The nominations for the EE BAFTA Film Awards have been announced, with Indian films and actors making a significant mark across multiple categories, setting a historic precedent. India-made film Santosh, which was nomianted for Oscars 2025, has now been selected in the longlist for a BAFTA 2025. The thriller drama directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri is eyeing an Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer award.
Sandhya Suri’s 'Santosh' Finds Spot On BAFTA Nominations
The longlist features 10 films including Karan Kandhari’s Sister Midnight, which received a nod in the same prestigious category. Additionally, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light has been recognised in the Best Film Not in the English Language category.
Sandhya Suri’s Santosh Shortlisted For 2025 Oscars
In December 2024, Santosh was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category, representing the United Kingdom. It is the first feature film directed by documentarian Sandhya Suri. It stars Shahana Goswami in the lead role and Sunita Rajwar in a prominent role. According to the Academy, the film was shortlisted from 85 entries.
Santosh marks the feature directorial debut of Sandhya Suri, who is best known for her documentaries I for India (2005) and Around India with a Movie Camera (2018). The production team behind the film includes Luisa Gerstein, who composed the score, Lennert Hillege as the cinematographer, and Maxime Pozzi-Garcia handling the editing.
In September 2024, the UK chose Sandhya Suri’s Santosh as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. According to Deadline, the selection was made by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), which is responsible for picking the UK’s submission for the prestigious award.
Santosh became eligible for the UK’s official selection due to its wide release in the country and its backing by British producers. The film is produced by Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, and Alan McAlex. Executive producers include Ama Ampadu, Eva Yates, Diarmid Scrimshaw, Lucia Haslauer, and Martin Gerhard.
The production companies involved are Good Chaos, along with co-producers Razor Film and Haut et Court, and the film was financed by the BFI (British Film Institute) and BBC Film. The UK often selects non-English language films for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars, as a non-English dialogue is a key requirement.
All About Santosh
Written and directed by Sandhya Suri, Santosh is an investigative thriller set in rural Northern India. The plot revolves around Santosh, a newly widowed woman who inherits her late husband’s job as a police constable. As she steps into this new role, she becomes deeply involved in the investigation of a young girl’s murder. The gripping storyline highlights the challenges faced by Santosh as she navigates her new responsibilities.
The film, starring Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, had its premiere under the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Santosh will now go up against Laapataa Ladies and numerous other international films in the race for an Oscar nomination. The Academy will announce the final five films competing for the Best International Feature Film category in January 2025.
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