Oscar-Eligible Documentaries Announced

Keeping up with the awards circuit, here's the official shortlist for the Best Documentary category, as released by Oscars.org. This isn't everything submitted, obviously, and there were plenty more that could have been in the running, but now that I think about it, it hasn't been a big, big year for docs. Michael Moore's Capitalism, while not a great film, was probably the most heavily promoted documentary you can think of. But it's not on the list. Whether or not it would have made it on its own merits may be a moot point: It's possible the film wasn't released in time to be considered. The Oscar year for documentaries runs from September 1 to August 31, barring an extension by AMPAS through the end of September. Highlights among the eligible films include The Cove and Food, Inc., but I don't have a gauge on what the favorites might be at this point. I would say Tyson, based on what I've seen, but that's conspicuous by its absence. Here's the list, guaranteed to tickle your serious bone. The Beaches of Agnes
Burma VJ
The Cove
Every Little Step
Facing Ali
Food, Inc.
Garbage Dreams
Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Mugabe and the White African
Sergio
Soundtrack for a Revolution
Under Our Skin
Valentino The Last Emperor
Which Way Home

Comments

[knives]

I would like Beaches to win, but the oscars will probably screw that up.

[earthien]

What? Was "This Is It" not eligible?

[Get The Big Picture]

No, This Is It is ineligible because of its release date. All Oscar documentaries have to play for a week in Los Angeles and Manhattan prior to August 31st, unless the producers file an extension. Even in that case, the film has to complete its qualifying run by the end of September.