83rd Academy Awards DOCS!

On Wednesday evening, director and past Documentary Branch governor Michael Apted, hosted the second annual DOCS! night. The Academy spotlighted the work of the nominated filmmakers in the Documentary Short Subject and Documentary Feature categories. The program included film clips from each of the nominated documentaries in both categories, and was followed by a panel discussion with each group of nominees.

Apted began the evening with a concise, succinct talk on the state of documentaries. He likened the art of the genre with that of the “last pure stories.” In our present situation where there is a blur between news and entertainment, Apted said documentaries are today’s “currency of truth.”

All the nominees were more than delighted with their nominations and how they’ve been received overall. Even though director Banksy couldn’t make it to Wednesday evening’s event, Jaimie D’Cruz, producer of EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP said he was surprised by how well the film is doing and that “it stemmed from humble aspirations.”

Director/producer/writer Charles Ferguson kept reminding himself while making INSIDE JOB of “the importance of getting it right.” On his film’s nomination, Jed Rothstein of KILLING IN THE NAME happily said he was glad to be nominated and was enjoying Oscar week. He felt the atmosphere was “less political this year.” Lastly, director/producer Karen Goodman said her nomination for STRANGERS NO MORE was indeed special as it was her 4th Oscar nomination.

(Far left) Host Michael Apted with the Oscar nominated Documentary Feature filmmakers (from left to right): Angus Aynsley, “Wasteland”; Josh Fox, “Gasland”; Lucy Walker, “Wasteland”; Trish Adlesic, “Gasland”; Audrey Marrs, “Inside Job”; Sebastian Junger, “Restrepo”; Charles Ferguson, “Inside Job”; Tim Hetherington, “Restrepo”; and Jaimie D’Cruz, “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, prior to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “DOCS!” event on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

THE 2010 NOMINEES ARE:

Documentary (Feature)

• “Exit through the Gift Shop” – Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
• “Gasland” – Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
• “Inside Job” – Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
• “Restrepo” – Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
• “Waste Land” – Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “Killing in the Name” – Jed Rothstein
• “Poster Girl” – Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block
• “Strangers No More” – Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
• “Sun Come Up” – Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
• “The Warriors of Qiugang” – Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Host Michael Apted with the Oscar nominated Documentary Short filmmakers (from left to right): Thomas Lennon, “The Warriors of Quigang”; Ruby Yang, “The Warriors of Quigang”; Tim Metzger, “Sun Come Up”; Jed Rothstein, “Killing in the Name”; Jennifer Redfearn, “Sun Come Up”; Sara Nesson, “Poster Girl”; Mitchell Block, “Poster Girl”; Karen Goodman, “Strangers No More”; and Kirk Simon, “Strangers No More”, prior to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “DOCS!” event on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011