Thought we were done with awards stuff for the day? You thought wrong. After the National Board of Reviews and the Annies, the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got in on the act, announcing their 15-film strong shortlist for the Best Documentary Feature prize for this year’s Oscar.
Most of the big hitters that you’d be expecting are here, with crossover hits like “Amy” and “Meru,” and big talking points like “Going Clear” and “He Named Me Malala.” There’s also a few other populist contenders, like “What Happened, Miss Simone?” and “Listen To Me Marlon,” plus Michael Moore’s “Where To Invade Next,” and the critically acclaimed likes of “Best Of Enemies,” “Cartel Land,” “Heart Of A Dog,” “The Hunting Ground” and “The Look Of Silence.”
As ever, there isn’t room for everything, and some movies would end up on the outside. This year, notable exclusions include “Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck,” “(T)error,” “Prophet’s Prey,” “Finders Keepers,” “The Wolfpack” and “The Black Panthers,” though it’s perhaps less surprising that Hollywood sex abuse exposé “An Open Secret” is also missing.
The 15 films here will be narrowed down in January to the five nominees, and it’s clearly going to be a tough process. Stay tuned nearer the time to find out who makes it through, and to see our own favorite documentaries of the year, too. See the complete list below.
“Amy”
“Best Of Enemies”
“Cartel Land”
“Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison Of Belief”
“He Named Me Malala”
“Heart Of A Dog”
“The Hunting Ground”
“Listen To Me Marlon”
“The Look Of Silence”
“Meru”
“3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets”
“We Come As Friends”
“What Happened, Miss Simone?”
“Where To Invade Next”
“Winter On Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom”