Oscar’s Documentary Short List
Each year the Academy whittles down their documentary Oscar contenders to a list of 15 from which they will choose the 5 nominations. The list of 15 for this year are:
At the Death House Door by Steve James
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) by Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh by Roberta Grossman
Encounters at the End of the World by Werner Herzog
Fuel by Josh Tickell
The Garden by Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts by Scott Hicks
I.O.U.S.A. by Patrick Creadon
In a Dream by Jeremiah Zagar
Made in America by Stacy Peralta
Man on Wire by James Marsh
Pray the Devil Back to Hell by Gini Reticker
Standard Operating Procedure by Errol Morris
They Killed Sister Dorothy by Daniel Junge
Trouble the Water by Tia Lessin and Carol Deal
Congratulations to all, but particularly Daniel Junge, Jeremiah Zagar, Patrick Creadon, PJ Raval, Tia Lessin and Thavi Phrasavath.
I agree with Jennifer (above) about They Killed Sister Dorothy; it is an incredibly powerful documentary that actually made my ...
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the amazing story of how the women of Liberia took back their country, ...
Bill Ayers claims he was just another part of the anti-war movement and never killed anyone. Phooey. I am a ...
I just saw They Killed Sister Dorothy at the Denver Film Festival and it is one of the most moving ...
I've only seen some of these, but I loved "They Killed Sister Dorothy". Loved. 
Comment by Mark Schoneveld on 18 November 2008:
I’m pulling for “Man on Wire” and “Encounters at the End of the World” my two favorite on this list. Though I haven’t seen them all yet!
Comment by Agnes Varnum on 18 November 2008:
I haven’t seen all of them either, but I really love In a Dream, hopefully you’ve seen that as the subject of the film is from Philly! I’d really like to see The Garden and Glass. I wish Margaret Brown’s The Order of Myths was on the list.
Comment by Chuck on 18 November 2008:
I haven’t seen all of the films, but I have been championing Trouble the Water, Man on Wire, and Order of Myths to just about anyone who’ll listen. I also liked At the Death House Door quite a bit. I’d really like to see I.O.U.S.A., among others.
Comment by Math on 19 November 2008:
I’ve only seen some of these, but I loved “They Killed Sister Dorothy”. Loved.
Comment by Jennifer on 24 November 2008:
I just saw They Killed Sister Dorothy at the Denver Film Festival and it is one of the most moving documentaries I’ve ever seen. This film is nothing short of phenomenal. Sister Dorothy’s story is tragic, infuriating, yet beautiful. Thank you to Daniel for bringing this story to our lives.
Comment by julie on 13 December 2008:
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the amazing story of how the women of Liberia took back their country, stopped the violence, for their children. Absolutely incredible story!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Rich on 25 December 2008:
I agree with Jennifer (above) about They Killed Sister Dorothy; it is an incredibly powerful documentary that actually made my eyes well up a couple of times, which I don’t recall any film ever doing to me. Sister Dorothy worked all those years on behalf of the poor and towards sustainable resources, only to be left to die on a muddy road by thugs. She was espousing environmental safeguards way ahead of the rest of the world. The Brazilian justice system is a sham - at times during the movie one wonders if the officers of the court are real or extras fresh off a Three Stooges set. Captivating, thought-provoking in so many ways, yet entertaining as well. I highly recommend it to everyone.