AMPAS makes docu picks
Oscar docu finalists
Nov 18, 2004
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences singled out an eclectic group of 12 films Wednesday as it narrowed down the field to be considered for nominations in its best documentary feature category.
Because Michael Moore, who directed the year's most commercially successful documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," chose not to enter his film in the category -- though it will be eligible in other races -- the field was wide open.
While Moore's influence could be seen in first-person docus like Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me," from Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films, which made the cut, none of the nominees tackled the current political scene, though most have political points of their own to make.
Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman's "Born Into Brothels," the HBO/ThinkFilm release that won the audience award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, offers a look at the children of prostitutes in Calcutta, India. Paola di Florio's "Home of the Brave," from Emerging Pictures, is a study of civil-rights activist Viola Liuzzo. Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller's "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train," from First Run Features, offers a portrait of the left-leaning author of "A People's History of the United States."
Other contenders are "In the Realms of the Unreal: The Mystery of Henry Darger," a study of the American artist by Jessica Yu that Wellspring has just acquired for release; Sony Pictures Classics' "Riding Giants," Stacy Peralta's account of surf culture; Christian Bauer's "The Ritchie Boys," which recounts German Jews who formed an elite U.S. intelligence unit during World War II; Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni's "The Story of the Weeping Camel," a look at a nomadic Mongolian family that ThinkFilm has released; "Tell Them Who You Are," Mark Wexler's portrait of his father, cinematographer Haskell Wexler, that ThinkFilm also is handling; IFC Film's "Touching the Void," Kevin Macdonald's account of two climbers who nearly died in the Peruvian Andes, the surprise BAFTA winner this year for best British film award; Paramount/MTV Films' "Tupac: Resurrection," Lauren Lazin's look back at the life of Tupac Shakur; and "Twist of Faith."
Among titles that have earned attention this year, but did not make the cut -- either because they did not meet eligibility requirements or did not win over the committee -- were the critical favorite "Tarnation," Jonathan Caouette's memoir of a difficult childhood; Xan Cassavetes' "Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession"; Daniel Anker's "Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust; Rick McKay's "Broadway: The Golden Age"; Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster"; Jehane Noujaim's "Control Room"; and Robert Greenwald's "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War."
The eligible documentaries were screened by the Documentary Branch Screening Committee. The nominated films will be announced along with nominations in 24 other categories Jan. 25, and the 77th Annual Academy Awards will be televised Feb. 27.
Because Michael Moore, who directed the year's most commercially successful documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," chose not to enter his film in the category -- though it will be eligible in other races -- the field was wide open.
While Moore's influence could be seen in first-person docus like Morgan Spurlock's "Super Size Me," from Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films, which made the cut, none of the nominees tackled the current political scene, though most have political points of their own to make.
Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman's "Born Into Brothels," the HBO/ThinkFilm release that won the audience award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, offers a look at the children of prostitutes in Calcutta, India. Paola di Florio's "Home of the Brave," from Emerging Pictures, is a study of civil-rights activist Viola Liuzzo. Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller's "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train," from First Run Features, offers a portrait of the left-leaning author of "A People's History of the United States."
Other contenders are "In the Realms of the Unreal: The Mystery of Henry Darger," a study of the American artist by Jessica Yu that Wellspring has just acquired for release; Sony Pictures Classics' "Riding Giants," Stacy Peralta's account of surf culture; Christian Bauer's "The Ritchie Boys," which recounts German Jews who formed an elite U.S. intelligence unit during World War II; Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni's "The Story of the Weeping Camel," a look at a nomadic Mongolian family that ThinkFilm has released; "Tell Them Who You Are," Mark Wexler's portrait of his father, cinematographer Haskell Wexler, that ThinkFilm also is handling; IFC Film's "Touching the Void," Kevin Macdonald's account of two climbers who nearly died in the Peruvian Andes, the surprise BAFTA winner this year for best British film award; Paramount/MTV Films' "Tupac: Resurrection," Lauren Lazin's look back at the life of Tupac Shakur; and "Twist of Faith."
Among titles that have earned attention this year, but did not make the cut -- either because they did not meet eligibility requirements or did not win over the committee -- were the critical favorite "Tarnation," Jonathan Caouette's memoir of a difficult childhood; Xan Cassavetes' "Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession"; Daniel Anker's "Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust; Rick McKay's "Broadway: The Golden Age"; Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster"; Jehane Noujaim's "Control Room"; and Robert Greenwald's "Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War."
The eligible documentaries were screened by the Documentary Branch Screening Committee. The nominated films will be announced along with nominations in 24 other categories Jan. 25, and the 77th Annual Academy Awards will be televised Feb. 27.
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