Just a little past midnight on Wednesday, the team of Homebound in India received a news alert worth losing sleep over. Director Neeraj Ghaywan’s friendship drama, which was among the 86 contenders for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, had secured a spot in the shortlist of 15. When mid-day reached out to Apoorva Mehta, co-producer of the Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa-starrer, he said that it is both a moment of celebration as well as the time to chart out the campaign’s next phase before the final five nominees are announced on January 22.

Before the voting lines close on January 15, participating voters — that consist of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — will view all shortlisted films before choosing the final five.