India’s Oscar Hopes Fade as Geeta Gandbhir Misses Out Despite Historic Double Documentary Nominations
India’s expectations at the 98th Academy Awards came to an end after filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir failed to secure a win despite earning two prestigious nominations in the documentary categories.
Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir
Earlier, India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category — Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and featuring performances by Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor — had already failed to advance into the final shortlist.
As a result, much of the attention shifted to Gandbhir, who had made history by becoming the first woman to receive nominations in both the Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Film categories in the same year.
However, despite the rare double recognition, the filmmaker ultimately did not secure a victory in either category.
Best Documentary Short Film Race
In the Best Documentary Short Film section, Gandbhir collaborated with director Christalyn Hampton on The Devil Is Busy.
The film competed against several other nominees, including All the Empty Rooms, Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud, Children No More: Were and Are Gone, and Perfectly a Strangeness.
When the winners were announced, the Oscar in this category went to the creators of All the Empty Rooms, leaving Gandbhir’s film without the coveted award.
The Devil Is Busy, a documentary lasting around 31 minutes, follows the experiences of Tracii, the chief security officer at a women’s healthcare facility in Atlanta, Georgia.
The narrative unfolds over a single day and captures her efforts to safeguard patients and medical staff in an increasingly tense environment shaped by stricter abortion regulations and frequent demonstrations outside the clinic.
Best Documentary Feature Category
Gandbhir was also nominated in the Best Documentary Feature Film category for The Perfect Neighbour.
The film was nominated alongside The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting Through Rocks, and Mr Nobody Against Putin.
Ultimately, the Oscar in this category was awarded to the makers of MMrNobody Against Putin, leaving Gandbhir without a win despite her strong presence in the competition.
The Perfect Neighbour, released on the streaming platform Netflix, explores a tragic shooting incident that took place in June 2023 in Ocala, Florida.
The documentary recounts the circumstances in which a white woman, Susan Louise Lorincz, fatally shot her Black neighbour, Ajike Owens d, during a dispute.
In addition to directing the film, Gandbhir also served as a producer along with collaborators Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu and Sam Bisbee.
A Distinguished Documentary Career
Geeta Gandbhir’s journey in documentary filmmaking spans nearly two decades, during which she has established herself as a respected storyteller known for tackling complex social issues.
She received mentorship early in her career from acclaimed filmmakers Sam Pollard and Spike Lee.
Born in the United States to parents who had migrated from India in the 1960s, Gandbhir gradually built an impressive portfolio of socially conscious films.
Over the years, her work has earned several prestigious honours, including multiple Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards.
Among her notable projects is I Am Evidence (2017), which exposed systemic delays in processing untested rape kits across the United States and highlighted flaws in the criminal justice system.
Another widely praised documentary, Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power (2022), explored the historical roots of the civil rights movement and received significant critical acclaim for its depth and storytelling.
She also directed the Emmy-winning short documentary Through Our Eyes: Apart in 2022.
Indian Presence at the Oscars
Despite India’s absence from the final awards tally this year, Gandbhir remained the only filmmaker of Indian origin nominated in any category at the ceremony.
Another Indian presence at the event came from global star Priyanka Chopra, who was scheduled to appear on stage as a presenter during the awards ceremony.
Although Gandbhir did not take home an Oscar, her historic dual nomination marked a significant milestone and underscored the growing influence of filmmakers of Indian origin in global cinema.
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