‘Nanjing Photo Studio’ Competes for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards”

On September 26, the powerful Chinese film Nanjing Photo Studio was officially announced as Mainland China’s submission for the 98th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film. This news goes far beyond a simple industry update—it is a cultural moment, one that takes global audiences back to the inferno of Nanjing in 1937.

A Story Rooted in Historical Trauma

Directed by Shen Ao and starring Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye, and Wang Xiao, the film draws its strength from an unhealed wound in history. Set against the backdrop of the Nanjing Massacre, the narrative unfolds inside a modest photo studio. Ordinary citizens, forced by the Japanese army to process photographs, inadvertently discover irrefutable evidence of atrocities. Risking everything, they fight to preserve this proof. The studio becomes more than a workplace—it becomes a hidden darkroom of truth.

Box Office Success and Critical Acclaim

By September 23, Nanjing Photo Studio had achieved extraordinary commercial success, surpassing 3 billion RMB at the box office with over 84.5 million viewers, securing its place as the undisputed champion of China’s 2025 summer season. Audience response has been overwhelming: a Douban score of 8.6 and a Maoyan score of 9.7. At the prestigious Changchun Film Festival, it swept three top honors—Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Such momentum even extended its theatrical run until October 24, perfectly aligning with both China’s National Day holiday and the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, underscoring its profound social significance.

Global Reach and Unflinching Dialogue

The film’s ambitions reach far beyond domestic success. It has already been screened in North America and Australia, while “non-public” screenings in Japan—such as those hosted by the Chinese Embassy—have sparked powerful reflections. One former Japanese Self-Defense Force officer commented poignantly: “The pain comes from Japan’s evasion of history.” This insight captures the core value of Nanjing Photo Studio on the international stage: it is a mirror that cannot be ignored.

A Title Rich in Meaning

Its English title, Dead to Rights, is a masterstroke—conveying both the undeniable evidence of war crimes and the protagonists’ courage to face death in pursuit of truth. With meticulous craftsmanship, the creative team blends the photographic “developing process” with the unmasking of historical reality, tearing apart the false façade of “friendly relations” once projected by the Japanese military. From the meticulously reconstructed Ming city walls that become weapons of resistance, to the haunting refrain of the folk song How Tall is the City Gate, every detail resonates with defiance and longing for homeland.

More Than an Oscar Contender

Nanjing Photo Studio is not just another awards hopeful. It is a solemn offering of historical memory and a profound cinematic conversation with the world. When the Academy’s spotlight shines, the question remains: how far and how brightly will this beam of light—developed in the darkroom of history—reach? The world is watching.