Filed under: Oscar Contenders

Academy Announces 2010 Oscar Feature Documentary Short List

I've only see 'The Cove' and part of 'Valentino'

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the 15 films in the Documentary Feature category that will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

  • The Beaches of Agnes, Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
  • Burma VJ, Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
  • The Cove, Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
  • Every Little Step, James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
  • Facing Ali, Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
  • Food, Inc., Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
  • Garbage Dreams, Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
  • Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders, Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
  • The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
  • Mugabe and the White African, Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
  • Sergio, Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
  • Soundtrack for a Revolution, Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
  • Under Our Skin, Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
  • Valentino The Last Emperor, Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
  • Which Way Home, Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

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Post #1
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The Cove is brilliant. I hope it wins!

Although I do wish The Horse Boy was eligible.

- Jimmy
( November 18th, 2009 | 6:29 pm )
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Post #2
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I really enjoyed Anvil, and I'm pretty surprised it isn't at least being considered. I'm going to see The Cove this weekend, so I'm pretty excited about that.

- Kevin
( November 18th, 2009 | 6:43 pm )
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Post #3
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I say one of these three:

Food Inc.
Under Our Skin
Valentino The Last Emperor

- Hornet Montana
( November 18th, 2009 | 6:51 pm )
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Post #4
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I'm excited to see The Cove, the trailer is pretty great.

- Scott
( November 18th, 2009 | 7:19 pm )
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Post #5
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Saw The Cove. Out of all of them, I hope it's the one that wins. At least be nominated. I talked to the guy who made it during a public chat Q&A and asked about how the film will be impacted if it at least even got nominated.

He hopes it does so it can get more publicity on the topic in discussion.

- Eric B.
( November 18th, 2009 | 7:25 pm )
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Post #6
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cannot believe ANVIL didn't make it. so much heart. seamless storytelling.

- rickovitz
( November 18th, 2009 | 7:31 pm )
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Post #7
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Where the hell is Anvil, that movie was great. The Cove will win for sure and it should, but I would love to see Anvil nominated. And to see the guys at the Oscars would be great.

- Andrew
( November 18th, 2009 | 7:41 pm )
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Post #8
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I guess since Anvil's release is listed as 2008 that's why it didn't get in.

- Matt
( November 18th, 2009 | 8:17 pm )
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Post #9
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Did Michael Moore not make the final cut or are they putting 'Capitalism' in for a best picture nod?

- ted
( November 18th, 2009 | 9:33 pm )
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Post #10
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Anyone else notice that they never nominate the most awesome documentaries?

Anvil
Some Kind of Monster
American Movie
The King of Kong
Beyond the Mat
The Thin Blue Line

Is the Academy more concerned about Docs that are "socially impactful" or just simply great documentaries?

- Kevin
( November 18th, 2009 | 11:15 pm )
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Post #11
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"The Cove" was well-made, though it is much more emotional than it is informative. But that's a documentary for you: they aren't meant to be objective, after all.

- JM
( November 19th, 2009 | 12:58 am )
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Post #12
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Sergio has to win. It is an amazing and powerful film.

- Deborah B
( November 19th, 2009 | 2:53 am )
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Post #13
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I agree. Sergio was an extremely well made and moving piece.

Incredible man as well.

- DR
( November 19th, 2009 | 3:11 am )
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Post #14
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too bad Michael Jackson's This Is It cant be elected this year :(

- Cad Bane
( November 19th, 2009 | 4:52 am )
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Post #15
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And Michael Jackson´s THIS IS IT?????

- Robert
( November 19th, 2009 | 6:26 am )
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Post #16
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The Cove and Under Our Skin get my vote, though there are some other goodies in there.

- GrahamB
( November 19th, 2009 | 7:50 am )
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Post #17
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What about Michael Jackson's This Is It-that was supposed to deffinately be an Oscar contender. Maybe in a different category perhaps? And also, they don't have Disneynature's Earth either, that was a really good Doc.

- Daniel M
( November 19th, 2009 | 8:25 am )
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Post #18
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Under Our Skin, about Lyme disease will change North America like no other film. The medical system is killing us. My daughter has a permanent pacemaker and my son is deceased. You may hate the images but please learn, from the quality of the documentary.

- Jim Wilson
( November 19th, 2009 | 10:13 pm )
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Post #19
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What about "HOME", a great doc. about planet EARTH featuring some awesome photography.

- David House
( November 25th, 2009 | 2:56 am )
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Post #20
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Just saw Garbage Dreams. It's really good. Hope it makes the list along with The Cove. I actually thought it was better and more interesting that The Cove, but I'm sure The Cove will win.

- Buddy
( January 5th, 2010 | 9:34 pm )
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Post #21
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I believe "Under our Skin" will show America depth of deception of this debiliating physically invisible disease. How insensitive the tests for this disease is. I have a test from a year 1/2 ago from Lab Corp that specifically said I was negative. In November 2009 same lab very positive. How many people out there received a negative diagnosis for lyme disease and went about there way not looking back as that being the possible source for the declining health. Please if you haven't seen this movie, please see it. You might see the face of a mother, father, daughter or brother in this disease.

- Tessa McCall
( January 17th, 2010 | 8:26 pm )
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Post #22
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I believe Burma VJ is the best film of the 15. Have seen the Cove and it is a great emotionalfilm film, but far from a masterpiece. The Beaches of Agness could be a winner as well. Enjoy the films.

- lars Brask
( January 22nd, 2010 | 6:17 am )
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Post #23
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@lars Brask: No way Burma VJ wins. It's less a documentary and more an op-ed news piece.

- Buddy
( January 23rd, 2010 | 10:00 pm )
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Post #24
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@Buddy: Dear Buddy with a statement like that it is clear to me that You have never seen Burma VJ. Once You have seen it we can discuss it:)

- lars Brask
( January 25th, 2010 | 3:20 am )
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Post #25
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Under Our Skin. Amazing struggle that America will be talking about. Moving and finely arranged.

- Elisabeth R.
( January 25th, 2010 | 12:17 pm )
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Post #26
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@lars Brask: Dear Lars, with a comment like that, you obviously have some sort of self-interest in the Burma film. Let's not bother discussing anything. :-P

- Buddy
( January 31st, 2010 | 1:41 pm )
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Post #27
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Just saw The Cove and Burma VJ and must say that Burma VJ is one of the most important films that I have seen this year – a perfect winner!

- Jay Chris
( February 2nd, 2010 | 1:56 am )
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