Gujarati Oscar Submission to Release in US

LOS ANGELES, CA (IANS) – Peter Goldwyn, the president of the US distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films, has called India’s selection of its competitor for this year’s best international film race at the Oscars, ‘The Last Film Show’, which it will release in North America, “a really strong contender”.

Directed by Pan Nalin, the Gujarati-language film is the story of a nine-year-old boy pursuing his dreams in cinema. It debuted at the Tribeca Festival in 2021 and has since played fests in Palms Springs, Seattle, and Mill Valley.

“We believe that ‘The Last Film Show‘ speaks to the heart and soul of cinema, which will be appealing not only to moviegoers in the United States but also Academy members,” said Goldwyn to ‘Variety’.

“We believe that the film is a really strong contender this year, and we’re excited to bring it to American audiences. We are also eager to bring our expertise with Academy Awards campaigns to the release of this title,” he added.

‘The Last Film Show’ will have its commercial release in Gujarat on October 14, giving it the necessary qualifying theatrical run in its home territory.

The film had received backlash in India from members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees over its origins and year of making, and from media over snubbing of S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘RRR’.