Submissions for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature

Last updated

This is a list of shortlisted finalists for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film . The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Documentary branch has used it as a preliminary round, before the final five nominated films are announced in mid-January. [1]

Contents

Since 1999, twelve to twenty films are usually announced alongside other categories shortlists in mid-December. The movement came after several controversies in the 1980s and 90s, such as the omission of critically acclaimed and popular favorites: Shoah (1985), The Thin Blue Line (1988), Roger & Me (1989), [2] Paris Is Burning (1990), Hoop Dreams (1994) and Crumb (1995). [3] [4] The process also allows more voters to participate in the nomination second phase.

Even though the shortlisting process has been well established for nearly three decades, various other acclaimed documentaries have not been nominated: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), Grizzly Man (2005), Red Army (2014), [5] Jane (2017), They Shall Not Grow Old (2018) and Apollo 11 (2019). [3] [6]

List of selected films and years

1999

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Amargosa Todd Robinson Flag of the United States.svg United States Marta Becket and the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel Not nominated [7]
American Movie Chris Smith The making of a low budget horror movie in Wisconsin Not nominated
Beyond the Mat Barry W. Blaustein The lives of professional wrestlers outside of the ring, primarily Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake Roberts, as well as some aspiring wrestlersNot nominated
Buena Vista Social Club Wim Wenders Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Follows the contemporary history of Cuban music, featuring the musicians who recorded the 1996 acclaimed album Buena Vista Social Club Nominated
Genghis Blues Roko Belic Flag of the United States.svg United States Paul Pena and the art of Tuvan throat singing Nominated
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. Errol Morris Fred A. Leuchter Jr., capital punishment and Holocaust denial Not nominated
On the Ropes Brett Morgen and
Nanette Burstein
Three young boxers and their coachNominated
One Day in September Kevin Macdonald Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Terrorist attacks at the 1972 Summer Olympics Won Academy Award
Pop & MeChris RoeFlag of the United States.svg United States The director's travels around with his own father, interviewing fathers and sons about their own father-son relationshipsNot nominated
Smoke and Mirrors: A History of DenialTorrie Rosenzweig Tobacco in the United States Not nominated
The Source Chuck Workman The Beat Generation Not nominated
Speaking in Strings Paola di FlorioItalian-born violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Nominated

2000

2001

2002

2003

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
The Agronomist Jonathan Demme Flag of the United States.svg United States Jean Dominique and Radio Haiti-Inter, the country's first independent radio stationNot nominated [8]
Balseros Carles Bosch and
Josep M. Domenech
Flag of Spain.svg Spain Balseros emigrating from Cuba during the Período especial and the 1994 Cuban rafter crisis Nominated
Bus 174 Jose Padilha Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil The June 2000 hijacking of Bus 174 in Rio de Janeiro, BrazilNot nominated
Capturing the Friedmans Andrew Jarecki Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows closely an American family accused of pedophilia Nominated
Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin Richard Schickel The life and times of Golden Age of Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin Not nominated
The Fog of War Errol Morris Flag of the United States.svg United States Robert McNamara and his involvement in the Vietnam War Won Academy Award
Heir to an Execution: A Granddaughter's Story Marc Levin Flag of the United States.svg United States Explores the lives and deaths of her grandparents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed as spies in 1953.Not nominated
Inheritance: A Fisherman's Story Peter Hegedus Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia After the River Tisza was poluted with tons of cyanide from an Australian-Romanian gold mine, local fisherman Balazs Meszaros struggled to survive. Travelling to Australia, he decides to confront the mining company officials.Not nominated
Lost Boys of Sudan Megan Mylan and
Jou Shenk
Flag of the United States.svg United States Two boys from the Dinka tribe of Sudan who emigrated to the United States, who were part of the refugee group commonly known as the Lost Boys of Sudan Not nominated
My Architect Nathaniel Kahn The career and familial relationships of the director's father, architect Louis Kahn Nominated
My Flesh and Blood Jonathan Karsh The adopted children of Susan Tom, most of whom have significant physical disabilitiesNot nominated
The Weather Underground Sam Green and
Bill Siegel
The rise and fall of the radical political group of the same name Nominated

2004

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Born into Brothels Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman Flag of India.svg India
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Kolkata's red light district.Won Academy Award
Home of the Brave Paola di FlorioFlag of the United States.svg United States The 1965 murder of civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo Not nominated [9] [8]
Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train Deb Ellis and
Denis Mueller
Historian and activist Howard Zinn Not nominated
In the Realms of the Unreal Jessica Yu Outsider artist Henry Darger's magnum opus. The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave RebellionNot nominated
Riding Giants Stacy Peralta Surfing, Big wave riding Not nominated
The Ritchie BoysChristian BauerFlag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Holocaust survivors share their story of fleeing to the United States, joining the US Army and returning to Europe to fight in World War II Not nominated
The Story of the Weeping Camel Byambasuren Davaa and
Luigi Falorni
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia
A family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert trying to save the life of a rare white bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) calf after it was rejected by its mother.Nominated
Super Size Me Morgan Spurlock Flag of the United States.svg United States A filmmaker eating nothing but McDonald's fast food for 30 daysNominated
Tell Them Who You Are Mark Wexler The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler turns the camera on his father and their complicated historyNot nominated
Touching the Void Kevin Macdonald Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Joe Simpson and Simon Yates' near-fatal descent after making the first successful ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes Not nominated
Tupac: Resurrection Lauren Lazin Flag of the United States.svg United States Late rapper Tupac Shakur from his upbringing to his untimely deathNominated
Twist of Faith Kirby Dick Sexual abuse by a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo, OhioNominated

2005

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Darwin's Nightmare Hubert Sauper Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of France.svg France
Environmental and social effects of the fishing industry around Lake Victoria in Tanzania Nominated [10]
The Devil and Daniel Johnston Jeff Feuerzeig Flag of the United States.svg United States Outsider music artist Daniel Johnston and his struggles with paranoid schizophrenia Not nominated
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Alex Gibney The rise and fall of the real estate corporation Enron Nominated
Mad Hot Ballroom Marilyn Agrelo The ballroom dance program for fifth graders in the New York City Department of Education Not nominated
March of the Penguins Luc Jacquet Flag of France.svg France The daily lives of emperor penguins Won Academy Award
Murderball Henry Alex Rubin and
Dana Adam Shapiro
Flag of the United States.svg United States American Wheelchair rugby players facing against Canadian wheelchair rugby players at the 2004 Paralympic Games Nominated
Street Fight Marshall Curry The 2002 Newark mayoral election in which Newark City Councilman Cory Booker challenged incumbent mayor Sharpe James Nominated

2006

2007

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Autism: The Musical Tricia ReganFlag of the United States.svg United States Children on the autism spectrum performing their own stage musicalNot nominated [11]
Body of War Ellen Spiro and
Phil Donahue
The experiences of Iraq War veteran Tomas Young, including his paralysis from enemy gunshot wounds and his subsequent anti-war activismNot nominated
For the Bible Tells Me So Daniel G. KarslakeFollows how homosexuality is perceived in contemporary Christianity, as well as various interpretations of what the Bible says about sexual orientation Not nominated
Lake of Fire Tony Kaye Follows the history of Abortion in the United States and the never-ending debateNot nominated
Nanking Bill Guttentag and Dan SturmanFollows the Nanjing Massacre, committed in 1937 by the Imperial Japanese Army during the World War II in Nanjing, the former capital city of China.Not nominated
No End in Sight Charles Ferguson Follows the American occupation of Iraq during the Iraq War Nominated
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience Richard E. Robbins The writings of U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan warsNominated
The Price of Sugar Bill HaneyFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Exploitation of Haiti immigrants in the Dominican Republic involved with production of sugar, and the efforts of Spanish priest Father Christopher Hartley to ameliorate their situationNot nominated
Please Vote for Me Weijun Chen Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Elections for class monitor in a 3rd grade class in the Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan, China Not nominated
Sicko Michael Moore Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the Health insurance and Healthcare in the United StatesNominated
Taxi to the Dark Side Alex Gibney Flag of the United States.svg United States The December 2002 killing of an Afghan taxi driver named Dilawar, who was beaten to death by American soldiers while being held in extrajudicial detention and interrogated at a black site at Bagram air base Won Academy Award
War/Dance Sean Fine and
Andrea Nix Fine
Flag of the United States.svg United States Three Acholi children living in a Ugandan refugee camp, who are preparing to compete in the National Music Competition in KampalaNominated
White Light/Black Rain Steven Okazaki The atermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the humanitarian crise and its survivorsNot nominated

2008

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
The Betrayal – Nerakhoon Ellen Kuras and
Thavisouk Phrasavath
Flag of the United States.svg United States After the United States Secret War in Laos, a Laotian immigrant living in New York City tries assimilating into American lifeNominated [12]
Encounters at the End of the World Werner Herzog Filmmaker Werner Herzog and cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger travel to Antarctica to meet the people who live and work thereNominated
The Garden Scott Hamilton Kennedy Follows the story of the now demolished South Central Farm; a community garden and urban farm located in Los Angeles Nominated
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts Scott Hicks Follows the Classical music composer Philip Glass Not nominated
I.O.U.S.A. Patrick Creadon Analyses the shape and impact of the National debt of the United States Not nominated
Man on Wire James Marsh Flag of the United States.svg United States Highwire artist Philippe Petit's walking between the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New YorkWon Academy Award
Trouble the Water Tia Lessin
and Carl Deal
Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows a young couple surviving Hurricane Katrina and facing their own troubled pastNominated

2009

2010

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Exit Through the Gift Shop Banksy Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom It tells the story of Thierry Guetta, who over several years filmed a host of street artists at work, including Shepard Fairey and Banksy, but failed to do anything with the footage. Eventually, Banksy decided to use the footage to make his own documentaryNominated [13]
Gasland Josh Fox Flag of the United States.svg United States It focuses on communities in the United States where natural gas drilling activity is a concern and, specifically, on hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), a method of stimulating production in otherwise impermeable rockNominated
Inside Job Charles Ferguson Flag of the United States.svg United States The systemic corruption of the United States by the financial services industry and the consequences of that systemic corruptionWon Academy Award
Restrepo Tim Hetherington
and Sebastian Junger
Flag of the United States.svg United States It explores the year that Junger and Hetherington spent, on assignment for Vanity Fair, in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley Nominated
The Tillman Story Amir Bar-Lev The untimely death of former football player turned soldier Pat Tillman Not nominated
Waiting for "Superman" Davis Guggenheim Follows the American public education system by following several students as they strive to be accepted into competitive charter schoolsNot nominated
Waste Land Lucy Walker Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Follows artist Vik Muniz as he travels to the world's largest landfill in Jardim Gramacho, just outside Rio de Janeiro, to collaborate with a lively group of " catadores " (workers who salvage recyclable materials from the garbage) to make contemporary art using some of the materials they have pickedNominated

2011

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Buck Cindy Meehl Flag of the United States.svg United States Focuses on the life, career, and philosophy of the real-life "horse whisperer" Buck Brannaman Not nominated [14]
Bill Cunningham New York Richard PressPhotographer Bill Cunningham, for decades has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high-society charity soirées for The New York Times Style section in his columns "On the Street" and "Evening Hours"Not nominated
Battle for Brooklyn Michael Galinsky
Suki Hawley
Follows the stories of a Brooklyn neighborhood as the residents fight to save their homes from being destroyed by an impending real estate projectNot nominated
Hell and Back Again Danfung Dennis Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan
Follows a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who returns from the Afghanistan conflict with a badly broken leg and post-traumatic stress disorder Nominated
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front Marshall Curry Flag of the United States.svg United States The rise and fall of radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front Nominated
Jane's JourneyLorenz KnauerFlag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Tanzania.svg Tanzania
Follows Dr. Jane Goodall late career as a primatologistNot nominated
The Loving Story Nancy Buirski Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the Mildred and Richard Loving love story and the their landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia (1967), which ended all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States.Not nominated
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky Third and final installment in the documentary trilogy about the West Memphis Three, three teenage boys wrongfully accused of the May 1993 murders and sexual mutilation of three prepubescent boysNominated
Pina Wim Wenders Flag of Germany.svg Germany During the preparation for the original documentary idea, Pina Bausch died unexpectedly, so Wenders cancelled the project, but the dancers of Bausch's company, Tanztheater Wuppertal, convinced him to proceed as planned, memorializing Bausch and her workNominated
Project Nim James Marsh Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Follows the chimpanzee named Nim Chimpsky, who was the center of a 1970s research project to determine whether a primate could learn to speak using American Sign Language Not nominated
Semper Fi: Always Faithful Tony Hardmon and Rachel LibertFlag of the United States.svg United States After the Death of Janey Ensminger, the nine-year-old daughter of Jerry Ensminger, from a rare type of leukemia, a grief-stricken father search for answers led to the shocking discovery of a Marine Corps cover-up of one of the largest water contamination incidents in U.S. history, the Camp Lejeune water contamination Not nominated
Sing Your Song Susanne RostockRecounts the life and legacy of singer, actor, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte Not nominated
Undefeated Daniel Lindsay
and T. J. Martin
Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows a high school American football team, the Manassas Tigers of Memphis, as they attempt a winning season after years of losses. The team is turned around by coach Bill Courtney, who helps form a group of young men into an academic and athletic teamWon Academy Award
Under Fire: Journalists in Combat Martyn Burke Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Follows war journalists experiences of reporting from the frontlineNot nominated
We Were Here David Weissman Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the HIV/AIDS crisis in San Francisco Not nominated

2012

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Bully Lee Hirsch Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the lives of five students who face bullying on a daily basis in U.S. schools Not nominated [15]
Chasing Ice Jeff Orlowski Follows the efforts of nature photographer James Balog and his Extreme Ice Survey (EIS) to publicize the effects of climate change.

Nominated - Best Original Song

Not nominated
5 Broken Cameras Emad Burnat
and Guy Davidi
Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine
Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Flag of France.svg France
A first-hand account of protests in Bil'in, a West Bank Palestinian village affected by the Israeli West Bank barrier Nominated
The Gatekeepers Dror Moreh Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Follows the Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, from the perspective of six of its former headsNominated
How to Survive a Plague David France Flag of the United States.svg United States The beginnings of ACT UP and TAG during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980sNominated
The Invisible War Kirby Dick Follows reports of sexual assault in the United States military Nominated
Searching for Sugar Man Malik Bendjelloul Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Finland.svg Finland
Details the efforts in the late 1990s of two Cape Town fans to find out whether the rumored death of American musician Sixto Rodriguez was true and, if not to discover what had become of him. Rodriguez's music, which had never achieved success in his home country of the United States, had become very popular in South Africa, although little was known about him there.Won Academy Award
This Is Not a Film Jafar Panahi Flag of Iran.svg Iran Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi documents his own house arrest and resistance to censure in Iran Not nominated

2013

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
The Act of Killing Joshua Oppenheimer
and Christine Cynn
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Follows individuals who participated in the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, wherein alleged communists and people opposed to the New Order regime were tortured and killed, with the killers, many becoming gangsters, still in power throughout the countryNominated [16]
Blackfish Gabriela Cowperthwaite Flag of the United States.svg United States Controversies surrounding the mistreatment of whales at Sea World Not nominated
Cutie and the Boxer Zachary Heinzerling Follows the chaotic 40-year marriage of two artists, Noriko Shinohara and her husband the boxing painter Ushio Nominated
Dirty Wars Richard Rowley Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill travels to Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and other countries where the United States has taken military action in the war on terror Nominated
God Loves Uganda Roger Ross Williams It explores connections between evangelicalism in North America and in Uganda, suggesting that the North American influence is the reason behind the controversial Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, which at one point raised the possibility of the death penalty for gays and lesbiansNot nominated
The Square Jehane Noujaim Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Depicts the Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014), starting with the 2011 Egyptian revolution at Tahrir Square Nominated
20 Feet from Stardom Morgan Neville Flag of the United States.svg United States Using archival footage and new interviews, it details the behind-the-scenes experiences of such backup singers as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill, Jo Lawry, Claudia Lennear, and Tata Vega Won Academy Award

2014

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Citizen Koch Tia Lessin
and Carl Deal
Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the political influence of American plutocrats on the political process following the US Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC which granted corporations the ability to anonymously spend unlimited money to influence public policy and electionsNot nominated [17]
Citizenfour Laura Poitras Flag of the United States.svg United States Edward Snowden and his whistle-blowing movement on American espionage of foreign officials through his WikiLeaks websiteWon Academy Award
Finding Vivian Maier John Maloof
and Charlie Siskel
Flag of the United States.svg United States Street photographer Vivian Maier and the rediscovery of her photographyNominated
The Internet's Own Boy Brian Knappenberger Aaron Swartz and the case of United States v. Swartz Not nominated
Jodorowsky's Dune Frank Pavich Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of France.svg France
Cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempts at adapting the classic sci-fi novel Dune Not nominated
Last Days in Vietnam Rory Kennedy Flag of the United States.svg United States During the chaotic final weeks of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as the panicked South Vietnamese people desperately attempt to escape. On the ground, American soldiers and diplomats confront whether to obey White House orders to evacuate American citizens onlyNominated
Life Itself Steve James Based on based on Roger Ebert's 2011 memoir of the same name, follows the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic life and memoriesNot nominated
The Salt of the Earth Wim Wenders and
Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
It portrays the works of Salgado's father, the Brazilian acclaimed photographer Sebastião Salgado Nominated
Virunga Orlando von Einsiedel Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo
Focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the Congo's Virunga National Park during the rise of the violent M23 Rebellion in 2012 and investigates the activity of the British oil company Soco International within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Nominated

2015

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Amy Asif Kapadia Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom The life and death of singer Amy Winehouse Won Academy Award
Best of Enemies Robert Gordon
and Morgan Neville
Flag of the United States.svg United States The televised arguments between conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr and progressive novelist Gore Vidal Not nominated [18] [19]
Cartel Land Matthew Heineman Vigilante groups fighting Mexican drug cartels during Mexican drug war Nominated
Going Clear Alex Gibney An exposé on the practices of the Church of Scientology Not nominated
He Named Me Malala Davis Guggenheim Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg United Arab Emirates
The life of young activist Malala Yousafzai Not nominated
Heart of a Dog Laurie Anderson Flag of the United States.svg United States Composer Laurie Anderson's meditative ode to caninesNot nominated
The Hunting Ground Kirby Dick The incidence of sexual assault on college campuses in the United States and the reported failure of college administrations to deal with it adequately

Nominated - Best Original Song

Not nominated
Listen to Me Marlon Stevan Riley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Archival footage examining the life of Academy Award-winning actor Marlon Brando Not nominated
The Look of Silence Joshua Oppenheimer Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Finland.svg Finland
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg United States
A companion piece to Oppenheimer's 2012 documentary The Act of Killing follows the Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66 Nominated
Meru Jimmy Chin and
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Flag of the United States.svg United States The first ascent of the "Shark's Fin" route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas Not nominated
3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets Marc Silver Murder of Jordan Davis Not nominated
We Come as Friends Hubert Sauper Flag of Austria.svg Austria
Flag of France.svg France
War-ravaged South Sudan fighting for independence from North Sudan and its President Omar al-Bashir Not nominated
What Happened, Miss Simone? Liz Garbus Flag of the United States.svg United States The life and troubled times of singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone Nominated
Where to Invade Next Michael Moore Director Michael Moore spending time in various countries where he experiences alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United StatesNot nominated
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom Evgeny Afineevsky Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Ukraine's fight for freedom during the Revolution of Dignity Nominated

2016

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Cameraperson Kirsten Johnson Flag of the United States.svg United States A cinematographer's collection of documentary footageNot nominated [20]
Command and Control Robert Kenner 1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion in Damascus, Arkansas between September 18–19, 1980Not nominated
The Eagle Huntress Otto BellFlag of Mongolia.svg Mongolia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Aisholpan Nurgaiv, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she attempts to become the first female eagle hunter to compete in the eagle festival at Ulgii, MongoliaNot nominated
Fire at Sea Gianfranco Rosi Flag of Italy.svg Italy Life at Lampedusa, Italy Nominated
Gleason Clay TweelFlag of the United States.svg United States Former football player Steve Gleason and his journey living with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Nominated - Best Original Song

Not nominated
Hooligan Sparrow Nanfu Wang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Flag of the United States.svg United States
A child rape case in China involving a government official and the subsequent protests led by activistsNot nominated
I Am Not Your Negro Raoul Peck Flag of France.svg France
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Author James Baldwin's unfinished memoir about being black in AmericaNominated
The Ivory Game Kief Davidson and
Richard Ladkani
Flag of the United States.svg United States The poaching of elephants in Africa, related to the ivory trade in China and Hong Kong, and the repercussions of elephant poachingNot nominated
Life, Animated Roger Ross Williams Owen Suskind, son of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind, diagnosed with autism learning about life and communication through classic Disney animated movies Nominated
OJ: Made in America Ezra Edelman Flag of the United States.svg United States The examination of racial divides in America during the O. J. Simpson sagaWon Academy Award
13th Ava DuVernay Flag of the United States.svg United States A look at the 13th amendment and its effect on African Americans Nominated
Tower Keith MaitlandThe 1966 University of Texas shooting perpetrated by Charles Whitman Not nominated
Weiner Josh Kriegman and
Elyse Steinberg
The rise and fall of politician Anthony Weiner due to the sexting scandals that derailed his Congressional careerNot nominated
The Witness James D. SolomonThe murder of Kitty Genovese and the subsequent investigation led by her brother, BillNot nominated
Zero Days Alex Gibney The phenomenon surrounding the Stuxnet computer virus and the development of the malware software known as "Olympic Games."Not nominated

2017

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Steve James Flag of the United States.svg United States A family-owned community bank, Abacus Federal Savings Bank, the only financial institution to face criminal charges following the subprime mortgage crisis Nominated [21] [22] [23]
Chasing Coral Jeff Orlowski A team of divers, scientists and photographers around the world who document the disappearance of coral reefs Not nominated
City of Ghosts Matthew Heineman The Syrian media activist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently after their homeland is taken over by ISIS in 2014Not nominated
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library Frederick Wiseman The role of the New York Public Library as an egalitarian network of exploration, exchange and learningNot nominated
Faces Places Agnes Varda
and JR
Flag of France.svg France Varda and JR traveling around rural France, creating portraits of the people they come acrossNominated
Human Flow Ai Weiwei Flag of Germany.svg Germany The current global refugee crisis Not nominated
Icarus Bryan Fogel Flag of the United States.svg United States Fogel's exploration of the option of doping to win an amateur cycling race and happening upon a major international doping scandal when he asks for the help of Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratoryWon Academy Award
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Bonni Cohen
and Jon Shenk
Flag of the United States.svg United States Former United States Vice President Al Gore's continuing mission to battle climate change Not nominated
Jane Brett Morgen Iconic anthropologist Jane Goodall Not nominated
LA 92 Daniel Lindsay
and T. J. Martin
Archival coverage of the 1992 Rodney King riots Not nominated
Last Men in Aleppo Feras Fayyad Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria
The lives of three White Helmets founders, Khaled Omar Harrah, Subhi Alhussen and Mahmoud as they grapple the dilemma to flee their country or stay and fight for itNominated
Long Strange Trip Amir Bar-Lev Flag of the United States.svg United States The career of the rock band the Grateful Dead Not nominated
One of Us Heidi Ewing and
Rachel Grady
The lives of three ex-Hasidic Jews in BrooklynNot nominated
Strong Island Yance Ford The April 1992 murder of William Ford, the director's brotherNominated
Unrest Jennifer Brea Brea faced chronic fatigue syndrome that struck just before she married her husband Omar Wasow Not nominated

2018

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Charm City Marilyn Ness Flag of the United States.svg United States A community in Baltimore, Maryland, over the span of three years of high violenceNot nominated [24]
Communion Anna ZameckaFlag of Poland.svg Poland Ola, a 14-year-old girl who takes care of her dysfunctional, alcoholic father, autistic brother, mother who lives separately, and her preparation of family celebration of her brother's Holy Communion sacramentNot nominated
Crime + PunishmentStephen T. MaingFlag of the United States.svg United States A group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and a private investigator who risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minoritiesNot nominated
Dark Money Kimberly Reed The effects of corporate money and influence in the American political systemNot nominated
The Distant Barking of Dogs Simon Lereng WilmontFlag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Finland.svg Finland
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
The life of 10-year-old Ukrainian boy Oleg throughout a year during the war in Donbas Not nominated
Free Solo Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
and Jimmy Chin
Flag of the United States.svg United States Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite National Park's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wallWon Academy Award
Hale County This Morning, This Evening RaMell Ross Flag of the United States.svg United States The lives of black people in Hale County, Alabama Nominated
Minding the Gap Bing Liu The lives and friendships of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois, united by their love of skateboardingNominated
Of Fathers and Sons Talal Derki Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria
Radical jihadism and terrorist training in SyriaNominated
On Her Shoulders Alexandria Bombach Flag of the United States.svg United States Human rights activist Nadia Murad, as she met with politicians and journalists to alert the world to the massacres and kidnapping happening in IraqNot nominated
RBG Betsy West
and Julie Cohen
The life, legacy and career of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Nominated
Shirkers Sandi Tan Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The making of an independent thriller featuring a teenage assassin set in SingaporeNot nominated
The Silence of Others Almudena Carracedo
and Robert Bahar
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Spain.svg Spain
The silenced fight of the victims from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco Not nominated
Three Identical Strangers Tim WardleFlag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
The lives of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran, a set of identical triplet brothers adopted as infants by separate familiesNot nominated
Won't You Be My Neighbor? Morgan Neville Flag of the United States.svg United States The life, legacy and guiding philosophy of children's television host Fred Rogers Not nominated

2019

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Advocate Rachel Leah Jones
and Philippe Bellaïche
Flag of Israel.svg Israel Human rights lawyer Leah Tsemel as she navigates through the Israeli judicial system in defense of Palestinians accused of terrorismNot nominated [25] [26]
American Factory Steven Bognar
and Julia Reichert
Flag of the United States.svg United States Chinese company Fuyao's factory in Moraine that occupies Moraine Assembly, a shuttered General Motors plantWon Academy Award
The Apollo Roger Ross Williams Flag of the United States.svg United States The history of Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City Not nominated
Apollo 11 Todd Douglas Miller The 1969 Apollo 11 missionNot nominated
Aquarela Viktor Kossakovsky Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Climate change depicted by water and ice around the worldNot nominated
The Biggest Little Farm John Chester Flag of the United States.svg United States John Chester and his wife Molly as they acquire and establish themselves on Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California Not nominated
The Cave Feras Fayyad Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Dr. Amani Ballour, a physician in Ghouta who is operating a makeshift hospital nicknamed "the Cave" during the Syrian Civil War Nominated
The Edge of Democracy Petra Costa Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Political past of Costa in a personal way, in context with the first term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the events leading to impeachment of Dilma Rousseff Nominated
For Sama Waad Al-Kateab
and Edward Watts
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Al-Kateab's journey as a journalist and rebel in the Syrian civil war uprising as she and her husband raise their daughter SamaNominated
The Great Hack Jehane Noujaim
and Karim Amer
Flag of the United States.svg United States The Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal Not nominated
Honeyland Tamara Kotevska and
Ljubomir Stefanov
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia The life of Hatidže Muratova, a loner beekeeper of wild bees who lives in the remote mountain village of Bekirloja, North Macedonia Nominated
Knock Down the House Rachel Lears Flag of the United States.svg United States Four female democrats who run for Congress in the 2018 United States elections: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush and Paula Jean Swearengin Not nominated
Maiden Alex HolmesFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Tracy Edwards and the crew of the Maiden as they compete as the first all-woman crew in the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Race Not nominated
Midnight Family Luke LorentzenFlag of Mexico.svg Mexico
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ochoa family who run a private ambulance businessNot nominated
One Child Nation Nanfu Wang and
Jialing Zhang
Flag of the United States.svg United States The fallout of China's one-child policy that lasted from 1980 to 2015Not nominated

2020

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
All In: The Fight for Democracy Liz Garbus and
Lisa Cortés
Flag of the United States.svg United States Voter suppression and the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Not nominated [27] [28]
Boys State Jesse Moss and
Amanda McBaine
A thousand teenage boys attending Boys State in Texas, coming to build a representative government from the ground upNot nominated
Collective Alexander Nanau Flag of Romania.svg Romania The 2016 public health scandal following the Colectiv nightclub fire Nominated
Crip Camp Nicole Newnham
and James Lebrecht
Flag of the United States.svg United States Camp Jened campers who turned themselves into activists for the disability rights movement in the 1970s and follows their fight for accessibility legislationNominated
Dick Johnson Is Dead Kirsten Johnson Johnson's father Richard "Dick", who suffers from dementia, portraying different ways in which he could ultimately dieNot nominated
Gunda Viktor Kossakovsky Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of Spain.svg Spain
The daily life of a pig, two cows, and a one-legged chickenNot nominated
MLK/FBI Sam Pollard Flag of the United States.svg United States The investigation and harassment of activist Martin Luther King Jr. by J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Not nominated
The Mole Agent Maite Alberdi Flag of Chile.svg Chile
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Flag of the United States.svg United States
A private investigator, Rómulo, hires Sergio, an elderly man to go undercover in a nursing home in ChileNominated
My Octopus Teacher Pippa Ehrlich
and James Reed
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
A year spent by filmmaker Craig Foster forging a relationship with wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest Won Academy Award
Notturno Gianfranco Rosi Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of France.svg France
Different people from areas near war zones in the Middle East who are trying to start over again with their everyday livesNot nominated
The Painter and the Thief Benjamin ReeFlag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Barbora Kysilkova, an artist, forming a friendship with Karl-Bertil Nordland, a man who stole her artworkNot nominated
76 Days Hao Wu and
Weixi Chen
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The struggles of patients and frontline medical professionals battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan Not nominated
Time Garrett Bradley Flag of the United States.svg United States Sibil Fox Richardson, fighting for the release of her husband, Rob, who is serving a 60-year prison sentence for engaging in an armed bank robbery Nominated
The Truffle Hunters Michael Dweck and
Gregory Kershaw
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Flag of Greece.svg Greece
A group of aging men hunt in the woods in Northern Italy, for a prized quarry, the Alba truffle Not nominated
Welcome to Chechnya David France Flag of the United States.svg United States LGBT Chechen refugees as they made their way out of anti-gay purges in Chechnya of the late 2010sNot nominated

2021

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
Ascension Jessica Kingdon Flag of the United States.svg United States The pursuit of the Chinese Dream Nominated [29]
Attica Stanley Nelson Jr.
and Traci Curry
The infamous 1971 Attica Prison riot Nominated
Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry R. J. Cutler The career and creative process of singer-songwriter Billie Eilish Not nominated
Faya Dayi Jessica Beshir Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia
Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar
The rituals of khat, a psychoactive plant that plays an important role in Ethiopia's economy and cultureNot nominated
The First Wave Matthew Heineman Flag of the United States.svg United States A hospital in New York City, as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Flee Jonas Poher Rasmussen Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Amin Nawabi, who shares his hidden past of fleeing his home country of Afghanistan to Denmark for the first timeNominated
In the Same Breath Nanfu Wang Flag of the United States.svg United States The response of the Chinese and American governments to the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Julia Julie Cohen
and Betsy West
The life of cooking teacher and television personality Julia Child Not nominated
PresidentCamilla NielssonFlag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe
The career of Nelson Chamisa who takes on the corrupt ruling party in ZimbabweNot nominated
Procession Robert Greene Flag of the United States.svg United States The six men, who suffered abuse by priests, looking for peaceNot nominated
The Rescue Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
and Jimmy Chin
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
The 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue Not nominated
Simple as Water Megan Mylan Flag of the United States.svg United States The Syrian families across five countries, revealing the impact of war, separation, and displacementNot nominated
Summer of Soul Ahmir Khalib Thompson Flag of the United States.svg United States The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival Won Academy Award
The Velvet Underground Todd Haynes Flag of the United States.svg United States The life and times of influential rock band The Velvet Underground Not nominated
Writing with Fire Sushmit Ghosh
and Rintu Thomas
Flag of India.svg India The journalists running the Dalit women-led newspaper Khabar Lahariya , as they shift from 14 years of print to digital journalism using smartphonesNominated

2022

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
A House Made of Splinters Simon Lereng WilmontFlag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
The care of the staff of an institution for children who have been removed from their homes.Nominated [30]
All That Breathes Shaunak Sen Flag of India.svg India
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Two brothers devote their lives to protect one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the black kite Nominated
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Laura Poitras Flag of the United States.svg United States The life of artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family Nominated
Bad Axe David SievDavid Siev's Asian-American family struggles to keep their local restaurant afloat amidst racial tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Children of the MistHa Le DiemFlag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam The Di Hmong teenager faces challenges growing up. In traditional Di culture, girls are married at the age of 14. But at school he learns that there are alternatives.Not nominated
Descendant Margaret Brown Flag of the United States.svg United States The community of Africatown and the descendants of some of the last known enslaved Africans that were brought to the United StatesNot nominated
Fire of Love Sara Dosa Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
The life and career of the daring French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were ultimately killed in the 1991 eruption of Mount Unzen Nominated
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song Daniel Geller
and Dayna Goldfine
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
The story of Leonard Cohen, and his song "Hallelujah"Not nominated
Hidden Letters Violet Du Feng
Qing Zhao
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China The story of two Chinese women trying to balance their lives as independent women in modern China while confronting the traditional identity that defines but also oppresses them.Not nominated
The Janes Tia Lessin and
Emma Pildes
Flag of the United States.svg United States The story of a clandestine service for women seeking safe, affordable, and illegal abortions, calling themselves JANENot nominated
Last Flight Home Ondi Timoner In his final days, we discover Eli Timoner and an extraordinary life of wild achievements, tragic loss and most of all, enduring loveNot nominated
Moonage Daydream Brett Morgen Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the United States.svg United States
David Bowie's creative, spiritual and musical journeyNot nominated
Navalny Daniel Roher Flag of the United States.svg United States The poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Won Academy Award
Retrograde Matthew Heineman Flag of the United States.svg United States The events that took place during the last nine months of the United States' 20-year war in Afghanistan Not nominated
The Territory Alex PritzFlag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
The attempts of a young indigenous leader of the Uru-eu-wau-wau, an Amazonian tribe contacted by the Brazilian government only in 1980Not nominated

2023

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
32 SoundsSam GreenFlag of the United States.svg United States Sound and its effects on human's perception of time and the world.Not nominated [31]
American Symphony Matthew Heineman A year in the life of musician Jon Batiste chronicling his career in music and his marriage with Suleika Jaouad as they deal with her leukemia.

Nominated - Best Original Song

Not nominated
Apolonia, Apolonia Lea GlobFlag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of Poland.svg Poland
Flag of France.svg France
The coming-of-age story of Apolonia Sokol as she finds her place in the art world, told through 13 years.Not nominated
Beyond Utopia Madeleine GavinFlag of the United States.svg United States The work of Pastor Sungeun Kim, a South Korean human rights activist who has helped rescuing North Korean defectors.Not nominated
Bobi Wine: The People's President Moses Bwayo and
Christopher Sharp
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The campaign trail of Ugandan politician, singer, and actor Bobi Wine leading to the 2021 Ugandan general election.Nominated
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Nancy Buirski Flag of the United States.svg United States The journey of making and producing John Schlesinger's 1969 film Midnight Cowboy .Not nominated
The Eternal Memory Maite Alberdi Flag of Chile.svg Chile The relationship between actress Paulina Urrutia and journalist Augusto Góngora as they struggle with Gongora's Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.Nominated
Four Daughters Kaouther Ben Hania Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia
After two daughters of a Tunisian woman disappeared, the filmmaker invites professional actresses to compensate for the loss.Nominated
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Joe Brewster and
Michèle Stephenson
Flag of the United States.svg United States The life of American poet Nikki Giovanni and the historical periods she lived through from civil rights movement and Black Arts Movement to Black Lives Matter.Not nominated
In the Rearview Maciek HamelaFlag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Flag of Poland.svg Poland
Flag of France.svg France
Following the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Polish van travels through Ukraine's streets serving as a refuge for citizens.Not nominated
Stamped from the Beginning Roger Ross Williams Flag of the United States.svg United States A hybrid documentary based on Ibram X. Kendi's 2016 non-fiction book Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas .Not nominated
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Davis Guggenheim The life of American actor Michael J. Fox and his struggle with Parkinson's disease.Not nominated
A Still Small Voice Luke LorentzenFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom A chaplain completing a year-long hospital residency facing the challenges and spiritual questions that come from her experiences with her patients.Not nominated
To Kill a Tiger Nisha Pahuja Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada A family in Jharkhand, India campaigning for justice for the teenage daughter, who has brutally raped.Nominated
20 Days in Mariupol Mstyslav Chernov Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine The twenty days spent by the filmmaker and his colleagues in besieged Mariupol after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Won Academy Award

2024

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
The Bibi Files Alexis Bloom Flag of the United States.svg United States The leaked interrogation footage of the trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel.Not nominated [32] [33]
Black Box Diaries Shiori Itō Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Flag of Japan.svg Japan
The investigation into Shiori's own sexual assault case, committed by Noriyuki Yamaguchi, director of the Tokyo Broadcasting System.Nominated
Dahomey Mati Diop Flag of France.svg France
Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal
Flag of Benin.svg Benin
Dramatised account of 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey (in modern-day Republic of Benin), which were held in a museum in France.Not nominated
Daughters Natalie Rae and
Angela Patton
Flag of the United States.svg United States The account of 4 young girls as part of afatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail.Not nominated
Eno Gary Hustwit Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
An account of English ambient music artist Brian Eno, produced with a computer software capable to select footage and edit the film in 52 quintillion possible iterations.Not nominated
Frida Carla GutierrezFlag of Mexico.svg Mexico
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The life of Frida Kahlo told through her own writings and interviews.Not nominated
Hollywoodgate Ibrahim Nash'atFlag of Germany.svg Germany
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The daily life of Taliban air force commander Mawlawi Mansour, and the fundamentalist M.J. Mukhtar, following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.Not nominated
No Other Land Basel Adra
Hamdan Ballal
Yuval Abraham
and Rachel Szor
Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
The struggle of Palestinian activist Basel Adra over the destruction of the Masafer Yatta villages due to the occupation of the Israeli army.Won Academy Award
Porcelain War Brendan Bellomo
and Slava Leontyev
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
The experience of Ukrainian artists as they face the current Russian occupation in Ukraine.Nominated
Queendom Agniia GaldanovaFlag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of France.svg France
The art and activism of Gena Marvin, a queer artist from Russia challenging her country's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.Not nominated
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin Benjamin Ree Flag of Norway.svg Norway The secret life of Mats Steen, a World of Warcraft gamer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Not nominated
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat Johan Grimonprez Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
Flag of France.svg France
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
The political background of the crash of Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach at the UN Security Council in protest of the murder of Patrice Lumumba.Nominated
Sugarcane Julian Brave NoiseCat
and Emily Kassie
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
The investigation into the abuse and disappearances of Canadian indigenous children in the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.Nominated
Union Brett Story and
Stephen Maing
Flag of the United States.svg United States The journey of Amazon Labor Union to unionize Amazon's JKF8 warehouse on Staten Island.Not nominated
Will & Harper Josh Greenbaum A road trip across the United States between Will Ferrel and his friend Harper Steele, who completed her gender transition.Not nominated

2025

FilmDirector(s)Countrie(s)Subject(s)ResultRef.
The Alabama Solution Andrew Jarecki and
Charlotte Kaufman
Flag of the United States.svg United States Prison system in Alabama from the perspective of incarcerated leadersPending [34]
Apocalypse in the Tropics Petra Costa Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of the United States.svg United States
The influence of evangelical Christianity on far-right politics in Brazil Pending
Coexistence, My Ass! Amber Fares Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of France.svg France
Israeli comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi tackles inequality and the Israeli–Palestinian conflictPending
Come See Me in the Good Light Ryan White Flag of the United States.svg United States Poet/activist Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley navigate an examination of love and mortality after Gibson is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancerPending
Cover-Up Laura Poitras
and Mark Obenhaus
Explores the investigative journalism career of Seymour Hersh, who covered the U.S. Army torture scandals during the Vietnam War and the Iraq War Pending
Cutting Through Rocks Mohammadreza Eyni
and Sara Khaki
Flag of Iran.svg Iran
Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar
Flag of Chile.svg Chile
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Follows the first Iranian woman elected as councilwoman in a rural poor villagePending
Folktales Heidi Ewing and
Rachel Grady
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Follows teenagers at a folk high school in Norway, where they must rely on each other and a pack of sled dogs as they growPending
Holding Liat Brandon KramerFlag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Israel.svg Israel
Follows Liat Beinin Atzili and her husband, who were kidnapped from their kibbutz during the October 7 attacks Pending
Mr Nobody Against Putin David BorensteinFlag of Denmark.svg Denmark
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Follows Pavel Talankin, a teacher in a poor mining town near the Ural Mountains, who documents the Putin administration movements to control public perception during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war Pending
Mistress Dispeller Elizabeth Lo Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
Follows a woman in China who hires a professional to go undercover and break up her husband's affairPending
My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow Julia Loktev Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Follows the persistence of several independent Russian journalists to resist Russia's repression of press free speechPending
The Perfect Neighbor Geeta Gandbhir Flag of the United States.svg United States Follows the racially motivated assassination of Ajike Owens, by her white neighbor Susan Louise Lorincz, in Ocala, FloridaPending
Seeds Brittany ShyneFollows Black generational family farmers in the American South Pending
2000 Meters to Andriivka Mstyslav Chernov Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Follows a Ukrainian platoon during a mission to liberate the Russian-occupied village of Andriivka, during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War Pending
Yanuni Richard Ladkani Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia fights to protect native lands in Brazil despite assassination attemptsPending

See also

References

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