The French-produced drama “Mustang” was nominated for the best foreign-language film Oscar on Thursday, while pioneer-era thriller “The Revenant” led the overall race with 12 nods.

Directed by Turkish-French filmmaker Deniz Gamze Ergüven, “Mustang” is set in a small village in northern Turkey, and tells the story of five young sisters whose basic freedoms are wrenched from them after they are swept up in scandal for innocently playing with a group of boys on their way home from school.

The film, which was screened as part of the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, was nominated in the best foreign-language film category alongside Colombia’s “Embrace of the Serpent”, Hungary’s “Son of Saul”, Jordan’s “Theeb” and Denmark’s “A War”.

Leading the Oscar race, however, is Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Revenant,” which garnered a total of 12 nominations, including ones for best picture, actor and director. In second place was dystopian action film "Mad Max: Fury Road" with 10 nominations, followed by "The Martian" with seven.

Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies" received six nominations, including for best picture, and lesbian drama "Carol" starring Cate Blanchett received six nominations, including for best actress and best supporting actress.

"Spotlight," about journalists from The Boston Globe who uncovered sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, also received six nods including for best picture and director.

"The Big Short," about the subprime mortgage crisis, and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" each got five nods.

The Oscars – the pinnacle of Hollywood's awards season – will be handed out on February 28 at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)