This years race s packed with strong contenders left and right, here are some of a few of our picks for this years OSCAR® race.
Don’t be late Myra – Afia Nathaniel
Cast: Innaya Umer, Nida Ahsan
Synopsis: Set in the city of Lahore, young Myra has to beat the clock walking home after missing the school van. It’s a searing portrayal of sexual assault, a young girl exposed to an adult world too soon. Brought to you by seasoned Pakistani-American filmmaker Afia Nathaniel, this film is sure to leave a mark long after the credits roll.
Holy Curse – Snigdha Kapoor
Cast: Mrunal Kashid, Shardul Bharadwaj, Adithi Kalkunt
11 year old Rahda questions gender identity as they are brought by the family to perform orthodox rituals on a trip to India, hoping it will clear Radha of this holy curse. Executive produced by Lily Singh, brought to you by writer director Snigdha Kapoor, this lovely heartwarming film is sure to make a splash at the Oscars®.
Mushroom Dad – Michael Lei
Cast: Lawrence Kao, Kelvin Han Yee, Adam Faison
A hilarious take on father son relationship and the dissonance of culture through food, Mushroom dad follows Juillian, a man whose father Paul has come to the opening of his Chinese restaurant. After accidentally drinking mushroom tea at his son’s opening, Paul goes missing leaving it up to Julian to find him, leading to a heartwarming conclusion. Writer-Director Michael Lee brings a punchy and endearing film Executive produced by Lena Waithe as part of Indeed’s program, it leads as a contender at this years Oscars®.
Clout – Jordan Murphy Doidge
Cast: Archie Yates, Anna Wilson-Jones, Kit Price
A haunting cautionary tale, exposing the dark side of social media, and the chase for attention from your peers and those around the world. At the centre is Oskar, a private school student who is seeking online fame and validation. The ending is stark and heartbreaking, and sears it’s way into the audience’s mind. BAFTA Nominee Archie Yates delivers a stunning performance of Writer Director Jordan Murphy Doidge’s story, it is not one to miss.
There Will Come Soft Rains – Elham Ehsas
Cast: Olivia D’Lima, Arjun Singh Panam, Priya Davdra
When rising sea levels threaten her coastal hometown, a British-Pakistani woman exhumes her father’s grave to move him to safer ground which proves to be an act that pits her faith, family, and community tradition against a rapidly changing climate. There Will Come Soft Rains unfolds as an intimate story of grief, defiance, and sisterhood in the face of an escalating global crisis. Elham Ehsas brings a staunchly relevant piece to this years Oscar® race, and it urges the world to listen.
In The Clouds – Alexandra Bahíyyih Wain
Cast: Nika Roufi, Raha Rahbari
In contemporary London, an Iranian refugee family struggles to rebuild their lives in the quiet aftermath of displacement. Seen through the eyes of young Sara, In the Clouds captures the fragile bonds, unspoken grief, and resilient hope that hold a family together as they navigate an unfamiliar world that rarely sees them. Writer director Alexandra Bahíyyih Wain brings a masterfully crafted short film that has entered the Oscar® race with a bang.
Mercy – Hedda Mjøen
Cast: Gine Cornelia Pedersen, Eivin Nilsen Salthe
After unexpectedly crossing paths with her estranged best friend who is now accused of rape, Guro is forced to confront whether loyalty can survive an unforgivable allegation. MERCY follows her spiralling moral dilemma as she weighs her friendship, her integrity, and her own sense of self against a truth she may never fully know. Writer-Director Hedda Mjøen delivered a breathtaking drama that leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Three Keenings – Oliver McGoldrick
Cast: Seamus O’Hara
A struggling actor becomes a professional mourner on Northern Ireland’s rural funeral circuit, performing grief for pay until the emotional walls he relies on begin to crack. Three Keenings weaves dark humor, tradition, and heartbreak into a haunting portrait of how communities mourn and how the rituals we inherit shape the way we learn to feel. Filmmaker Oliver McGoldrick bring’s a uniquely brilliant story to the screen, and soon (we think) to the Oscars®
Rise – Jessica J. Rowlands
Cast: Tongayi Chirisa, Sikhanyiso Ngwenya
Inspired by a true story, RISE follows a vulnerable young boy in Zimbabwe whose life changes when a reclusive boxing coach haunted by his own past takes him under his wing. Together, they forge a path toward safety, strength, and hope in a deeply human story of resilience and community. A breakthrough in Zimbabwean cinema, the first of the country’s selection for Tribeca film festival. Jessica J. Rowlands masters the screen in her directorial debut, bringing an empowering story into the Oscars® race.
Freyr – David Telles
Cast: Benairen Kane, Auðunn Lúthersson
At his friend Frank’s funeral, Tom reflects on the deep bond they formed one shaped by Frank’s extraordinary difference: a third hand growing from his chest. Freyr unfolds as a poetic meditation on otherness, belonging, and the connections that make us human. Another Lena Waithe-backed film entering the Oscars® race with co-writer and director David Telles.
Alyssa Peters
