Dead to Rights: According to Variety, China has officially submitted Shen Ao film Dead to Rights to Best International Feature Film category at the 98 th Academy Awards. The film was written by Shen Ao, Zhang Ke and Xu Luyang and it is framed in the backdrop of 1937 Nanjing Massacre, and it is based on the historical events that have been documented.
Dead to Rights Plot Overview
Dead to Rights is a movie about A Chang (Liu Haoran) who lives as a postman but as a photo developer in order to endure the Japanese occupation. Working in a Japanese-occupied studio, A Chang harbours Chinese soldiers and civilians, demonstrating the moments of silent resistance in the era of extreme disturbance. The movie is both historical drama and suspense that gives the audience a close up of heroism and survival in one of the dark periods in the history of China.
Production & Release
- Produced by Furuo Qing, known for The Wandering Earth franchise
- Released by Niu Vision Media and Echelon Studios in North America in August 2025
- Opened in China on July 25, 2025
- Box office success: Over RMB 3 billion ($415 million) and topped the Chinese box office for 16 consecutive days
China’s Oscar History
China has not yet won an Oscar for Best International Feature Film but has earned two nominations:
- Ju Dou (1991) – Directed by Zhang Yimou
- Hero (2003) – Directed by Zhang Yimou
Meanwhile, Hong Kong, which submits separately, has three nominations:
- Raise the Red Lantern (1992) – Zhang Yimou
- Farewell My Concubine (1994) – Chen Kaige
- Better Days (2021) – Derek Tsang
Academy Notes
The last submission of China, a documentary titled The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru by Fang Li was disqualified due to the language requirement.
In 2023, Oscar nominations in the international feature shortlist category will be announced on December 16 and the last five nominees will be announced on January 22, 2026.
Regional Oscar Entries
Other countries have also submitted their entries:
- Bangladesh chose Leesa Gazi’s debut film, Barir Naam Shahana (A House Named Shahana).
- Based on Gazi’s 2011 novella, set in 1990s rural Bangladesh
- Follows Dipa, a young woman forced into a marriage with a widower in England
- Chronicles her journey from vulnerability to self-determination, confronting societal and patriarchal norms
Conclusion
The fact that China chose Dead to Rights shows that this country is becoming increasingly interested in historical narration and international film fame.The movie has an incredible storyline, historical value, and has been a commercial hit that is likely to leave an impact at the Oscars.
Now, audiences across the globe are keen to be able to watch whether or not China will win the Best International Feature Film category.