Oscar documentary race narrows

Tales of war, social conflict and environmental renewal lead the charge

by Jennie Kermode

Honeyland
Honeyland Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

The 15 film preliminary shortlist for Best Documentary at the 92nd Oscars was announced today. It includes two films focused on the crisis in Syria, The Cave and For Sama. The director of the former, Feras Fayyad, described it as a deeply personal film and said "I hope this film helps us all to look into the darkest corners of our souls and inspires us to search for the light," while the director of the latter, Waad al-Kateab, told us "I just wanted to do something to bring justice to the story that I had lived through."

Also nominated are several films concerned with the overlap of social and environmental issues, including Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov's Honeyland, which follows a beehunter's attempt to save a species.

Special screenings of the shortlisted films have been announced in 20 cities across the US, starting from Christmas Day.

The final five films shortlisted for the prize will be announced on Monday, January 13, 2020, and the winner chosen at the ceremony in Los Angeles on 9 February.

That shortlist in full:-

Share this with others on...
News

Changing hearts and minds Lexi Powner, Friedel Dausab, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera and James Lewis on Out Laws

Somewhere over the rainbow Arco director on how he managed to follow his dream with help from Natalie Portman

A place to belong Liam O Mochain on anthology filmmaking, hidden stories and making Abode

Bear necessities Jack Weisman and Gabriel Osio Vanden on working together and making naivety work for them in Nuisance Bear

In ascension Isaac 'Drift' Wright and Deon Taylor on climbing, spiritual development and Drift

Looking back Kei Ishikawa on memory, ambiguity and A Pale View Of Hills

More news and features

We're currently bringing you news, reviews and more direct from BFI Flare and SXSW.



We're looking forward to Fantaspoa and Overlook.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, the NY Rendezvous with French Cinema, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Berlinale, Sundance and Palm Springs.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest from the spring events:

GSFF 19th edition opens in Glasgow with Downriver A Tiger

Cannes Barbra Streisand to receive honorary Palme d'Or

Thessaloniki Golden Alexanders announced

Cannes Lighton and McGoldrick join La Résidence

Cannes Park Chan-Wook named as Jury head