Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.
The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:
“The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist. The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.







“Capitalism: A Love Story” did not complete the required run during the time window for this year. It will be eligible next year.
No Anvil or More Than A Game, probably the most deserving and underrated documentary of the year. How many people make up “The Documentary Branch Screening Committee” ?
The only showbiz doc that was robbed of being in the 15 is Smile Till It Hurts: The Up With People Movie. That film was revealing as it exposed that Superbowl halftime act as a religious cult run by old military folks.
I’m sad “Good Hair” didn’t make the list because it’s socially significant as well as entertaining and educational.
I, too, saw The Cove at Sundance and felt the audience falling in love with it in an oh-so-politically-correct way.
I’m a longtime fan of Matt Tyrnauer’s print work and I’m thrilled that his first-time directing effort has garnered that attention of the Academy.
However, given that some of the best docs of the year failed to make the shortlist, I’m not sure being chosen this year is the endorsement it might have been.
WTF??!! NO ANVIL?? What a snub.
idiots
Burma VJ will win.