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Agnes Varnum is a freelance writer, film programmer and communications manager for the Austin Film Society. She is the primary contributor to doc it out and Tribeca Film Institute's Resources.

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Academy Shorlist, 1st Swipe

November 20th, 2007 • Related Posts • Tags

Have you seen the Academy’s shortlist of documentary? It’s pasted below. Reactions? I’m sure lots of fellow bloggers will start discussing it. AJ Schnack has already posted a pretty scathing commentary.

This year, the Academy and the IDA stand on tired notions of righteous causes. They, along with organizations such as Full Frame, believe that nonfiction exists first and foremost to shine light on the great issues. And while the social justice tradition has and always will (and should) exist in nonfiction, many of us believe in nonfiction filmmaking as more than a teaching tool, as something that can be entertaining, as something that can be artistic, as something that can push stylistic boundaries, as something that can reveal the human condition, as something that can be as rival narrative as a filmgoing experience.

I’m with AJ that the list is uninspiring, though of the films that I have seen, they are quality work. I’ve never even heard of The Rape of Europa which boggles my mind. AJ focuses on what he sees as a lack of recognition for all that documentary can be. It’s so sad that Manda Bala, one of the most cinematic and fresh docs of the year, isn’t on this list.

I’m still formulating my thoughts, but here is the list:

AUTISM: THE MUSICAL
BODY OF WAR
FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
LAKE OF FIRE
NANKING
NO END IN SIGHT
OPERATION HOMECOMING – WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME
THE PRICE OF SUGAR
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN
THE RAPE OF EUROPA
SICKO
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
WAR/DANCE
WHITE LIGHT/BLACK RAIN

There Are 4 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by tricia regan on 20 November 2007:

    It truly is an honor just to be short-listed. And i agree, there are many great docs out there that did not make the short list, but they have been well recognized in other arenas, picking up awards all along the way. There is so much luck in all of this, but in the end, there are a lot of great docs, so getting into Sundance, winning an award, getting short-listed or nominated or even winning an Oscar, comes down to the individuals doing the voting and their particular tastes, and whatever politics exist within that voting structure.

    So yes, I feel very lucky, and honored.

    But in response to AJ Schnack – not all “issue” films should be discounted on face value as being dull and uninspired. My film is ostensibly about an issue, but it is really about people. It is often described as a love story, oddly enough. The “issue” in my film structurally was used as the obstacle the “characters” had to battle with in order to achieve their goal. There are no talking heads or anybody in the film anywhere teaching you what autism is. The film has a very basic three act structure. And any viewer who has seen it will also tell you that it is “more than a teaching tool” and is “entertaining” and although it is a pretty traditional verite doc stylistically, it certainly is a film that “reveals the human condition” and is completely story based, thus “rivalling a narrative filmgoing experience”.

    Making documentaries is hard work, and usually thankless, and certainly does not offer any of us enough income to support ourselves — so let’s support each other. Sooner or later, if we keep making films, we’ll all end up on the short list.

    Respectfully -
    Tricia Regan
    director/producer/cinematographer
    AUTISM: THE MUSICAL

  2. Comment by Richard Robbins on 20 November 2007:

    I’m with Tricia (congratulations tricia!). If you think the films themselves aren’t good, thats one thing. But if you don’t like the KIND of films the academy picks, thats another. I haven’t seen all these films, but the ones I have are really great.

    I love AJ’s film – along with several others that did not get on the list. I’m a crazy fan of Manda Bala – I thought it was the best film I saw all year. I saw it twice and it just got better. I also loved King of Kong and In the Shadow of the Moon. Rape of Europa is a great film that played good festivals and the Angelica in New York. You should see it.

    But the truth is that many of the people who have written about my film haven’t seen it. I don’t think AJ has. Thats just the way of the world. Maybe now AJ will see Tricia’s film, and mine, and decide the academy was right?

    I’m thrilled that the Academy liked my film enough to short-list it, and personally grateful that the documentary division remains a place where good films on tough subjects can get a little recognition. But second guessing any kind of awards list is as much a filmmaker pass time as griping about festival selections.

  3. Comment by agnes on 20 November 2007:

    Richard, I count Operation Homecoming among the top films I’ve seen this year. It brings the experience of war and its aftermath to those of us who haven’t experienced it in a way that transcends current conflict. It’s strong work no matter which way it’s sliced (story, editing, cinematography, originality). Congrats to you and I hope that you have a spectacular time at IDFA, where yours is the opening night film. It is one of my favorite festivals and I’m heartbroken to not be there.

    AJ has been very steeped in the Academy Awards for the last year, not only as he has qualified his film, but also, I believe, as an advocate for this specific recognition for documentary. He has a particular perspective that I’m not sure I share, but I think is important to consider. Of the films on this list that I’ve seen, they are strong works and certainly deserving of being on the shortlist. Like AJ, I’m missing other films that also felt deserving. I’m going to think on it some more and hopefully be more articulate in the coming days about where my word “uninspired” came from because it isn’t from the individual works that I’ve seen.

  4. Comment by AJ Schnack on 21 November 2007:

    Just wanted to clarify that I have seen both AUTISM and HOMECOMING. I should have been more specific in my IN DEPTH piece that I admired Richard’s pushing the documentary form and that I believed he was one of the films that took real risks in terms of craft. I don’t think I actually said anything critical of HOMECOMING, but I understand Richard not wishing to be painted with a broad brush.