What does it take to be on the list of finalists in the Oscar documentary?At least three things: a first big festival, a theatrical distribution and an excellent film.
It’s a winding road, that’s for sure. This year, 124 films were screened after qualifying for the Oscars, a great achievement in itself. Of the 124, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already selected 15 for shortlisting; from this list, with a dizzying variety of good movies, only five will be released after a final round of voting for the prime time network. carpet event that are the Oscars.
In the dizzying evolution of the documentary genre it was already a challenge for the Academy to keep up.
In recent years, the Academy has repeatedly changed its document eligibility criteria to dilute the number of submissions and, while the rules have angered independent filmmakers who cannot afford an increasingly exhausting theatrical cast, reports say there are still many films to watch for the 240 voting members of the Academy.
Here are some facts about the movies that were part of the 2016 Oscars documentary shortlist. Not only is this a pointer for the Oscars, but it’s also a great and varied list of exceptional movies to watch.
Amy
Director: Asif Kapadia Producer: On the Corner Films, Universal Music Premiere Festival: Cannes 2015 Release date: July 3, 2015
The best of enemies
Director: Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville Production Company: Tremolo Productions and M-ia Ranch Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release Date: July 31, 2015
Poster Land Director: Matthew Heineman Production Company: Ouro Time Projects, Documentary Group Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015
Be clear: Scientology and the Prison of Beliefs
Director: Alex Gibney Producer: Jigsaw Productions, HBO Documentary Films, Sky Athletic Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release date: March 13, 2015
Named Me Malala Director: Davis Guggenheim Production Company: Parkes-MacDonald and Little Room Festival Premiere: Telluride, TIFF 2015 Release Date: October 2, 2015
Heart of a Dog Director: Laurie Anderson Producer: Canal Street Communications Premiere Festival: Telluride 2015 Release date: October 23, 2015
The Hunting Ground Director: Kirby Dick Production Company: Chain Camera Pictures Festival Premiere: Sundance 2015 Release Date: February 27, 2015
Listen to Me Marlon Director: Stevan Riley Production Company: Passion Pictures Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release date: July 31, 2015
The Look of Silence Director: Joshua Oppenheimer Producer: Final Cut for Real Festival Premiere: Venice, TIFF 2014 Release date: July 17, 2015
Meru
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin Production Company: Little Monster Films Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release date: August 28, 2015.
3 1/2 minutes, 10 bullets Director: Marc Prata Producer: The Filmmaker Fund, Pictures Motto, Lakehouse Films, Real Films, JustFilms, MacArthur Foundation and Bertha BRITDOC Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release date: July 17, 2015
Seen as Friends Director: Hubert Sauper Production Company: Forward Films Premiere Festival: Sundance 2014 Release Date: August 14, 2015
What happened, Miss Simone? Director: Liz Garbus Producer: RadicalMedia and Moxie Firecracker Premiere Festival: Sundance 2015 Release date: August 14, 2015 According to Indiewire Gross: is
Where then does it invade? Director: Michael Moore Producer: Dog Eat Dog Productions Festival Premiere: TIFF 2015 Release date: December 23, 2015
Winter on Fire: Fight for Ukraine for Freedom Director: Evgeny Afineevsky Production Company: Pray for Ukraine Productions Festival Premiere: Veneza Festival, Telluride 2015 Release date: October 9, 2015.
Have you seen any of these movies? What are your Oscar predictions for the last five?