Throat Song by director Miranda de Pencier, Tiger Boy by Gabriele Mainetti, The Voorman Problem by Mark Gill, Pitaako Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) by Selma Vilhunen and Record/Play by Jesse Atlas.
The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting at screenings held in Los Angeles.
Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in December.
The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 16 while the Oscar ceremony will take place on March 2, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.
