Smaller Budget Docs Make Big Splash on Oscar Shortlist
variety.comAddie Morfoot ContributorIn the past decade, the inclusion of streaming services in the documentary market has made it increasingly harder for smaller docus struggling with funding to break into the nonfiction feature Oscar race.
But in spite of the deep pockets they are up against, a number of cash-strapped docs inevitably make it onto the shortlist every year.
This year was no exception.Jessica Beshir’s “Faya Dayi” (Janus Films, pictured above), Camilla Nielsson’s “President” (Greenwich Entertainment) and Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas’ “Writing with Fire” (Music Box Films) are three films on this year’s feature doc shortlist that are up against competitors with multi-million-dollar campaign budgets being paid by media and tech conglomerates including Apple, Netflix, ViacomCBS, the Walt Disney Co.
and WarnerMedia. As the field narrows and lobbying and marketing takeover, it’s clear that money and brand recognition are key factors in the race for Oscar gold, which makes “Faya Dayi,” “President” and “Writing With Fire’s” odds of receiving an Academy nom over Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground” (Apple Original Films), Robert Greene’s “Procession” (Netflix), or Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s “The Rescue” (National Geographic) slim.That’s not to say it won’t happen.
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