The Malaylam film '2018' directed by Jude Anthany Joseph was selected as the official entry from India to the Academy Awards 2024. The film was announced today by the jury, which was headed by Kannada avant-garde filmmaker Girish Kasarvalli. The film features Tovino Thomas and is based on the 2018 Kerala floods that left the entire state in an emergency with deadly circumstances. Subtitled '2018: Everyone Is A Hero', the film tells stories of people from all walks of life who rise up in help for all the victims of the devastation.

Jude Anthany Joseph is a prominent screenwriter and director working in the Malayalam film industry. His debut film, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014), won the award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value at the 45th Kerala State Film Awards. However, this doesn't mean that the film is nominated for the awards. It will be eligible to compete for the prestigious award only when the Academy nominates it further. Last year, the Gujarati film Last Chello was India's official entry at the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Film, but it was not shortlisted as a nominee.

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Two other films won big awards last year at the Oscars. The song 'Naatu Naatu' from SS Rajamouli's action epic film RRR won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Additionally, Elephants Whisperers, a ary produced by Guneet Munga and directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, won the award for Best Documentary Short Subject. As of now, no Indian film has won the Academy Award in the category of Best International Film. Only three Indian films have been nominated till date for the award: Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay (1988), and Lagaan (2001).

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2018 was released in India in May 2023 and opened to extremely positive reviews from both critics and audiences. Joseph's engaging storytelling and the film's impactful visuals were appreciated by everyone. It went on to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and broke all previous records. It is currently streaming on Sony Liv, which released it on their platform after securing all the rights.

In an Instagram post, sharing a picture of the report from a local Malayalam news channel, Joseph wrote, "Thank you, God. Thank you, Indian Cinema."

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