Academy Announces Short List of Documentary Oscar Contenders
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Saturday/Sunday, November 25/26----The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced the "short list" of feature documentaries that will compete for Best Documentary honors at the 79th Academy Awards in February, 2007. The AMPAS Documentary Screening Committee viewed 81 eligible documentary features, shortening the list to 16 contenders. From this group will come the 5 films that will be compete for the final Best Documentary Oscar. Films on the "short list" include such recent and current theatrical successes as AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (Davis Guggenheim), JESUS CAMP (Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing), THE DIXIE CHICKS: SHUT UP AND SING (Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck) and DELIVER US FROM EVIL (Amy Berg).
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Others on the list have won awards at Sundance, Silverdocs and other prominent festivals, including IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS (James Longley), JONESTOWN: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PEOPLES' TEMPLE (Stanley Nelson), THE TRIALS OF DARRYL HUNT (Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg) and AN UNREASONABLE MAN (Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan).
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Other films now in the running for the top honors are: BLINDSIGHT (Lucy Walker), CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE? (Frank Popper), THE GROUND TRUTH: AFTER THE KILLING ENDS (Patricia Foulkrod), MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY (Laura Poitras), SISTERS IN LAW (Florence Ayisi and Kim Longinotto), STORM OF EMOTIONS (Yael Klopmann) and THE WAR TAPES (Deborah Scranton).
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The five nominees for the Best Documentary Oscar will be announced on January 23, 2007. The Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2007.
Sandy Mandelberger
Awards Watch Editor
