Netflix and other production companies had a big day with the shortlist announcement for the Oscars. The Obamas’ executive-produced documentary, “American Symphony,” was recognized across three categories. The film, directed by Matthew Heineman, tells the story of Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste and his wife, Suleika Jouad, in a challenging year that included health struggles for Jouad while Batiste was achieving great success in his music career.
Two other films received double recognition, making shortlists for both documentary feature and International Feature Film. “Four Daughters” and “20 Days in Mariupol” were the two films selected for both categories.
However, the announcement also came with some disappointments. Two of documentary’s most revered directors, Errol Morris and Frederick Wiseman, were left off the doc feature shortlist. Also, the acclaimed film “The Mother of All Lies” missed out on the documentary shortlist, but did secure a spot on the International Feature Film list representing Morocco.
The shortlists also included films about the war in Ukraine, and a film by director Nancy Buirski, who passed away unexpectedly in August at the age of 78. The late Buirski’s documentary “Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy” made the feature shortlist, providing a poignant moment in the announcement.
In addition to the feature shortlist, the short documentary shortlist was announced, recognizing a variety of titles including “The Last Repair Shop,” “Wings of Dust,” and “The ABCs of Book Banning” by doc legend Sheila Nevins.
Overall, the announcement brought recognition to a diverse range of documentaries from various filmmakers and production companies, setting the stage for a competitive Oscars race.