"Shwaas", India's much celebrated entry for Oscar consideration in the foreign film category, did not make the cut but a documentary about Kolkata's red-light district has found nomination here.

Attempts to garner global attention by Sandeep Sawant's debut Marathi film "Shwaas" at the fiercely competitive Oscars did not pay off. Although the Indian entry did receive praise in the US media, it appears to have fallen short in the publicity game, which involves big money.

"Born into Brothels", a documentary film by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, is among the five documentaries nominated for the Oscars.

While documenting the experiences of prostitutes in Kolkata's red-light district, photojournalist Briski befriended many of their children and decided to give them a chance to record images from their own lives.

Supplied with cameras, the children have presented an insightful portrait of their harsh world.

These are the first Academy Award nominations for Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski.