The film <It Cannot Be Helped> by Park Chan-wook has made the shortlist for the Academy (Oscars) International Feature Film. The theme song ‘Golden’ from the Netflix animated film <K-Pop Demon Hunters> (KDH) has been shortlisted for Original Song.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which oversees the Oscars, announced on the 16th (local time) the shortlists for 12 categories, including International Feature Film and Original Song, for the 98th ceremony.

In the International Feature category, 15 titles were shortlisted from submissions by 86 countries or regions, including Korea.

<It Cannot Be Helped> follows a middle-class breadwinner who suddenly loses his job and seeks re-employment, and stars Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hae-soo, and Lee Sung-min.

Alongside <It Cannot Be Helped>, the shortlist includes <It Was Just an Accident> by Jafar Panahi (France), <Sentimental Value> by Joachim Trier (Norway), <Secret Agent> by Kleber Mendonca Filho (Brazil), <National Treasure> by Zainichi Korean director Lee Sang-il (Japan), and <The Voice of Hind Rajab>, depicting the tragedy of a girl in Gaza (Tunisia), among others.

In the Original Song category, the shortlist includes ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ and ‘No Place Like Home’ from the musical film <Wicked: For Good>, ‘Dream as One’ from <Avatar: Fire and Ash>, and ‘I Ride to You’ and ‘Last Time (I Saw the Sun)’ from <Cinus: Sinners>, among others.

<Cinus: Sinners> and <Wicked: For Good> each made the shortlist in eight identical categories, including casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, original score, and original song, raising the likelihood that they will win multiple awards.

Final nominees will be announced on January 22 next year, and the ceremony will be held on March 15.

<It Cannot Be Helped> has also been nominated at the Golden Globes, the leading U.S. popular culture awards, for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Non-English Language Film, and Best Actor (Lee Byung-hun). <KDH> is nominated for Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song, and Box Office Achievement at the Golden Globes.

At the Critics Choice Awards, presented by North American film critics and journalists, <It Cannot Be Helped> is nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film, while <KDH> is nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.