Week of « Prev | Next »
3 articles
Here’s How the Independent Spirit Awards Will Impact the Oscar Race: Analysis
22 November 2016 12:40 PM, PST
The sprawling Film Independent Spirit Award nominations, which are selected by a series of small juries, has an impact on film writers who will vote for awards ranging from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice to regional critics’ groups and Guild and Oscar voters. It’s all a question of what moves up in those screener piles.
So digging into Tuesday’s multiple Spirit category nominees, who got a boost? (Note that, for various reasons including the $20-million cap, “La La Land,” “Lion,” “A Monster Calls” and “Nocturnal Animals” were ineligible.)
As expected, A24’s Miami triptych “Moonlight” (six nominations), Amazon/Roadside Attractions’ tragic drama “Manchester by the Sea” (five) and Fox Searchlight’s portrait of JFK’s widow “Jackie” (four), all considered strong Oscar entries, landed coveted Best Feature slots. Another A24 entry, “American Honey” (six) and Monument Releasing’s “Chronic” (two) also received feature nominations, but are less »
- Anne Thompson
Why the PGA Documentary Surprises Often Don’t Predict Oscar Nominees
22 November 2016 11:10 AM, PST
Unsurprising surprises dominated this morning’s Producers Guild of America documentary nominees. While the PGA’s feature nominees often align with Oscar contenders, that’s often untrue for the documentaries. In 2014, the PGA nominated “The Green Prince,” “Life Itself,” “Merchants of Doubt,” “Virunga, and “Particle Fever;” only “Virunga made the final Oscar five. (The winner was Laura Poitras’ “Citizenfour.)
Last year, the PGA did select eventual Oscar nominees “Amy” (which won the Oscar) and “The Look of Silence,” but also chose “The Hunting Ground” and “Meru,” both of which made the Oscar shortlist of 15; PGA selection”Something Better to Come” didn’t even make that cut.
Today, the committee of some 30 or more PGA documentary producers nominated two anticipated films in Roger Ross Williams’ “Life, Animated” (The Orchard/A & E) and Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America” (Espn Films). Both were much-lauded Sundance hits and made the Doc NYC Shortlist. »
- Anne Thompson
Oscars 2017 Documentary Shortlist Predictions: Anne Thompson Weighs In With Top Picks
21 November 2016 8:48 AM, PST
Many are called, few are chosen: The number of high-quality, awards-worthy documentaries seems to grow every year, but there’s still only 15 slots on the Oscar documentary shortlist. That will be announced December 5; the final five will be revealed on nominations morning, January 24. This year, 145 features were submitted.
This is the white-knuckle portion of the final campaign stretch, as documentary filmmakers and distributors hope their movies make it onto documentary branch voters’ viewing piles before they file their final grades. Those with the advantage are high-profile established hits and festival award-winners with the right combination of engaging accessibility, artful filmmaking, and gravitas.
So what’s looking like a strong bet? It’s a diverse list in more ways than one. Here are my picks for the Top 15, which are not listed in order of likelihood.
See more ‘Amanda Knox’: Why It Took Five Years to Unravel the Story of »
- Anne Thompson
3 articles