The Best Documentary Feature Oscar race is off and running, and the contenders aren't lacking in quality non-fiction filmmaking. Out of 134 submissions, 15 films have advanced in the category and will be competing for a nomination in the 87th Academy Awards race. Notable inclusions range from the moving Roger Ebert documentary Life Itself, to the controversial and critically acclaimed Edward Snowden doc Citizenfour. I’m also happy to see the excellent Aaron Swartz documentary The Internet’s Own Boy make the cut, and the well-received Jodorowsky’s Dune was also shortlisted. As far as snubs go, the biggest surprises are the Nick Cave documentary 20,000 Days on Earth and the festival favorite Soviet hockey film Red Army not advancing.
Check out the full Best Documentary Oscar list after the jump. The 87th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 15, 2015 in advance of the ceremony on February 22, 2015. For more on this year's Oscar race, check out my recent Oscar Beat columns.
Here’s the full list of films that have advanced in the Best Documentary Feature race:
Art and Craft
The Case Against 8
Citizen Koch
CITIZENFOUR
Finding Vivian Maier
The Internet’s Own Boy
Jodorowsky’s Dune
Keep On Keepin’ On
The Kill Team
Last Days in Vietnam
Life Itself
The Overnighters
The Salt of the Earth
Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Virunga