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Submissions for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature

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These are the lists of documentary films that were shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in recent years.

List of selected films and years

[edit]

1999

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Amargosa Todd Robinson United States Marta Becket and the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel Not nominated [1]
American Movie Chris Smith United States The making of a low budget horror movie in Wisconsin Not nominated
Beyond the Mat Barry W. Blaustein United States World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake Roberts Not nominated
Buena Vista Social Club Wim Wenders Cuba
France
Germany
United Kingdom
United States
A group of elderly Cuban musicians Nominated
Genghis Blues Roko Belic United States Paul Pena and the art of Tuvan throat singing Nominated
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. Errol Morris United States Fred A. Leuchter Jr., capital punishment and Holocaust denial Not nominated
On the Ropes Brett Morgen, Nanette Burstein United States Three young boxers and their coach Nominated
One Day in September Kevin Macdonald United Kingdom Terrorist attacks at the 1972 Summer Olympics Won Academy Award
Pop & Me Chris Roe United States The director's travels around with his own father, interviewing fathers and sons about their own father-son relationships Not nominated
Smoke and Mirrors: A History of Denial Torrie Rosenzweig United States Tobacco in the United States Not nominated
The Source Chuck Workman United States The Beat Generation Not nominated
Speaking in Strings Paola di Florio United States Italian-born violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Nominated

2000

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2001

[edit]

2002

[edit]

2003

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
The Agronomist Jonathan Demme United States Jean Dominique and Radio Haiti-Inter, the country's first independent radio station Not nominated [2]
Balseros Carles Bosch and Josep M. Domenech Catalonia Balseros emigrating from Cuba during the Período especial and the 1994 Cuban rafter crisis Nominated
Bus 174 Jose Padilha Brazil The June 2000 hijacking of Bus 174 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Not nominated
Capturing the Friedmans Andrew Jarecki United States American family with dark sexual secrets Nominated
Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin Richard Schickel American The life and times of Golden Age of Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin Not nominated
The Fog of War Errol Morris United States Robert McNamara and his involvement in the Vietnam War Won Academy Award
Heir to an Execution Marc Levin Not nominated
Inheritance: A Fisherman's Story Peter Hegedus Not nominated
Lost Boys of Sudan Megan Mylan and Jou Shenk American Two boys from the Dinka tribe of Sudan who emigrated to the United States, who were part of the refugee group commonly known as the Lost Boys of Sudan Not nominated
My Architect Nathaniel Kahn American The career and familial relationships of the director's father, architect Louis Kahn Nominated
My Flesh and Blood Jonathan Karsh American The adopted children of Susan Tom, most of whom have significant physical disabilities Not nominated
The Weather Underground Sam Green and Bill Siegel United States The rise and fall of the radical political group of the same name Nominated

2004

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Born into Brothels Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman India
United States
Children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Kolkata's red light district. Won Academy Award [3][2]
Home of the Brave Paola di Florio United States The 1965 murder of civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo Not nominated
Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller United States Historian and activist Howard Zinn Not nominated
In the Realms of the Unreal Jessica Yu United States Outsider artist Henry Darger's magnum opus The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion Not nominated
Riding Giants Stacy Peralta United States Surfing, Big wave riding Not nominated
The Ritchie Boys Not nominated
The Story of the Weeping Camel Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni Germany
Mongolia
A family of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert trying to save the life of a rare white bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) calf after it was rejected by its mother. Nominated
Super Size Me Morgan Spurlock United States A filmmaker eating nothing but McDonald's fast food for 30 days Nominated
Tell Them Who You Are Not nominated
Touching the Void Kevin Macdonald United Kingdom Joe Simpson and Simon Yates' near-fatal descent after making the first successful ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes Not nominated
Tupac: Resurrection Lauren Lazin United States Late rapper Tupac Shakur from his upbringing to his untimely death Nominated
Twist of Faith Kirby Dick United States Sexual abuse by a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Ohio Nominated

2005

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Darwin's Nightmare Hubert Sauper Austria
Belgium
France
Environmental and social effects of the fishing industry around Lake Victoria in Tanzania Nominated [4]
The Devil and Daniel Johnston Jeff Feuerzeig United States Outsider music artist Daniel Johnston and his struggles with paranoid schizophrenia Not nominated
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Alex Gibney United States The rise and fall of the real estate corporation Enron Nominated
Mad Hot Ballroom Marilyn Agrelo United States The ballroom dance program for fifth graders in the New York City Department of Education Not nominated
March of the Penguins Luc Jacquet France The daily lives of emperor penguins Won Academy Award
Murderball Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro United States American Wheelchair rugby players facing against Canadian wheelchair rugby players at the 2004 Paralympic Games Nominated
Street Fight Marshall Curry United States The 2002 Newark mayoral election in which Newark City Councilman Cory Booker challenged incumbent mayor Sharpe James Nominated

2006

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2007

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Autism: The Musical Tricia Regan United States Children on the autism spectrum performing their own stage musical Not nominated [5]
Body of War Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue United States The experiences of Iraq War veteran Tomas Young, including his paralysis from enemy gunshot wounds and his subsequent anti-war activism Not nominated
For the Bible Tells Me So Daniel G. Karslake United States Christianity and homosexuality Not nominated
Lake of Fire Tony Kaye United States Abortion in the United States Not nominated
Nanking Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman United States The Nanjing Massacre Not nominated
No End in Sight Charles Ferguson United States The Iraq War Nominated
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience Richard E. Robbins United States The writings of U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars Nominated
The Price of Sugar Bill Haney Dominican Republic
United States
Exploitation of Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic involved with production of sugar, and the efforts of Spanish priest Father Christopher Hartley to ameliorate their situation Not nominated
Please Vote for Me Weijun Chen China Elections for class monitor in a 3rd grade class in the Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan, China Not nominated
Sicko Michael Moore United States Health insurance and Healthcare in the United States Nominated
Taxi to the Dark Side Alex Gibney United States The December 2002 killing of an Afghan taxi driver named Dilawar, who was beaten to death by American soldiers while being held in extrajudicial detention and interrogated at a black site at Bagram air base Won Academy Award
War/Dance Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine United States Three Acholi children living in a Ugandan refugee camp, who are preparing to compete in the National Music Competition in Kampala Nominated
White Light/Black Rain Steven Okazaki United States The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Not nominated

2008

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath United States [6]
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts Classical music composer Philip Glass Not nominated
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire United States Won Academy Award
Trouble the Water

2009

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2010

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Exit Through the Gift Shop Nominated [7]
Gasland Nominated
Inside Job Won Academy Award
Restrepo Nominated
The Tillman Story United States The untimely death of former football player turned soldier Pat Tillman Not nominated
Waiting for "Superman" Not nominated
Waste Land Nominated

2011

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Buck Not nominated [8]
Bill Cunningham New York Not nominated
Battle for Brooklyn Not nominated
Hell and Back Again Nominated
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front - Marshall Curry United States The rise and fall of radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front Nominated
Jane's Journey Not nominated
The Loving Story Not nominated
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Nominated
Pina Wim Wenders Germany Nominated
Project Nim Not nominated
Semper Fi: Always Faithful Not nominated
Sing Your Song Not nominated
Undefeated Won Academy Award
Under Fire: Journalists in Combat Not nominated
We Were Here Not nominated

2012

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Bully Not nominated [9]
Chasing Ice Best Original Song nominee Not nominated
5 Broken Cameras Nominated
The Gatekeepers Nominated
How to Survive a Plague Nominated
The Invisible War Nominated
Searching for Sugar Man Won Academy Award
This Is Not a Film Filmmaker Jafar Panahi's exile from making cinema in Iran Not nominated

2013

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
The Act of Killing Nominated [10]
Blackfish United States Controversies surrounding the mistreatment of whales at Sea World Not nominated
Cutie and the Boxer Nominated
Dirty Wars Nominated
God Loves Uganda Not nominated
The Square Nominated
20 Feet from Stardom Morgan Neville United States Legendary backup singers (eg.Darlene Love) Won Academy Award

2014

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Citizen Koch Tia Lessin and Carl Deal United States Not nominated [11]
Citizenfour Laura Poitras United States Edward Snowden and his whistleblowing involvement on WikiLeaks Won Academy Award
Finding Vivian Maier John Maloof and Charlie Siskel United States Street photographer Vivian Maier and the rediscovery of her photography Nominated
The Internet's Own Boy Brian Knappenberger United States Aaron Swartz and the case of United States v. Swartz Not nominated
Jodorowsky's Dune Cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempts at adapting the classic sci-fi novel Dune Not nominated
Last Days in Vietnam Nominated
Life Itself Steve James United States Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert Not nominated
The Salt of the Earth Nominated
Virunga Nominated

2015

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Amy Asif Kapadia United Kingdom The life and death of singer Amy Winehouse Won Academy Award [12][13]
Best of Enemies Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville United States The televised arguments between conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr and progressive novelist Gore Vidal Not nominated
Cartel Land Matthew Heineman United States Vigilante groups fighting Mexican drug cartels during Mexican drug war Nominated
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Alex Gibney United States An exposé on the practices of the Church of Scientology Not nominated
He Named Me Malala Davis Guggenheim United States, United Arab Emirates The life of young activist Malala Yousafzai Not nominated
Heart of a Dog Laurie Anderson United States Composer Laurie Anderson's meditative ode to canines Not nominated
The Hunting Ground Kirby Dick United States The incidence of sexual assault on college campuses in the United States and the reported failure of college administrations to deal with it adequately Not nominated
Listen to Me Marlon Stevan Riley United Kingdom Archival footage examining the life of Academy Award-winning actor Marlon Brando Not nominated
The Look of Silence Joshua Oppenheimer Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, United States Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66 Nominated
Meru Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi United States The first ascent of the "Shark's Fin" route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas Not nominated
3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets Marc Silver United States Murder of Jordan Davis Not nominated
We Come as Friends Hubert Sauper Austria, France War-ravaged South Sudan fighting for independence from North Sudan and its President Omar al-Bashir Not nominated
What Happened, Miss Simone? Liz Garbus United States The life and troubled times of singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone Nominated
Where to Invade Next Michael Moore United States Director Michael Moore spending time in various countries where he experiences alternative methods of dealing with social and economic ills experienced in the United States Not nominated
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom Evgeny Afineevsky Ukraine, United States, United Kingdom Ukraine's fight for freedom during the Revolution of Dignity Nominated

2016

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Cameraperson Kirsten Johnson United States A cinematographer's collection of documentary footage Not nominated [14]
Command and Control Robert Kenner United States 1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion in Damascus, Arkansas between September 18–19, 1980 Not nominated
The Eagle Huntress Otto Bell Mongolia, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, United States Aisholpan Nurgaiv, a 13-year-old Kazakh girl from Mongolia, as she attempts to become the first female eagle hunter to compete in the eagle festival at Ulgii, Mongolia Not nominated
Fire at Sea Gianfranco Rosi Italy Life at Lampedusa, Italy Nominated
Gleason Clay Tweel United States Former football player Steve Gleason and his journey living with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Not nominated
Hooligan Sparrow Nanfu Wang China, United States A child rape case in China involving a government official and the subsequent protests led by activists Not nominated
I Am Not Your Negro Raoul Peck France, United States Author James Baldwin's unfinished memoir about being black in America Nominated
The Ivory Game Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani United States The poaching of elephants in Africa, related to the ivory trade in China and Hong Kong, and the repercussions of elephant poaching Not nominated
Life, Animated Roger Ross Williams United States Owen Suskind, son of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind, diagnosed with autism learning about life and communication through classic Disney animated movies Nominated
OJ: Made in America Ezra Edelman United States The examination of racial divides in America during the O. J. Simpson saga Won Academy Award
13th Ava DuVernay United States A look at the 13th amendment and its effect on African Americans Nominated
Tower Keith Maitland United States The 1966 University of Texas shooting perpetrated by Charles Whitman Not nominated
Weiner Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg United States The rise and fall of politician Anthony Weiner due to his excessive sexting Not nominated
The Witness James D. Solomon United States The murder of Kitty Genovese and the subsequent investigation led by her brother, Bill Not nominated
Zero Days Alex Gibney United States The phenomenon surrounding the Stuxnet computer virus and the development of the malware software known as "Olympic Games." Not nominated

2017

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Steve James United States A family-owned community bank, Abacus Federal Savings Bank, the only financial institution to face criminal charges following the subprime mortgage crisis Nominated [15][16][17]
Chasing Coral Jeff Orlowski United States A team of divers, scientists and photographers around the world who document the disappearance of coral reefs Not nominated
City of Ghosts Matthew Heineman United States The Syrian media activist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently after their homeland is taken over by ISIS in 2014 Not nominated
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library Frederick Wiseman United States The role of the New York Public Library as an egalitarian network of exploration, exchange and learning Not nominated
Faces Places Agnes Varda, JR France Varda and JR traveling around rural France, creating portraits of the people they come across Nominated
Human Flow Ai Weiwei Germany The current global refugee crisis Not nominated
Icarus Bryan Fogel United States Fogel's exploration of the option of doping to win an amateur cycling race and happening upon a major international doping scandal when he asks for the help of Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory Won Academy Award
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk United States Former United States Vice President Al Gore's continuing mission to battle climate change Not nominated
Jane Brett Morgen United States Iconic anthropologist Jane Goodall Not nominated
Jim and Andy Chris Smith United States The making of the 1999 biopic Man on the Moon starring Jim Carrey in his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of the controversial stand-up comedian Andy Kaufman Not nominated
LA 92 Daniel Lindsay, T. J. Martin United States Archival coverage of the 1992 Rodney King riots Not nominated
Last Men in Aleppo Feras Fayyad Denmark Syria The lives of three White Helmets founders, Khaled Omar Harrah, Subhi Alhussen and Mahmoud as they grapple the dilemma to flee their country or stay and fight for it Nominated
Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 John Ridley United States Prior events leading up to the Rodney King riots Not nominated
Long Strange Trip Amir Bar-Lev United States The career of the rock band the Grateful Dead Not nominated
One of Us Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady United States The lives of three ex-Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn Not nominated
Strong Island Yance Ford United States The April 1992 murder of William Ford, the director's brother Nominated
Unrest Jennifer Brea United States Brea faced chronic fatigue syndrome that struck just before she married her husband Omar Wasow Not nominated

2018

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Charm City Marilyn Ness United States A community in Baltimore, Maryland, over the span of three years of high violence Not nominated [18]
Communion Anna Zamecka Poland Ola, a 14-year-old girl who takes care of her dysfunctional, alcoholic father, autistic brother, mother who lives separately, and her preparation of family celebration of her brother's Holy Communion sacrament Not nominated
Crime + Punishment Stephen T. Maing United States A group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and a private investigator who risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities Not nominated
Dark Money Kimberly Reed United States The effects of corporate money and influence in the American political system Not nominated
The Distant Barking of Dogs Simon Lereng Wilmont Ukraine Denmark Finland Sweden The life of 10-year-old Ukrainian boy Oleg throughout a year during the war in Donbas Not nominated
Free Solo Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin United States Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite National Park's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall Won Academy Award
Hale County This Morning, This Evening RaMell Ross United States The lives of black people in Hale County, Alabama Nominated
Minding the Gap Bing Liu United States The lives and friendships of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois, united by their love of skateboarding Nominated
Of Fathers and Sons Talal Derki Germany Lebanon Netherlands Qatar Syria Radical jihadism and terrorist training in Syria Nominated
On Her Shoulders Alexandria Bombach United States Human rights activist Nadia Murad, as she met with politicians and journalists to alert the world to the massacres and kidnapping happening in Iraq Not nominated
RBG Betsy West, Julie Cohen United States The life, legacy and career of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Nominated
Shirkers Sandi Tan Singapore United Kingdom United States The making of an independent thriller featuring a teenage assassin set in Singapore Not nominated
The Silence of Others Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar United States Spain The silenced fight of the victims from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco Not nominated
Three Identical Strangers Tim Wardle United States United Kingdom The lives of Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran, a set of identical triplet brothers adopted as infants by separate families Not nominated
Won't You Be My Neighbor? Morgan Neville United States The life, legacy and guiding philosophy of children's television host Fred Rogers Not nominated

2019

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Advocate Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaïche Israel Human rights lawyer Leah Tsemel as she navigates through the Israeli judicial system in defense of Palestinians accused of terrorism Not nominated [19][20]
American Factory Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert United States Chinese company Fuyao's factory in Moraine that occupies Moraine Assembly, a shuttered General Motors plant Won Academy Award
The Apollo Roger Ross Williams United States The history of Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City Not nominated
Apollo 11 Todd Douglas Miller United States The 1969 Apollo 11 mission Not nominated
Aquarela Viktor Kossakovsky Germany United Kingdom United States Climate change depicted by water and ice around the world Not nominated
The Biggest Little Farm John Chester United States John Chester and his wife Molly as they acquire and establish themselves on Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California Not nominated
The Cave Feras Fayyad Syria Denmark Dr. Amani Ballour, a physician in Ghouta who is operating a makeshift hospital nicknamed "the Cave" during the Syrian Civil War Nominated
The Edge of Democracy Petra Costa Brazil Political past of Costa in a personal way, in context with the first term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the events leading to impeachment of Dilma Rousseff Nominated
For Sama Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts Syria United Kingdom United States Al-Kateab's journey as a journalist and rebel in the Syrian civil war uprising as she and her husband raise their daughter Sama Nominated
The Great Hack Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer United States The Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal Not nominated
Honeyland Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov North Macedonia The life of Hatidže Muratova, a loner beekeeper of wild bees who lives in the remote mountain village of Bekirloja, North Macedonia Nominated
Knock Down the House Rachel Lears United States Four female democrats who run for Congress in the 2018 United States elections: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush and Paula Jean Swearengin Not nominated
Maiden Alex Holmes United Kingdom Tracy Edwards and the crew of the Maiden as they compete as the first all-woman crew in the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Race Not nominated
Midnight Family Luke Lorentzen Mexico Ochoa family who run a private ambulance business Not nominated
One Child Nation Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang United States The fallout of China's one-child policy that lasted from 1980 to 2015 Not nominated

2020

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
All In: The Fight for Democracy Liz Garbus, Lisa Cortés United States Voter suppression and the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Not nominated [21][22]
Boys State Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine United States A thousand teenage boys attending Boys State in Texas, coming to build a representative government from the ground up Not nominated
Collective Alexander Nanau Romania The 2016 public health scandal following the Colectiv nightclub fire Nominated
Crip Camp Nicole Newnham, James Lebrecht United States Camp Jened campers who turned themselves into activists for the disability rights movement in the 1970s and follows their fight for accessibility legislation Nominated
Dick Johnson Is Dead Kirsten Johnson United States Johnson's father Richard "Dick", who suffers from dementia, portraying different ways in which he could ultimately die Not nominated
Gunda Viktor Kossakovsky United States, Norway, Spain The daily life of a pig, two cows, and a one-legged chicken Not nominated
MLK/FBI Sam Pollard United States The investigation and harassment of activist Martin Luther King Jr. by J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Not nominated
The Mole Agent Maite Alberdi Chile, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United States A private investigator, Rómulo, hires Sergio, an elderly man to go undercover in a nursing home in Chile Nominated
My Octopus Teacher Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed South Africa, United Kingdom A year spent by filmmaker Craig Foster forging a relationship with wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest Won Academy Award
Notturno Gianfranco Rosi Italy, Germany, France Different people from areas near war zones in the Middle East who are trying to start over again with their everyday lives Not nominated
The Painter and the Thief Benjamin Ree Norway, United States Barbora Kysilkova, an artist, forming a friendship with Karl-Bertil Nordland, a man who stole her artwork Not nominated
76 Days Hao Wu, Weixi Chen, anonymous third China, United States The struggles of patients and frontline medical professionals battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan Not nominated
Time Garrett Bradley United States Sibil Fox Richardson, fighting for the release of her husband, Rob, who is serving a 60-year prison sentence for engaging in an armed bank robbery Nominated
The Truffle Hunters Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw United States, Italy, Greece A group of aging men hunt in the woods in Northern Italy, for a prized quarry, the Alba truffle Not nominated
Welcome to Chechnya David France United States LGBT Chechen refugees as they made their way out of anti-gay purges in Chechnya of the late 2010s Not nominated

2021

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
Ascension Jessica Kingdon United States The pursuit of the Chinese Dream Nominated [23]
Attica Stanley Nelson Jr., Traci Curry United States The infamous 1971 Attica Prison riot Nominated
Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry R. J. Cutler United States The career and creative process of singer-songwriter Billie Eilish Not nominated
Faya Dayi Jessica Beshir United States, Ethiopia, Qatar The rituals of khat, a psychoactive plant that plays an important role in Ethiopia's economy and culture Not nominated
The First Wave Matthew Heineman United States A hospital in New York City, as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Flee Jonas Poher Rasmussen Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden, United States Amin Nawabi, who shares his hidden past of fleeing his home country of Afghanistan to Denmark for the first time Nominated
In the Same Breath Nanfu Wang United States The response of the Chinese and American governments to the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Julia Julie Cohen, Betsy West United States The life of cooking teacher and television personality Julia Child Not nominated
President Camilla Nielsson Denmark, Norway, United States, Zimbabwe The career of Nelson Chamisa who takes on the corrupt ruling party in Zimbabwe Not nominated
Procession Robert Greene United States The six men, who suffered abuse by priests, looking for peace Not nominated
The Rescue Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin United States, United Kingdom The 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue Not nominated
Simple as Water Megan Mylan United States The Syrian families across five countries, revealing the impact of war, separation, and displacement Not nominated
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson United States The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival Won Academy Award
The Velvet Underground Todd Haynes United States The life and times of influential rock band The Velvet Underground Not nominated
Writing with Fire Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas India The journalists running the Dalit women-led newspaper Khabar Lahariya, as they shift from 14 years of print to digital journalism using smartphones Nominated

2022

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
A House Made of Splinters Simon Lereng Wilmont Denmark
Ukraine
Sweden
The care of the staff of an institution for children who have been removed from their homes. Nominated [24]
All That Breathes Shaunak Sen India
United States
United Kingdom
Two brothers devote their lives to protect one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the black kite Nominated
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Laura Poitras United States The life of artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family Nominated
Bad Axe David Siev United States David Siev's Asian-American family struggles to keep their local restaurant afloat amidst racial tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic Not nominated
Children of the Mist Ha Le Diem Vietnam The Di Hmong teenager faces challenges growing up. In traditional Di culture, girls are married at the age of 14. But at school he learns that there are alternatives. Not nominated
Descendant Margaret Brown United States The community of Africatown and the descendants of some of the last known enslaved Africans that were brought to the United States Not nominated
Fire of Love Sara Dosa United States
Canada
The life and career of the daring French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were ultimately killed in the 1991 eruption of Mount Unzen Nominated
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine United States
Canada
The story of Leonard Cohen, and his song "Hallelujah" Not nominated
Hidden Letters Violet Du Feng & Qing Zhao China The story of two Chinese women trying to balance their lives as independent women in modern China while confronting the traditional identity that defines but also oppresses them. Not nominated
The Janes Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes United States The story of a clandestine service for women seeking safe, affordable, and illegal abortions, calling themselves JANE Not nominated
Last Flight Home Ondi Timoner United States In his final days, we discover Eli Timoner and an extraordinary life of wild achievements, tragic loss and most of all, enduring love Not nominated
Moonage Daydream Brett Morgen Germany
United States
David Bowie's creative, spiritual and musical journey Not nominated
Navalny Daniel Roher United States The poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Won Academy Award
Retrograde Matthew Heineman United States The events that took place during the last nine months of the United States' 20-year war in Afghanistan Not nominated
The Territory Alex Pritz United States
United Kingdom
Brazil
Denmark
The attempts of a young indigenous leader of the Uru-eu-wau-wau, an Amazonian tribe contacted by the Brazilian government only in 1980 Not nominated

2023

[edit]
Film Director(s) Countrie(s) Subject(s) Result Ref.
American Symphony Matthew Heineman United States A year in the life of musician Jon Batiste chronicling his career in music and his marriage with Suleika Jaouad as they deal with her leukemia. Not nominated [25]
Apolonia, Apolonia Lea Glob Denmark
Poland
France
The coming-of-age story of Apolonia Sokol as she finds her place in the art world, told through 13 years. Not nominated
Beyond Utopia Madeleine Gavin United States The work of Pastor Sungeun Kim, a South Korean human rights activist who has helped rescuing North Korean defectors. Not nominated
Bobi Wine: The People's President Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp United Kingdom
Uganda
United States
The campaign trail of Ugandan politician, singer, and actor Bobi Wine leading to the 2021 Ugandan general election. Nominated
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Nancy Buirski United States The journey of making and producing John Schlesinger's 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. Not nominated
The Eternal Memory Maite Alberdi Chile The relationship between actress Paulina Urrutia and journalist Augusto Góngora as they struggle with Gongora's Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. Nominated
Four Daughters Kaouther Ben Hania Tunisia
Germany
France
Saudi Arabia
After two daughters of a Tunisian woman disappeared, the filmmaker invites professional actresses to compensate for the loss. Nominated
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson United States The life of American poet Nikki Giovanni and the historical periods she lived through from civil rights movement and Black Arts Movement to Black Lives Matter. Not nominated
In the Rearview Maciek Hamela Ukraine
Poland
France
Following the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Polish van travels through Ukraine's streets serving as a refuge for citizens. Not nominated
Stamped from the Beginning Roger Ross Williams United States A hybrid documentary based on Ibram X. Kendi's 2016 non-fiction book Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas. Not nominated
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Davis Guggenheim United States The life of American actor Michael J. Fox and his struggle with Parkinson's disease. Not nominated
A Still Small Voice Luke Lorentzen United Kingdom A chaplain completing a year-long hospital residency facing the challenges and spiritual questions that come from her experiences with her patients. Not nominated
32 Sounds Sam Green United States Sound and its effects on human's perception of time and the world. Not nominated
To Kill a Tiger Nisha Pahuja Canada A family in Jharkhand, India campaigning for justice for the teenage daughter, who has brutally raped. Nominated
20 Days in Mariupol Mstyslav Chernov Ukraine The twenty days spent by the filmmaker and his colleagues in besieged Mariupol after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Won Academy Award

See also

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References

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