Congratulations to all the filmmakers on the 15-film shortlist for the Oscar for Best Documentary! Upcoming POV film The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), by Ellen Kuras, which will air on PBS in 2009, was among the films included.
In January 2008, the POV Blog followed Ellen as she spent a day at the Sundance Film Festival, where she premiered her film The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) and promoted Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind, for which she was the director of photography. Read about Ellen's busy day in Park City.
Many months later, we're thrilled to see all the recognition and press for Ellen and for her wonderful film. Congratulations, Ellen! POV is excited to be airing The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) on PBS in 2009.
The shortlisted documentaries for the 2009 Academy Awards are:
At the Death House Door
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh
Encounters at the End of the World
Fuel
The Garden
Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts
I.O.U.S.A.
In a Dream
Made in America
Man on Wire
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Standard Operating Procedure
They Killed Sister Dorothy
Trouble the Water
The Academy Award nominations — including the five best documentary nominees — will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009. The winners will be presented with their awards on Sunday, February 22, 2009.
Talk About This
I'm a doc buff. I saw Trouble the Water and was blown away. it's more of an experience than just a doc. No one in the audience budged after it was over because it was so powerful. It should get an Ocsar.
by Jack at 10:01 PM on November 22, 2008
I'm sure Trouble the Water is a very powerful film, but I'm standing with POV on this and am behind Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk--this film took an amazing 20-somethign years to put together, and follows the tragic journey of one family in a way that we haven't seen properly done in a while. Also, they are both justamazing filmmakers (Thavisouk apparently co-directed this one in the end and helped out with teh camerawork). I saw a video interview withthe two of them over at FLYP (http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/18/#12/1) check it out.
by sarah at 11:54 AM on December 1, 2008
Unfortunately it seems that a brilliant film, Valentino: The Last Emperor, by first time Director, Matt Tyrnauer did not make the short list. It is about a 45 year love and relationship and the inner workings of the Atelier and the women who work there. It is also filled with breathtaking works of Art in the form of couture. As a male friend who saw the film said, "the Director's work on this film is as magnificent as the couture clothing in it. True, this movie is not filled with angst and/or exposure of a societal problem. Still very worthy of being seen and I believe being on the short list.
by Claire Sharp at 9:41 PM on November 17, 2009