Oscars 2026: India-origin filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir’s historic double nomination ends without win

Double nominee Geeta Gandbhir wins no award

• Geeta Gandbhir earned dual Oscar nominations for documentaries
• First woman nominated in both feature and short categories
• Her films spotlight social justice, Indian talent at Oscars

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Geeta Gandbhir achieved a rare milestone at the 98th Academy Awards with nominations in two documentary categories, placing her among the most notable filmmakers recognised this year.

Although she did not win in either category, the dual nominations marked a historic moment in her career and highlighted the growing influence of her work in documentary storytelling.

Geeta Gandbhir became the first woman ever to receive nominations for both Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short in the same year.

The achievement alone drew attention across the industry, reflecting the strength and range of the stories she has brought to the screen.

In the Best Documentary Short category, Geeta Gandbhir was nominated for The Devil Is Busy, which she co-directed with Christalyn Hampton. The 31-minute documentary follows Tracii, the head of security at a women’s healthcare clinic in Atlanta, Georgia.

Through an intimate, day-in-the-life approach, the film shows how Tracii works to keep patients and staff safe while the clinic faces mounting protests and tightening abortion laws. The story highlights both the emotional strain and determination involved in protecting access to healthcare in a deeply polarised environment.

The short competed against several other films, including Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud, Children No More: Were and Are Gone, and Perfectly a Strangeness. In the end, the Oscar in this category went to All the Empty Rooms.

Geeta Gandbhir also received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature for The Perfect Neighbor, a film she directed and produced for Netflix.

The documentary examines a tragic incident that occurred in June 2023 in Ocala, Florida, when Susan Louise Lorincz shot and killed her Black neighbour Ajike Owens during a confrontation. Through interviews and investigative storytelling, the film looks at the tensions and circumstances surrounding the case.

That category ultimately went to Mr. Nobody Against Putin, ending Geeta Gandbhir’s chances of taking home an Oscar this year.

Despite the outcome, Geeta Gandbhir’s journey in documentary filmmaking remains widely respected. Born to Indian parents who moved to the United States in the 1960s, she has spent nearly two decades telling stories that explore social justice, race and power. Along the way, she was mentored by acclaimed filmmakers Spike Lee and Sam Pollard.

Her earlier work includes the powerful documentary I Am Evidence, which investigated the backlog of untested rape kits in the United States, as well as Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power.

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She also directed the Emmy-winning short Through Our Eyes: Apart, further cementing her reputation as a filmmaker committed to telling important and often difficult stories.

While India’s official Oscar submission Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, did not make the shortlist for Best International Feature Film, Geeta Gandbhir’s nominations ensured that Indian-origin talent still had a strong presence at the ceremony.