searching for sugar man

WGA gets stricter on documentary eligibility

Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:15 am · August 19th, 2013

New rules impose same eligibility criteria on documentary and narrative films.

'Searching for Sugar Man' finds an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:44 pm · February 24th, 2013

After first premiering way back at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2012, Malik Bendjelloul’s “Searching for Sugar Man” has won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

AMPAS and Michael Moore showcase this year's Oscar docs

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

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

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Talk: Ep. 107 — Final stabs in the dark

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:00 am · February 22nd, 2013

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne offer up their final predictions for the 85th annual Academy Awards.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: The show's not over 'til Seth MacFarlane sings

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:04 am · February 21st, 2013

Also: The women on the sidelines, and Jean Dujardin’s Oscar signal

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Argo,' 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Sugar Man,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad' win WGA Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:45 pm · February 17th, 2013

Chalk up another for Ben Affleck’s steamroller.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Argo,' 'Silver Linings,' 'Brave' and 'Breaking Bad' win ACE Eddie Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:55 pm · February 16th, 2013

It’s been reiterated for months now that “Argo” and “Silver Linings Playbook” are the two films that are well-liked across the board in the Academy and the industry at large. Well, tonight, both films have triumphed at the America Cinema Editors’s ACE Eddie Awards in the dramatic and comedic categories.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Guide 2013: Best Documentary Feature

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Ben Affleck, Lena Dunham, Rian Johnson win Directors Guild awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:32 pm · February 2nd, 2013

Check off one more box on the “Argo” industry tour of awards season goodies. The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has crowned Ben Affleck with the award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, this just a week removed from big wins from the Producers and Screen Actors Guilds.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Harvey's mea culpa on 'Django' and 'The Master'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:45 am · January 30th, 2013

Also: Streisand to perform at Oscars, and ‘The Sapphires’ sweeps Down Under

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Argo,' 'Wreck-It Ralph,' 'Searching for Sugar Man,' 'Homeland' win PGA Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:04 pm · January 26th, 2013

Does that wrap it up for Best Picture or is there more nuance at play?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Ai Weiwei,' 'Queen of Versailles' join Oscar players in DGA documentary nominations

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:04 pm · January 14th, 2013

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has offered up its list of nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking, and it’s a nice slice of vindication for a pair of Oscar snubees.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Skyfall,' 'Best Exotic,' 'Ted' join the usual in ACE Eddie nominations

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:00 am · January 11th, 2013

The American Cinema Editors (ACE) decided there was no rush and chose to hold its announcement for nominations honoring excellence in filmmaking until after the Oscar nominations landed. This despite being ready to announce on Tuesday. I applaud them for that. Just because the Academy says “jump” doesn’t mean you have to.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Zero Dark Thirty' wins big with Vancouver critics

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:00 pm · January 7th, 2013

Just as “Argo” had pulled it to a tie, “Zero Dark Thirty” takes another step out ahead of the critics awards haul with Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Screenplay honors from the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams won awards for their performances in “The Master.”

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention