Guide on Winning an Oscar for a Documentary

In early December, the fate of numerous feature and short documentaries will be determined during the Academys preliminary voting period (December 8-12). During this phase, all 736 members of the documentary branch assign a ranked score to every film they have seen. These scores will produce a shortlist of 15 documentaries, which will then be ranked on a preferential ballot. The official shortlist is scheduled for release on December 16. The final five nominees will be decided by the full Academy, but only members who have viewed all five films can cast a vote.

The Sundance Film Festival continues to be a key launchpad for Oscar-contending documentaries, frequently providing the majority of Best Documentary Feature nominees. Last year, four of the five nominees premiered at Sundance, as have many past winners such as American Factory, Navalny, and 20 Feet from Stardom. Winning a Sundance award elevates a films visibility through critical acclaim, word-of-mouth, and social media, while a supportive distributor can maximize exposure to Academy voters.

This years Sundance contenders include The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix), Folktales (Magnolia), Predators (MTV Documentary Films), 2000 Meters to Andriivka (PBS), One to One: John & Yoko (Magnolia Pictures), Seeds (Interior Films), winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, and Irans Cutting Through Rocks, recipient of the World Grand Jury Prize, though currently without a distributor.

Securing distribution is increasingly challenging, with some films funding campaigns independently, as No Other Land did last year. Partnerships with established distributors like NatGeo or HBO Max remain advantageous, as they provide promotional support and increase the likelihood of entering final contention, as seen with previous winners Sugarcane and Free Solo. Films without distributors, such as Cutting Through Rocks and the extensive My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 Last Air in Moscow, rely on festival awards and critical attention to gain traction.

Within the documentary branch, there is some resistance to Netflix films, despite the streamer producing high-quality entries. Last year, none of Netflixs shortlisted documentaries reached the final five. This year, their entries carry notable credentials: Petra Costa returns with Apocalypse in the Tropics, Laura Poitras presents Cover-Up, and Geeta Gandbhir delivers The Perfect Neighbor. Their strong reputations and compelling subjects enhance their Oscar prospects.

International films have traditionally fared well. Last years nominees came from Canada, Ukraine, Japan, Belgium, and the Israel-Palestine collaboration No Other Land. With 32% of documentary branch members being international, American-centric narratives face stiffer competition, prompting campaigns to extend to London, Paris, and Copenhagen. Highlighted international contenders include The Tale of Silyan (Macedonian filmmaker Tamara Kotevska), 2000 Meters to Andriivka (Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov), Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 (Raoul Peck, Haiti), and Yanuni (Brazil/Austria/USA).

American documentaries focus on social issues rather than celebrity subjects, as the Academy favors substantial nonfiction storytelling. Notable U.S. entries include The Alabama Solution, The Perfect Neighbor, Come See Me in the Good Light (Ryan White), and Seeds. Filmmakers with prior Oscar experience, like Liz Garbus or Amy Berg, often gain an advantage, though newcomers with strong festival recognition can break through.

Festival awards and recognition from critic groups carry significant weight. The New York, Los Angeles, and National film critics groups maintain greater influence than other awards, such as the IDA or Gotham, which have smaller voting bodies. Films acknowledged by multiple critics groups, such as Orwell: 2+2=5, The Perfect Neighbor, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Apocalypse in the Tropics, Cover-Up, and The Tale of Silyan, are likely to appear on the Oscar shortlist.

Technical innovation and creative storytelling are also valued. Julia Loktevs My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 Last Air in Moscow was shot on an iPhone, gaining festival attention despite lacking a distributor. Historically, Sundance screenings are predictive: 13 of the past 14 winners were featured at the festival, including No Other Land, 20 Days in Mariupol, Navalny, Summer of Soul, American Factory, and Free Solo.

Submission through the Academy Screening Room is required. Documentaries with serious subject matter hold more weight than celebrity-focused films. While occasional celebrity-driven entries succeed, the branch generally prioritizes in-depth nonfiction, as demonstrated by the repeated success of filmmakers like Liz Garbus and Amy Berg.

High-profile producers and collaborators, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tessa Thompson, continue to support documentaries, enhancing visibility and awards potential. The combination of festival accolades, critical recognition, international relevance, and serious subject matter forms the blueprint for competing in the Best Feature Documentary category at the Oscars.

Author: Gavin Porter