The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 15 documentary features in contention for the Best Documentary Oscar. The movies were selected from a huge category of almost 150 non-fiction films that had initially qualified. Here are the remaining 15 feature length documentaries in alphabetical order:
BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 86th Oscars® . One hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“The Act of Killing,” Final Cut for Real
“The Armstrong Lie,” The Kennedy/Marshall Company
“Blackfish,” Our Turn Productions
“The Crash Reel,” KP Rides Again
“Cutie and the Boxer,” Ex Lion Tamer and Cine Mosaic
“Dirty Wars,” Civic Bakery
“First Cousin Once Removed,” Experiments in Time, Light & Motion
“God Loves Uganda,” Full Credit Productions
“Life According to Sam,” Fine Films
“Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer,” Roast Beef Productions
“The Square,” Noujaim Films and Maktube Productions
“Stories We Tell,” National Film Board of Canada
“Tim’s Vermeer,” High Delft Pictures
“20 Feet from Stardom,” Gil Friesen Productions and Tremolo Productions
“Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington,” Tripoli Street
The Academy’s Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles. The Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
In previous years, the Documentary Branch omitted some of the best docs on the year. I am relieved this category finally divorced itself from that broken tradition. If I had to pick the five finalists for this category to be nominated in January, it would be the following docs (followed by the synopsis/reasons why):
The Act of Killing
This spellbinding and powerful documentary is needed to be seen in order to be believed. The Act of Killing is a peek into the Anwar Congo and his friends featured in this expose of mass murderers in Medan, Indonesia. They re-create their genocide while utilizing actors playing the victims. It stalks the viewer well over to the final frame to haunting consequences. If the Academy can overcome the grim subject matter, this is the clear front runner to win. Available on DVD.
Blackfish
The best aspects of journalism is when something shocking and unknown is exposed to the world. The enraged, investigative documentary follows SeaWorld and their treatment of 8,000-pound orcas (also known as “killer whales.”) Debuting at Sundance, Magnolia Pictures’ Blackfish was a hotly buzzed movie that received a mass audience thanks to solid summer art house word of mouth and highly rated broadcasts this autumn on CNN. The buzz could emerge for this one! Available on DVD
Stories We Tell
Oscar-nominated writer/director Sarah Polley sets to seek the truth about her deceased mother in the tender and engaging critically acclaimed Stories We Tell. While interviewing quite a diverse quirky cast of individuals, she begins to put the pieces together of a complicated jigsaw puzzle of her mother and who her real father was. Sentimental individuals captivated by family stories should connect to this story. I could see it potentially connecting with the Academy as well…or not. Who really knows? Available on DVD
Tim’s Vermeer
From Pen & Teller, this amusing and thought provoking exploration of the duality of art and innovation. As the synopsis states, Tim Jenison, an inventor attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in art: How did 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) manage to paint so photo-realistically, 150 years before the invention of photography? When audiences find out, it is a treat of a documentary to be discovered! Opening theatrically in limited release in December, expanding to other markets in January.
20 Feet From Stardom
The music documentary showcases the talent you have heard in popular iconic songs, but wouldn’t recognize the names. This is because these musicians are the backup singers. Full of intimate interviews from the main subject matters to talks with famous icons such as Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting, it was a smash hit this summer. Following in the footsteps of Searching for Sugarman, 20 Feet from Stardom is the likely feel good, music incline documentary probably in it to win it! Available on DVD in January.
Possible Dark Horse Contender: The Square
The celebration and anxiety of the Egyptian Revolution is featured in the fascinating The Square. Viewers witness history being recorded, the emergence of a post-Mubarak movement, and the birthing pains of democracy. Stories of ordinary Egyptians are the main point of the documentary as they protest in the Square. Political realities take hold as the sweet taste of freedom is desirable and hopefully one day achievable. I’m not sure how this will play with the Academy, but they should give it a chance. Playing in limited release.
We will see which five will prevail when the nominations are announced on January 16th and which one will win during the March 2nd telecast.
