In Contention

Tag: Burma VJ

  • OSCAR GUIDE: Best Documentary Feature

    Daniel Ellsberg in The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon PapersThe year’s documentary feature category hasn’t offered up a lot of suspense so far this season. One contender has been a dominant force on the circuit and the nominations, for the most part, lined up accordingly. A lot of the intrigue, of course, is taken out by the mid-season announcement of a 15-film shortlist, which sometimes has its own shockers (as it did this year).

    Voters in this field have to attend screenings of all the nominees, so that can sometimes yield left-field choices that don’t adhere to herd mentality. Then again, there are times when one film is too difficult to ignore. We had a year like that last year and it looks like things are heading that way this year as well.

    The nominees are:

    “Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country” (Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller)
    “The Cove” (Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens)
    “Food, Inc.” (Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein)
    “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” (Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith)
    “Which Way Home” (Rebecca Cammisa)

    (more…)

  • AMPAS announces doc feature short list, ‘Anvil,’ ‘Capitalism’ snubbed

    The CoveYou can check out the full press release here.  The list of 15 competing titles as follows:

    • “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)

    (more…)