Shocking Oscar Documentary Shortlist Revealed

The Oscar race just took a surprising turn with the announcement of the documentary feature shortlist, and fans are buzzing with excitement—and disbelief! The Netflix docuseries *Will & Harper*, showcasing the beautiful friendship between beloved actor Will Ferrell and his SNL colleague Harper Steele, who recently came out as transgender, has cemented its place in Oscar history. Directed by Josh Greenbaum, this heartfelt narrative isn’t just about laughter; it also touches on themes of identity and acceptance.

But that’s not all— the film’s closing credits tune, “Will and Harper Go West,” composed by former SNL superstar Kristen Wiig alongside Sean Douglas, has also been shortlisted for Best Original Song, showcasing the multifaceted talent of its creators. Fun fact: Douglas is the son of the iconic actor Michael Keaton!

Shocking Snubs

While *Will & Harper* shines bright, the documentary about late actor Christopher Reeve, titled *Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story*, faced a shocking snub. Despite recent accolades, including Best Documentary Feature at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and a nomination for a Producers Guild Award, it seems the Academy overlooked the moving depiction of Reeve's resilience post-tragic accident.

Celebrity-centric documentaries in general seem to struggle this year, with notable omissions such as *I Am: Celine Dion*, *Elton John: Never Too Late*, and *Music by John Williams*. Yet, it’s worth noting that the Elton John film and Pharrell Williams' *Piece by Piece* made the cut for the Original Song shortlist, adding a twist to the narrative.

Art-Based Documentaries

But wait, there’s a twist! The documentary *Frida*, focused on legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, managed to secure a spot on the shortlist, offering a glimmer of hope for art-based documentaries.

Powerful Tributes and Shocking Exclusions

Another unexpected exclusion from the shortlist was *Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa*, a powerful tribute by renowned filmmaker Lucy Walker. Interestingly, both Errol Morris and Asif Kapadia, previous Oscar winners, were also sidelined this year for their respective documentaries, *Separated* and *2073*.

Standout Documentaries

In a year that saw a staggering 169 qualifying films, one standout among the shortlist is *The Bibi Files*. Directed by Alexis Bloom, this unflinching documentary on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be a game-changer, especially since it emerged without major distribution—an unusual feat in the Oscar landscape.

Other intriguing titles making their mark include *Union*, chronicling the historic unionization of an Amazon facility, and *Hollywoodate*, which dives deep into the Taliban’s evolution post-U.S. military withdrawal—both films also lacking U.S. distribution but making strong impressions.

Among the acclaimed documentaries vying for Oscar glory, *No Other Land*—a poignant narrative developed by a collaborative duo of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers—stands out, securing its place despite limited U.S. access.

Expectations for Oscars

As the countdown to the Oscars continues, one can’t ignore the brilliance of *Dahomey*, which explores the repatriation of historical treasures to Benin, proudly representing Senegal in the International Feature category as well.

As for the competition in short documentaries, Rashida Jones and Will McCormack’s *A Swim Lesson* made the cut alongside Smriti Mundhra's *I Am Ready, Warden*—both adding to a list full of formidable contenders.

As the nominations voting approaches on January 8, the anticipation builds for the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, which will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre. Mark your calendars—this year’s Oscars promise to be one for the books! Stay tuned for more updates as we dive deeper into this awards season!