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Oscar Documentary Feature Short List

Posted by Susan Thea Posnock On November - 17 - 2008

AMPAS released the contenders for the Documentary Feature and they are:

“At the Death House Door”
“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
“Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“Fuel”
“The Garden”
“Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts”
“I.O.U.S.A.”
“In a Dream”
“Made in America”
“Man on Wire”
“Pray the Devil Back to Hell”
“Standard Operating Procedure”
“They Killed Sister Dorothy”
“Trouble the Water”

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No Response for "Oscar Documentary Feature Short List"

  1. CeciliaTallis November 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm 1

    Where’s “Polanski: Wanted and Desired?”
    :(

  2. S.T. Stevens November 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pm 2

    No Roman Polanski? Wow.

    Glad to see Man on Wire there though, my second favorite movie of the year. Hopefully AMPAS won’t just dismiss it for not being about a “serious” topic. Also nice to see Herzog there, hope he makes the final cut, he really got robbed when Grizzly Man was deemed ineligible a few years back.

  3. sartre November 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm 3

    You threw me with the Doc Short title followed by the Doc Feature list, Sasha.

    Glad to see the much praised Man on Wire here. I had issues with the Polanski doc so I’m not mourning its absence.

  4. Ganonlink1991 November 17th, 2008 at 7:54 pm 4

    no religulous either hmm..

  5. Dave November 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pm 5

    I think Man on Wire is a sure bet here.

    Also, I saw Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts at the Sydney Film Festival in June, and while it’s excellent, I think it’s unlikely to make it. It is perhaps a little over-long. Philip Glass and the fact that I’m a musician make it, for me, a great documentary, but I wonder whether it’s actually interesting enough for the non-musical doco voters. I think probably not, sadly.

  6. Sasha Stone November 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm 6

    The Polanski shut out is WEIRD. Just weird.

  7. Seankgallagher November 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm 7

    I’m very upset about the Polanski doc being given the shaft, and I’m also surprised BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER has been left off the list as well.

  8. N8 November 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm 8

    Where’s Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson?

  9. BUZZ November 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm 9

    Where the heck is American Teen?!!?!?

  10. Bill M. November 17th, 2008 at 9:23 pm 10

    I’m really pissed off that Dear Zachary was left off. I know no one in the world has seen it (12,000 dollar domestic gross) but only if that film was given the chance. I absolutely loved that movie.

  11. Bernardo S November 17th, 2008 at 9:25 pm 11

    I was expecting to see American Teen here even though I hated it and thought it was clearly scripted

  12. Brooke November 17th, 2008 at 10:18 pm 12

    Dammit…..Where is “Dear Zachary”? That is the film above all others that should be there.

    “Trouble the Water” will win this, or may be upst by “Man on Wire”

  13. Kenny November 18th, 2008 at 12:17 am 13

    Glad, and surprised, to see I.O.U.S.A. on the list. Its very good and relevant considering the 2008 credit crisis. That doc could be the sleeper winner. Here’s a 30 minute condensed version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_TjBNjc9Bo
    Im not a plant, just a HUGE movie fan.Personally, I think its the best documentary of the year and Ive seen all of them.

  14. Proman November 18th, 2008 at 12:20 am 14

    “Also, I saw Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts at the Sydney Film Festival in June, and while it’s excellent, I think it’s unlikely to make it. It is perhaps a little over-long. Philip Glass and the fact that I’m a musician make it, for me, a great documentary, but I wonder whether it’s actually interesting enough for the non-musical doco voters. I think probably not, sadly.”

    Greetings to the fellow Glass fan!

    Cannot friggin wait to see this. I saw Glass in concert last month and it was. amazing!

    As for the Oscar chances, there is no doubt that Glass is high-profile enough.

  15. Pete M November 18th, 2008 at 2:33 am 15

    I’m just stunned that Dear Zachary was left off. Amazing movie and a once in a lifetime experience.

  16. Noah R. November 18th, 2008 at 2:52 am 16

    No Polanski? No Gonzo? Damn. I need to catch up on my documentary viewing.

  17. Chris Price November 18th, 2008 at 4:16 am 17

    these are the nominees, now that we know the contenders:

    Man On Wire
    I.O.U.S.A.
    Trouble The Water
    Standard Operating Procedure
    Encounters At The End Of The World

  18. Chris Price November 18th, 2008 at 4:17 am 18

    Three possible alternates:

    Pray The Devil Back To Hell
    Glass
    Made In America

  19. Harry November 18th, 2008 at 9:15 am 19

    I’ll be rooting for Standard Operating Procedure.

  20. DBibby November 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm 20

    Wow, another shocking shortlist from the doc branch. I was really impressed by Polanski and feel it deserves to be there. I haven’t been lucky enough to catch Dear Zachary, but given the love for it this is disappointing.

    I think this is Man on Wire’s to lose now (given it makes the final five!)

  21. Markku November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm 21

    Gooo Herzog!

    And Man on Wire, too.

  22. Andrea November 18th, 2008 at 8:43 pm 22

    I know I’m probably alone here, but I’m so bummed that American Teen didn’t make the cut.

  23. Amurabi Mendez November 20th, 2008 at 4:33 pm 23

    A great race reduced to the quality of the chosen…
    It´s a little bit disappointing than some great docs have been snubbed:
    A Jihad For Love
    Bigger, Stronger, Faster
    Chris & Don: A Love Story
    My Winnipeg
    Gonzo
    Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired
    American Teen
    I Have Come From A Plane That Crashed On The Mountains
    Waltz With Bashir
    Kassim The Dream
    Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father
    The Order Of Myths

    I have no complains about the short list but could they make a bigger list?
    Docs are in a great form…making a short list is disminish its quality…

  24. Rosie November 30th, 2008 at 10:05 pm 24

    Bigger Stronger Faster* Directed by Christopher Bell should have made the Oscar list. Putting films on the list that never even made it into theaters is rediculous, plain and simple.

  25. Charles Thompson December 16th, 2008 at 12:03 am 25

    Makeup category looks a bit light… you’ve overlooked the clear winner- Hellboy II: The Gloden Army.

  26. Lauren Feeney January 21st, 2009 at 4:10 pm 26

    Interesting interview with the directors of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about their upcoming project, Women, War & Peace: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/women-war-peace/why-this-series/4121/


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  • Contender Tracker

    Best Picture
    Up in the Air
    Nine
    The Hurt Locker
    An Education
    Precious: Based on the Novel
    Push by Sapphire

    A Serious Man
    Inglourious Basterds
    Up

    Julie & Julia
    Star Trek
    District 9
    Bright Star
    Where the Wild Things Are
    A Single Man

    Best Actor
    Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
    Colin Firth, A Single Man
    George Clooney, Up in the Air
    Matt Damon, The Informant!
    Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
    Viggo Mortensen, The Road
    Ben Foster, The Messenger
    Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
    Michael Sheen, The Damned United

    Best Actress
    Gabby Sidibe, Precious
    Carey Mulligan, An Education
    Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
    Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
    Helen Mirren, The Last Station
    Michelle Monaghan, Trucker

    Best Supporting Actor
    Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
    Alfred Molina, An Education
    Stanley Tucci, Julie & Julia
    Peter Sarsgaard, An Education
    Robert Duvall, Crazy Heart
    Peter Capaldi, In the Loop
    Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover
    Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker
    Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker

    Best Supporting Actress
    Mo'Nique,Precious
    Anna Kendrick,Up in the Air
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
    Julianne Moore, A Single Man
    Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
    Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
    Samantha Morton, The Messenger
    Emma Thompson, An Education
    Cara Seymour, An Education

    Best Director
    Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
    Lee Daniels, Precious
    Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Lone Scherfig, An Education
    Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Neill Blomkamp, District 9
    Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are
    Tom Ford, A Single Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star

    Best Original Screenplay
    Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star
    Quentin Tarantino,Inglourious Basterds
    Michael Haneke,White Ribbon
    Bob Peterson, Pete Docter,Up
    Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, 500 Days of Summer

    Best Adapted Screenplay
    Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
    Nick Hornby, An Education
    Spike Jonze, Dave Eggars, Where the Wild Things Are
    Peter Morgan, The Damned United
    Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
    Scott Burns, The Informant!
    Tom Ford, A Single Man

    Best Editing

    Chris Innis, Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker
    Sally Menke, Inglourious Basterds
    Dana E. Glauberman,, Up in the Air
    Joel and Ethan Coen,, A Serious Man

    Best Cinematography
    Greig Fraser,Bright Star
    Robert Richardson,Inglourious Basterds
    Roger Deakins, A Serious Man
    Christian Berger, White Ribbon
    Bruno Delbonnel,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker

    Best Art Direction

    Where the Wild Things Are
    Julie & Julia
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Bright Star
    Inglourious Basterds
    White Ribbon
    District 9
    A Serious Man

    Best Sound Mixing

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    District 9
    Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
    The Hurt Locker
    Star Trek

    Best Sound Editing

    District 9
    Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
    Star Trek
    Up

    Best Costume Design
    Janet Patterson, Bright Star
    Jany Temime,Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
    Anna B. Sheppard,Inglourious Basterds
    Mary Zophre, A Serious Man
    Colleen Atwood, Public Enemies
    Consolata Boyle,Cheri

    Best Original Score
    Carter Burwell, Karen O,Where the Wild Things Are
    Carter Burwell,A Serious Man
    Michael Giacchino,Up
    Alexandre Desplat, Cheri
    Elliot Goldenthal, Public Enemies

    Best Foreign Language Film (submissions)

    Letters from Father Jacob, Finland
    White Wedding, South Africa
    A Prophet, France
    Dawson, Isla 10, Chile
    Nobody to Watch Over Me, Japan
    Prince of Tears, Hong Kong
    No puedo vivir sin ti, Taiwan
    Kelin, Kazakhstan
    Mother, Korea
    The White Ribbon, Germany
    Silent Army, The Netherlands


    Best Documentary Feature

    The Beaches of Agnes
    Burma VJ
    The Cove
    Every Little Step
    Facing Ali
    Food, Inc.
    Garbage Dreams
    Living in Emergency
    The Most Dangerous Man in America
    Mugabe and the White African
    Sergio
    Soundtrack for a Revolution
    Under Our Skin
    Valentino
    Which Way Home


    Best Animated Feature
    Up
    The Princess and the Frog
    Coraline
    The Fantastic Mr. Fox
    A Christmas Carol
    Mary and Max
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
    Ponyo


    Best Visual Effects
    Star Trek
    District 9
    A Christmas Carol
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Transformers


    Best Makeup

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    District 9

    Best Song

    Best Live Action Short

    Best Animated Short

    Best Documentary Short

    China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
    The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
    The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
    Lt. Watada
    Music by Prudence
    Rabbit a la Berlin
    Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak
    Woman Rebel

  • Ampas Breakdown

    Actors-1,222
    Producers-462
    Executives-436
    Sound-411
    Writers-388
    Art Directors-373
    Directors-375
    Public Relations-370
    Members at Large-254
    Shorts/Feature Ani-335
    Visual Effects-272
    Music-233
    Editors-227
    Cinematographers-197
    Documentary-145
    Makeup-115
    Total Voting Members -approx 6,000
  • Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Official Screen Credits forms due

    Monday, December 28, 2009: Nominations ballots mailed

    Saturday, January 23, 2010: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT

    Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Samuel Goldwyn Theater

    Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Final ballots mailed

    Monday, February 15, 2010: Nominees Luncheon

    Saturday, February 20, 2010: Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation

    Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT

    Sunday, March 7, 2010: 82nd Annual Academy Awards presentation