AMPAS and Michael Moore showcase this year's Oscar docs

Posted by · 11:54 am · February 22nd, 2013

Check out the Moore-hosted panel discussion with all the nominees.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Michael Moore: Oscar nominee detained at LAX, threatened with deportation (UPDATED)

Posted by · 12:20 am · February 20th, 2013

“Emad Burnat, Palestinian director of Oscar nominated ‘5 Broken Cameras,’ was held tonight by immigration at LAX as he landed to attend the Oscars,” documentary filmmaker and Academy branch governor Michael Moore Tweeted to his 1.4 million followers this evening. “Emad, his wife and 8-year-old son were placed in a holding area and told they didn’t have the proper invitation on them to attend the Oscars.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Talk: Ep. 106 — BAFTA and Scripter recap, WGA preview and more shorts

Posted by · 8:00 am · February 15th, 2013

On this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne recap the BAFTA USC Scripter Awards. They look ahead to the WGA Competition and break down three categories: Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short and Best Live Action Short.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Guide 2013: Best Documentary Feature

Posted by · 7:32 am · February 14th, 2013

‘5 Broken Cameras,’ The Gatekeepers,’ ‘How to Survive a Plague,’ ‘The Invisible War’ and ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ square off.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar brings surprises aplenty as frontrunners miss and fairytales come true

Posted by · 6:27 am · January 10th, 2013

The 85th annual nominations packed an intriguing punch this morning.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'5 Broken Cameras,' 'Detropia' pick up top prizes at Cinema Eye Honors

Posted by · 9:18 pm · January 9th, 2013

As I wrote last weekend when I broke down this year’s Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature, I really wish I had caught up with “5 Broken Cameras” earlier in the season. It is quite simply one of the most astonishing pieces of work I’ve seen all year and could easily have figured on my top 10 list (where “The Queen of Versailles” was already featured — it’s been such a great year for the form). I was happily, then, greeted with the news that the film took the top prize at tonight’s Cinema Eye Honors.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

From 'Ai Weiwei' to 'Sugar Man,' handicapping this year's documentary feature race

Posted by · 10:15 am · January 5th, 2013

The field of documentary feature contenders this year is bursting at the seams with quality and the signs of a true golden age for the form. And this even with a number of the year’s best having failed to make the finalists cut. Issues tackled are wide-ranging, artistry is apparent in a number of entries and the stories that are being shared are as powerful as ever. How do you even begin to handicap this thing?

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Central Park Five,' 'Queen of Versailles,' 'West of Memphis' shafted by Academy's doc branch

Posted by · 12:29 pm · December 3rd, 2012

15 titles proceed in a competitive year for the category.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'The Imposter' and 'Sugar Man' lead with Cinema Eye Honors nominations

Posted by · 4:16 pm · November 3rd, 2012

Following the International Documentary Association’s breaking of the champagne on the hull of this year’s documentary race, the Cinema Eye Honors have announced their list of nominees. “The Imposter” and “Searching for Sugar Man” led the way with five nominations each. Both are considered formidable competitors in this year’s Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention