Pakistan sends hand-drawn animation 'The Glassworker' for Oscars
Pakistan has officially selected Usman Riaz's hand-drawn animated feature, The Glassworker, as its submission for the best international feature film category at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film debuted earlier this year at Annecy. It tells the story of young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run a renowned glass workshop in a location inspired by Pakistan. Their peaceful lives are disrupted by an impending war and the arrival of an army colonel and his violinist daughter, Alliz.
'The Glassworker': A first for Pakistani animation
The Glassworker marks a significant milestone as Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature. The voice cast includes notable actors such as Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra, and Tony Jayawardena. The film is produced by Riaz's Mano Animation Studios in Pakistan and the global production company Awedacious Originals, led by Delhi Crime producer Apoorva Bakshi. Other key contributors include producers Khizer Riaz and Manuel Cristobal, with Bakshi also serving as an executive producer.
Neighbor India selected 'Laapataa Ladies'
Earlier this week, India selected Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies as its official entry for the Oscars. The comedy-drama about swapped brides is set in 2001 and has been lauded for its messaging and feminist themes. It was chosen from a list of 29 submissions.
Switzerland's Oscar hopeful: Klaudia Reynicke's 'Reinas'
Swiss-Peruvian filmmaker Klaudia Reynicke's family drama, Reinas, has been chosen as Switzerland's entry for the international feature film category at the Academy Awards. The Spanish-language film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. It won best film in Berlinale's Generation Kplus section and received the audience award at Locarno. Set in Peru during 1992 amidst social and political turmoil, it follows a single mother planning to leave the country with her daughters.
Jordan's Oscar submission: 'My Sweet Land' by Sareen Hairabedian
Jordan has selected My Sweet Land, a documentary by Armenian-Jordanian filmmaker Sareen Hairabedian, as its entry for the international feature film category of the 2025 Academy Awards. The film is set against a multigenerational war in the post-Soviet Caucasus Mountains. It tells the story of an 11-year-old boy named Vrej who dreams of becoming a dentist but is forced to flee his home in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan due to war.
Argentina's Oscar submission: Luis Ortega's 'Kill the Jockey'
Argentina has chosen Luis Ortega's film Kill the Jockey as its submission for the 2025 international feature Oscar race. The film, which was showcased at Venice, Toronto, and San Sebastian, tells the story of Remo Manfredini, a legendary jockey. Manfredini's self-destructive behavior threatens his talent and relationship with his girlfriend Abril. His life takes a dramatic turn when he has an accident on a race day that could have cleared his debts to a mob boss.
