The largest field of documentaries in Oscar history has been narrowed down to 15 semifinalists, with almost all of the films that were expected to advance to the shortlist doing so.
Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” Garrett Bradley’s “Time,” Alexander Nanau’s “Collective,” Viktor Kosakovskiy’s “Gunda,” James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham’s “Crip Camp” and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya,” which led all of the year’s nonfiction films in previous nominations and wins, were among the films that advanced from the record field of 238 qualifying docs. That number shattered the previous record of 170 eligible documentaries, which was set in 2017.
Other films that made the shortlist included “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” “Boys State,” “MLK/FBI,” “My Octopus Teacher,” “The Painter and the Thief,” “76 Days” and “The Truffle Hunters.” Two documentaries that were also entered in the Oscars’ international race, Chile’s “The Mole Agent” and Italy’s “Notturno,...
Kirsten Johnson’s “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” Garrett Bradley’s “Time,” Alexander Nanau’s “Collective,” Viktor Kosakovskiy’s “Gunda,” James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham’s “Crip Camp” and David France’s “Welcome to Chechnya,” which led all of the year’s nonfiction films in previous nominations and wins, were among the films that advanced from the record field of 238 qualifying docs. That number shattered the previous record of 170 eligible documentaries, which was set in 2017.
Other films that made the shortlist included “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” “Boys State,” “MLK/FBI,” “My Octopus Teacher,” “The Painter and the Thief,” “76 Days” and “The Truffle Hunters.” Two documentaries that were also entered in the Oscars’ international race, Chile’s “The Mole Agent” and Italy’s “Notturno,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Kenyan film Softie is gaining momentum as documentary features make their closing arguments for inclusion on the Oscar shortlist, with preliminary voting set to wrap up Friday. The film was nominated Tuesday for a Producers Guild Award, honoring the work of director-producer Sam Soko and producer Toni Kamau.
“Crying!!! Stunned! Screaming!!! What?!!” Kamau tweeted in reaction to the nomination. For his part, Soko tweeted, “Hoarse from screaming with [Toni Kamau] because this is unbelievable!”
The PGA recognition follows a nomination as Best Feature at the IDA Documentary Awards last month, as well as prizes at film festivals around the world, including Durban, South Africa. Softie, the story of Kenyan photojournalist-turned-political-candidate Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, began its awards journey a year ago at the Sundance Film Festival, where Park City crowds “got” the film, overcoming the filmmakers’ concern about a potential culture gap.
“It was magical to see people laugh in the same...
“Crying!!! Stunned! Screaming!!! What?!!” Kamau tweeted in reaction to the nomination. For his part, Soko tweeted, “Hoarse from screaming with [Toni Kamau] because this is unbelievable!”
The PGA recognition follows a nomination as Best Feature at the IDA Documentary Awards last month, as well as prizes at film festivals around the world, including Durban, South Africa. Softie, the story of Kenyan photojournalist-turned-political-candidate Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, began its awards journey a year ago at the Sundance Film Festival, where Park City crowds “got” the film, overcoming the filmmakers’ concern about a potential culture gap.
“It was magical to see people laugh in the same...
- 2/3/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
2021 PGA Awards documentary nominations include Oscar frontrunners ‘Time’ and ‘Dick Johnson Is Dead’
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced the seven nominees for its 2021 Best Documentary award on Tuesday February 2. The winner will be revealed at the 32nd Annual PGA Awards which will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 24. The remaining Producers Guild Awards nominations, including those for the Oscar bellwether Best Picture, will be unveiled on Monday, March 8. The lucky seven documentary features in the running are:
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Softie”
“A Thousand Cuts”
“Time”
“The Truffle Hunters”
The PGA nomination is an important step on the path to Oscar glory. In the last five years, four of the eventual Oscar champs for Best Documentary Feature were nominated first by the producers guild, including last year’s “American Factory.” That film was distributed by Netflix, a studio that has proven itself incredibly strong in the doc branch in the last decade.
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Softie”
“A Thousand Cuts”
“Time”
“The Truffle Hunters”
The PGA nomination is an important step on the path to Oscar glory. In the last five years, four of the eventual Oscar champs for Best Documentary Feature were nominated first by the producers guild, including last year’s “American Factory.” That film was distributed by Netflix, a studio that has proven itself incredibly strong in the doc branch in the last decade.
- 2/2/2021
- by John Benutty
- Gold Derby
February is now the month for guild award nominations announcements. And while the SAG Awards will be the first big ball to drop on Thursday, the Producers Guild of America began the rollout of their yearly honors with the documentary category. There were a number of familiar nominees including Oscar contenders “Time,” “Dick Johnson is Dead” and “The Truffle Hunters.”
Read More: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Minari” & “I May Destroy You” lead 2021 Independent Spirit Awards Nominations
In what has become a very competitive Oscar race there were a number of surprising omissions, however, including “Collective,” “Boy State,” “All In The Fight For Democracy,” “Welcome to Chechnya,” “City Hall,” “Crip Camp,” “MLK/FBI,” “Totally Under Control,” “On the Record” and “The Dissident.”
This year’s nominees are:
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Softie”
“A Thousand Cuts”
“Time”
“The Truffle Hunters”
Nominees in the Sports,...
Read More: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Minari” & “I May Destroy You” lead 2021 Independent Spirit Awards Nominations
In what has become a very competitive Oscar race there were a number of surprising omissions, however, including “Collective,” “Boy State,” “All In The Fight For Democracy,” “Welcome to Chechnya,” “City Hall,” “Crip Camp,” “MLK/FBI,” “Totally Under Control,” “On the Record” and “The Dissident.”
This year’s nominees are:
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet”
“Dick Johnson Is Dead”
“My Octopus Teacher”
“Softie”
“A Thousand Cuts”
“Time”
“The Truffle Hunters”
Nominees in the Sports,...
- 2/2/2021
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
In any crowded awards field, being seen is the first order of business. Last year, several box office hits led the Producers Guild of America’s nominated documentary features, and moon-landing documentary “Apollo 11” eventually took home the award. The 2020 nominees for Documentary Motion Picture included one Netflix movie, “American Factory,” which did not win the PGA prize, but did take home the Oscar.
Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives Netflix an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded three of the seven PGA nominations: “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet;” Kirsten Johnson’s imaginative ode to her father, “Dick Johnson Is Dead;” and heart-tugging audience favorite “My Octopus Teacher.”
The nominees for the Documentary category are selected by the Documentary Nomination Jury, made up of at least fifty documentary producers who select between three and seven non-fiction motion-picture nominees.
Box-office buzz is not a factor in this pandemic year, which gives Netflix an advantage. It has a long list of strong, widely seen contenders that yielded three of the seven PGA nominations: “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet;” Kirsten Johnson’s imaginative ode to her father, “Dick Johnson Is Dead;” and heart-tugging audience favorite “My Octopus Teacher.”
The nominees for the Documentary category are selected by the Documentary Nomination Jury, made up of at least fifty documentary producers who select between three and seven non-fiction motion-picture nominees.
- 2/2/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The PGA is out with its documentary feature nominees for the 2021 Producers Guild Awards. Vying for the hardware are David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Softie, A Thousand Cuts, Time and The Truffle Hunters.
Winners will be honored during the virtual 32nd annual Producers Guild of America Awards Show on Wednesday, March 24. The individuals up for the award are to be determined, as the guild noted that all seven films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility.
The Producers Guild Awards honor excellence in motion picture and television productions, as well as the most notable names in the industry shaping the producing profession. Last year, producers Todd Douglas Miller and Thomas Petersen took Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture for Apollo 11, their compelling look at the first moon landing.
PGA nominees for Sports, Children’s and Short...
Winners will be honored during the virtual 32nd annual Producers Guild of America Awards Show on Wednesday, March 24. The individuals up for the award are to be determined, as the guild noted that all seven films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility.
The Producers Guild Awards honor excellence in motion picture and television productions, as well as the most notable names in the industry shaping the producing profession. Last year, producers Todd Douglas Miller and Thomas Petersen took Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture for Apollo 11, their compelling look at the first moon landing.
PGA nominees for Sports, Children’s and Short...
- 2/2/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Producers Guild of America announced the 2021 Documentary Motion Picture nominees that will advance to the final round of voting for the 32nd Annual Producers Guild Awards.
Leading the way are “Time” and “The Truffle Hunters.” Last week, Garrett Bradley’s “Time” won the National Board of Review award for best documentary feature. The Producers Guild nomination further solidifies its place as a leader in the documentary feature race. So far, “Time” has also been named best documentary among the New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
The films nominated for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are listed below in alphabetical order:
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet” “Dick Johnson Is Dead” “My Octopus Teacher” “Softie” “A Thousand Cuts” “Time” “The Truffle Hunters”
These films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility.
Last year, producers Todd Douglas Miller and Thomas...
Leading the way are “Time” and “The Truffle Hunters.” Last week, Garrett Bradley’s “Time” won the National Board of Review award for best documentary feature. The Producers Guild nomination further solidifies its place as a leader in the documentary feature race. So far, “Time” has also been named best documentary among the New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
The films nominated for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are listed below in alphabetical order:
“David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet” “Dick Johnson Is Dead” “My Octopus Teacher” “Softie” “A Thousand Cuts” “Time” “The Truffle Hunters”
These films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility.
Last year, producers Todd Douglas Miller and Thomas...
- 2/2/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Time, The Truffle Hunters on the list.
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced the list of seven documentary features that advance to the final round of voting for the 32nd Annual Producers Guild Awards.
The films in contention for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures are, in alphabetical order: David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet; Dick Johnson Is Dead; My Octopus Teacher; Softie; A Thousand Cuts; Time; and The Truffle Hunters.
The films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility. Last year’s winner was Apollo 11.
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced the list of seven documentary features that advance to the final round of voting for the 32nd Annual Producers Guild Awards.
The films in contention for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures are, in alphabetical order: David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet; Dick Johnson Is Dead; My Octopus Teacher; Softie; A Thousand Cuts; Time; and The Truffle Hunters.
The films are in the process of being vetted for individual producer eligibility. Last year’s winner was Apollo 11.
- 2/2/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Producers Guild of America has announced the documentary nominees for the 2021 Producers Guild Awards.
The nominees for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are, in alphabetical order, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Softie, A Thousand Cuts, Time and The Truffle Hunters. It’s still being determined which individual producers are eligible for the nomination and award.
Dick Johnson Is Dead has been nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for best documentary and won two IDA documentary awards and three Critics Choice documentary awards.
The David Attenborough film won a Critics Choice documentary award. My ...
The nominees for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are, in alphabetical order, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Softie, A Thousand Cuts, Time and The Truffle Hunters. It’s still being determined which individual producers are eligible for the nomination and award.
Dick Johnson Is Dead has been nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for best documentary and won two IDA documentary awards and three Critics Choice documentary awards.
The David Attenborough film won a Critics Choice documentary award. My ...
The Producers Guild of America has announced the documentary nominees for the 2021 Producers Guild Awards.
The nominees for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are, in alphabetical order, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Softie, A Thousand Cuts, Time and The Truffle Hunters. It’s still being determined which individual producers are eligible for the nomination and award.
Dick Johnson Is Dead has been nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for best documentary and won two IDA documentary awards and three Critics Choice documentary awards.
The David Attenborough film won a Critics Choice documentary award. My ...
The nominees for outstanding producer of documentary motion pictures are, in alphabetical order, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, Dick Johnson Is Dead, My Octopus Teacher, Softie, A Thousand Cuts, Time and The Truffle Hunters. It’s still being determined which individual producers are eligible for the nomination and award.
Dick Johnson Is Dead has been nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for best documentary and won two IDA documentary awards and three Critics Choice documentary awards.
The David Attenborough film won a Critics Choice documentary award. My ...
“Crip Camp,” “MLK/FBI,” “Time,” “The Reason I Jump” and “The Truffle Hunters” have received dual nominations for best feature and best director, in addition to other nominations, for the International Documentary Association’s 36th awards.
“The nominees present an inspiring and urgent range of stories from around the globe,” said Simon Kilmurry, executive director of the Ida. “The broad range of subjects and approaches to storytelling underscores that documentary is our most exciting form of cultural expression, a vital art form and a crucial element of democratic dialogue.”
The awards will take place in a virtual ceremony on Jan. 16, 2021. IDA members will have the opportunity to vote online for the ten Best Feature and Best Short nominees starting Dec. 7, 2020, through Jan. 8, 2021.
The 10 nominees for best feature are “Collective,” “Crip Camp,” “Gunda,” “MLK/FBI,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Reunite,” “Softie,” “Time,” “The Truffle Hunters” and “Welcome to Chechnya.”
Best director nominees are Garrett Bradley for “Time,...
“The nominees present an inspiring and urgent range of stories from around the globe,” said Simon Kilmurry, executive director of the Ida. “The broad range of subjects and approaches to storytelling underscores that documentary is our most exciting form of cultural expression, a vital art form and a crucial element of democratic dialogue.”
The awards will take place in a virtual ceremony on Jan. 16, 2021. IDA members will have the opportunity to vote online for the ten Best Feature and Best Short nominees starting Dec. 7, 2020, through Jan. 8, 2021.
The 10 nominees for best feature are “Collective,” “Crip Camp,” “Gunda,” “MLK/FBI,” “The Reason I Jump,” “Reunite,” “Softie,” “Time,” “The Truffle Hunters” and “Welcome to Chechnya.”
Best director nominees are Garrett Bradley for “Time,...
- 11/24/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
16 international titles competed in the fourth edition unfolding in Egyptian Red Sea resort.
Bosnian director Jasmila Žbanic’s drama Quo Vadis, Aida? has scooped the top prize at the fourth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (October 23-31), its $50,000 Golden Star for best narrative film.
The feature, which revisits the events leading up to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, world premiered in competition in Venice and has since been selected as Bosnian’s entry for the best international category at the 2021 Oscars.
Jasna Duricic also won the El Gouna Star for best actress for her performance in the film as a...
Bosnian director Jasmila Žbanic’s drama Quo Vadis, Aida? has scooped the top prize at the fourth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (October 23-31), its $50,000 Golden Star for best narrative film.
The feature, which revisits the events leading up to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, world premiered in competition in Venice and has since been selected as Bosnian’s entry for the best international category at the 2021 Oscars.
Jasna Duricic also won the El Gouna Star for best actress for her performance in the film as a...
- 11/2/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The International Documentary Association has announced a shortlist of 30 films from which it will choose its nominations for the 2020 Ida Documentary Awards, with a list that includes “76 Days,” “Boys State,” “Crip Camp,” “MLK/FBI,” “The Reason I Jump,” “The Truffle Hunters,” “Time” and “Welcome to Chechnya.”
The list also included a generous helping of foreign-made docs, including “Notturno,” “Acasa, My Home,” “Collective,” “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange,” “Gunda,” “Me and the Cult Leader,” “A Metamorfose dos Passaros,” “Once Upon a Time in Venezuela” and “Softie.”
The rest of the list: “City Hall,” “Disclosure,” “The Forbidden Reel,” “I Walk on Water,” “The Mole Agent,” “Reunited,” “Self Portrait,” “Stray,” “‘Til Kingdom Come,” “To See You Again,” “Unapologetic,” “The Viewing Booth” and “Wintopia.”
The shortlisted films present a dramatically different view of the year in nonfiction filmmaking than the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, which were announced on Monday. Only three films — “Crip Camp,...
The list also included a generous helping of foreign-made docs, including “Notturno,” “Acasa, My Home,” “Collective,” “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange,” “Gunda,” “Me and the Cult Leader,” “A Metamorfose dos Passaros,” “Once Upon a Time in Venezuela” and “Softie.”
The rest of the list: “City Hall,” “Disclosure,” “The Forbidden Reel,” “I Walk on Water,” “The Mole Agent,” “Reunited,” “Self Portrait,” “Stray,” “‘Til Kingdom Come,” “To See You Again,” “Unapologetic,” “The Viewing Booth” and “Wintopia.”
The shortlisted films present a dramatically different view of the year in nonfiction filmmaking than the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, which were announced on Monday. Only three films — “Crip Camp,...
- 10/28/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The 2021 International Documentary Association (Ida) Awards has announced the shortlists for the Best Feature and Best Short categories. In a year crowded with top-notch documentaries (see the Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations here), with more debuts unspooling at Doc NYC (November 11-19), every reputable non-fiction awards group helps to curate the sprawling list of eventual Oscar contenders, and the Ida is no exception. (Read IndieWire’s current list of documentary feature predictions here.)
The Ida will bestow 16 awards this year, for Best Feature, Best Short, Best Curated Series, Best Episodic Series, Best Multi-Part Documentary, Best Short Form Series, Best Audio Documentary, David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award, Best Music Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Writing, Best Music Score, ABC News VideoSource Award, and the Pare Lorentz Award.
Honorees will be announced on Tuesday, November 10. Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, November 24, along with the other awards recipients.
The Ida will bestow 16 awards this year, for Best Feature, Best Short, Best Curated Series, Best Episodic Series, Best Multi-Part Documentary, Best Short Form Series, Best Audio Documentary, David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award, Best Music Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Writing, Best Music Score, ABC News VideoSource Award, and the Pare Lorentz Award.
Honorees will be announced on Tuesday, November 10. Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, November 24, along with the other awards recipients.
- 10/28/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Storyville commissioning team will report to BBC Film head Rose Garnett.
BBC documentary strand Storyville is moving under the remit of BBC Film, as part of a broader restructuring of the BBC’s filmmaking output.
Storyville commissioning editor Mandy Chang and assistant commissioner Hayley Reynolds will now report to BBC Film director Rose Garnett, effective immediately.
Chang and Jo Lapping will work in factual acquisitions across the BBC’s channels and iPlayer, while co-ordinator Hollie Gibson will work across both teams.
The news was announced in an email to staff from Clare Sillery, head of documentaries commissioning at the BBC.
BBC documentary strand Storyville is moving under the remit of BBC Film, as part of a broader restructuring of the BBC’s filmmaking output.
Storyville commissioning editor Mandy Chang and assistant commissioner Hayley Reynolds will now report to BBC Film director Rose Garnett, effective immediately.
Chang and Jo Lapping will work in factual acquisitions across the BBC’s channels and iPlayer, while co-ordinator Hollie Gibson will work across both teams.
The news was announced in an email to staff from Clare Sillery, head of documentaries commissioning at the BBC.
- 10/26/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Fresh off of Sundance, Wavelength Productions has revealed Eliana Pipes as the first recipient of their inaugural Wave Grant, a $5,000 grant awarded to a first-time female filmmaker of color to help them finish their short film.
Pipes was selected from over 100 applications from all over the country. In addition to the handsome cash reward, Pipes will also receive mentorship and guidance from the Wavelength Productions team, covering everything from pre-production to distribution and festival strategies.
“Eliana really wowed us with her creativity and passion. We’re really excited to help make her vision a reality,” said Jenifer Westphal, president of Wavelength Productions. “That being said, it was definitely hard to narrow the winning submission down to one candidate because of the quality and creativity of what was submitted. It just goes to show how many more allies we need in this industry to help get these amazing stories told.
Pipes was selected from over 100 applications from all over the country. In addition to the handsome cash reward, Pipes will also receive mentorship and guidance from the Wavelength Productions team, covering everything from pre-production to distribution and festival strategies.
“Eliana really wowed us with her creativity and passion. We’re really excited to help make her vision a reality,” said Jenifer Westphal, president of Wavelength Productions. “That being said, it was definitely hard to narrow the winning submission down to one candidate because of the quality and creativity of what was submitted. It just goes to show how many more allies we need in this industry to help get these amazing stories told.
- 2/5/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
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