Pakistan selected Mohammed Ali Naqvi ’s documentary thriller “Hanging by a Wire” as its international feature submission for the 99th Academy Awards on October 1, 2026. The selection marks the first time a documentary has represented Pakistan in the category. The film revisits the August 2023 cable car disaster in Battagram, northern Pakistan, where eight passengers, including six schoolboys headed to class, were trapped about 900 feet above a ravine after a cable snapped. The rescue unfolded as a national live event, with viewers across Pakistan and around the world tracking every tense development. Why This Oscar Pick Matters “Hanging by a Wire” combines witness footage, survivor accounts and reenactments featuring people connected to the rescue. Mohammed Ali Naqvi directed the film and co wrote and co produced it with Bilal Sami. The documentary premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition before screening at Tribeca. EverWonder Studio, Universal Pictures Content Group, Mindhouse Productions and 64th Street Media produced the project, which arrives on Paramount Plus for streaming October 28, while Abramorama handles its United States theatrical release and Dogwoof holds United Kingdom rights. Pakistan has submitted 13 films for the category since 1959 without earning a nomination, with “Joyland” reaching the shortlist in 2022.