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You can view the full list of nominees here.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

NO END IN SIGHT
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE
Richard E. Robbins

SICKO
Michael Moore and Meghan O’Hara

TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
Alex Gibney and Eva Orner

WAR/DANCE
Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

FREEHELD
Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth

LA CORONA (THE CROWN)
Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega

SALIM BABA
Tim Sternberg and Francisco Bello

SARI’S MOTHER
James Longley

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IDA FEATURE FILM NOMINEES

CRAZY LOVE
Dan Klores, director/producer
Fisher Stevens, producer
Shoot the Moon Productions, Greenstreet Productions, Magnolia Pictures

OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE
Richard E. Robbins, director/producer
Tom Yellin, executive producer
The Documentary Group, PBS

SICKO
Michael Moore, director
Michael Moore, Meghan Oâ€Hara, producers
Dog Eat Dog Films, Lionsgate Films, The Weinstein Company

TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE
Alex Gibney, director/producer
Eva Orner, Susannah Shipman, producer s
X-Ray Productions, THINKFilm, Discovery Channel

A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL
Mary Olive Smith, director/producer
Steve Engel, executive producer
Engel Entertainment, Inc., PBS/WGBH International/NOVA

IDA SHORT FILM NOMINEES

BLACK AND WHITE
Zam Salim, director
John Archer, producer
Hopscotch Films

BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY
Alice Elliott, director/producer
Simone Pero Audi, producer
Welcome Change Productions, Laverne Berry, Esq.

THE FIGHTING CHOLITAS
Mariam Jobrani, director/producer
Kenny Krauss, producer
Moto Films, At Risk Films/Sarah Jo Marks

FREEHELD
Cynthia Wade, director
Vanessa Roth, Matthew Syrett, producers
Lieutenant Films Inc.

A SON’S SACRIFICE
Yoni Brook, director
Musa Sheed, producer
Marco Williams, executive producer
Foment Films, ITVS/PBS

IDA LIMITED SERIES NOMINEES

ADDICTION
Jon Alpert, Joe Berlinger, Kate Davis, Susan Froemke, Liz Garbus, Chris Hegedus, David
Heilbroner, Eugene Jarecki, Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Barbara Kopple, Albert Maysles, D.A.
Pennebaker, Alan Raymond, Susan Raymond, Bruce Sinofsky, Jessica Yu, directors John Hoffman, Susan Froemke, producers Sheila Nevins, executive producer
HBO Documentary Films, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, HBO

COMING OUT STORIES
Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon, directors/producers
Lauren Lazin, Eileen Opatut, executive producers
Simon & Goodman Picture Company, LOGO, a Viacom company

THE HILL
Ivy Meeropol, director/producer
Elizabeth Holder, Xan Parker, producers
Lynne Kirby, executive producer
Roland Park Films, Sundance Channel

THE SUPREME COURT
Thomas Lennon, director
Mark Zwoniter, series producer
Jody Sheff, executive producer
Hidden Hill Productions for Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS

IDA CONTINUING SERIES NOMINEES

30 DAYS
Morgan Spurlock, RJ Cutler, Ben Silverman, H.T. Owens, executive producers
Keith Hoffman, Max Swedlow, supervising producers
Actual Reality, Reveille, FX Networks
Episodes Submitted: “Atheist/Christian,” “Immigration,” “Jail,”
“Outsourcing”

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Mark Samels, executive producer
Sharon Grimberg, series producer
PBS
Episodes Submitted: “Alexander Hamilton” (Muffie Meyer, dir.), “The Gold
Rush” (Randall MacLowry, dir.), “New Orleans” (Stephen Ives, dir.), “Summer
of Love” (Gail Dolgin, Vicente Franco, dirs.)

AMERICAN MASTERS
Susan Lacy, executive producer
Prudence Glass, series producer
Julie Sacks, series supervising producer
Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS
Episodes Submitted: “Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film” (Ric Burns,
dir./prod., Donald Rosenfeld, Daniel Wolf, prods.), “John Ford/John Wayne:
The Filmmaker and the Legend” (Sam Pollard, dir., Ken Browser, prod.),
“Novel Reflections on the American Dream” (Michael Epstein, dir./prod.,
Julie Sacks, prod.), “Woody Guthrie: Ainâ€t Got No Home” (Peter Frumkin,
dir./prod., Susan Levene, prod.)

THIS AMERICAN LIFE
Created By Ira Glass/Chicago Public Radio
Chris Wilcha, director
Diane Cooke, Jane Feltes, Sarah Koenig, Lisa Pollak, Alissa Shipp, Nancy Updike, producers Julie Snyder, Alex Blumberg, Ira Glass, Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman, Christine Vachon, Jocelyn Hayes, executive producers
Left/Right, Killer Films, Chicago Public Radio, Showtime
Episodes Submitted: “Reality Check,” “Growth Spurt,” “The Cameraman,”
“Godâ€s Close-Up”

WIDE ANGLE: SEASON FIVE
Pamela Hogan, Andy Halper, series producers
Stephen Segaller, executive producer
Thirteen/WNET New York, PBS
Episodes Submitted: “18 with a Bullet” (Ricardo Pollack, dir./prod.), “Back
to School” (Judy Katz, prod./writer), “Class of 2006” (Gini Reticker,
dir./prod./writer.; Charlotte Mangin, prod.), “Democracy in the Rough” (Fred
de Sam Lazaro, prod./writer)

IDA ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD

AMERICAN/SANDINISTA
Jason Blalock, director/producer
University of California at Berkeley

HALF-LIFE: A JOURNEY TO CHERNOBYL
Phil Grabsky, David Bickerstaff, directors
Phil Grabsky, producer
Seventh Art Productions

MY KID COULD PAINT THAT
Amir Bar-Lev, director/producer
John Battsek, executive producer
Axis Films, Passion Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, A&E IndieFilms

NANKING
Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman, directors
Ted Leonsis, Michael Jacobs, producers
Agape Multimedia Partners, LLC; THINKFilm; HBO

RAPSODIA DO ABSURDO
Cláudia Nunes, director/executive producer

SPUTNIK MANIA
David Hoffman, director
Eric Reid, producer
Jay Walker, executive producer
Varied Directions International

STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME
Michele Ohayon, director/producer
Theo Van De Sande, producer
Diamond Lane Films Inc., Red Envelope Entertainment

WHITE LIGHT/ BLACK RAIN
Steven Okazaki, director/producer
Farallon Films/ HBO Documentary Films, HBO

IDA PARE LORENTZ NOMINEES

AMERICAN/SANDINISTA
Jason Blalock, director/producer
University of California at Berkeley

GOOD MORNING DANGME
Takaya Kawasaki, director/producer
New York University, Takaya Kawasaki

MADE IN LA
Almudena Carracedo, director/producer
Robert Bahar, producer
Semilla Verde Productions, PBS/P.O.V.

OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE
Richard E. Robbins, director/producer
Tom Yellin, executive producer
The Documentary Group, PBS

RAPSODIA DO ABSURDO
Cláudia Nunes, director/executive producer

RIBBON OF SAND
John Grabowska, director/producer
Harpers Ferry Center, PBS

STANDING SILENT NATION
Suree Towfighnia, director
Courtney Herman, producer
Prairie Dust Films, PBS/P.O.V.

A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL
Mary Olive Smith, director/producer
Steve Engel, executive producer
Engel Entertainment, Inc., PBS/WGBH International/NOVA

WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS
Spike Lee, director/producer
Sam Pollard, producer
40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks/HBO Documentary Films, HBO

WHITE LIGHT/ BLACK RAIN
Steven Okazaki, director/producer
Farallon Films/ HBO Documentary Films, HBO

IDA DAVID L. WOLPER STUDENT DOCUMENTARY AWARD NOMINEES

ALAGADOS: SI, NAO MAU CONDUOT
Sylvia Johnson, director/producer
Joselito Crispim, producer
Ondina Filmes, Santaluzia Filmes
American University

BISMILLAH: IN THE NAME OF ALLAH
Jolene Pinder, Sarah Zaman, directors/producers
Zeppelin Films
University of Florida

BULLET PROOF VEST
May Lin Au Yong, director/producer
Steadfast Films
Stanford University
PBS/P.O.V.

GOOD MORNING, DANGME
Takaya Kawasaki, director/producer
New York University

LONG HAUL
Erin Hudson, director
Rotation Films
Stanford University

TIJUANA NADA MAS
Yolanda Pividal, director/producer
Masood Maque, co-producer
Placer Prodicciones
City College of New York
PBS/P.O.V.

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GO JUMP! (USA) The ever-growing documentary subgenre that could be called “Schoolkids Do the Damnedest Things!” (Spellbound, Mad Hot Ballroom, et al.) has now given rise to Jump!, which details the up-and-coming school sport of competitive jump rope. Anyone who has seen a Rocky movie knows that itâ€s not just for girls anymore, but apparently things have reached a new level — this is jump rope in the style of You Got Served, with crazy flips, breakdance moves, and one frighteningly intense preteen named Tori who seems to know more inspirational homilies than Mike Ditka. The first big-studio producer to take this idea, cast older and sexier youths, and add a bumping soundtrack will make a bundle. Meanwhile, marvel at what the kids these days can do. (Mann Festival, Sun., June 24, 4:30 p.m., and Tues., June 26, 5 p.m.; Majestic Crest, Sat., June 30, noon) (Luke Y. Thompson)

Read about all the LA Weekly picks here.

Get yer tix here!

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GARRETT SCOTT DOCUMENTARY DEVELOPMENT GRANT

What: This grant funds first time documentary makers for travel and accommodations at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 12-15, 2007. For four days, grant recipients will be given access to films, participate in master classes and be mentored by experienced filmmakers. TWO filmmakers will be chosen for the grant in its first year.

Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by February 5. Applicants will be notified by email in mid-March.

About the Grant: Garrett Scott made a distinctive mark in documentary films during his short career. Without any formal training in film, he directed Cul De Sac: A Suburban War Story, examining the case of a methamphetamine addict who stole a tank from an armory and went on a rampage through the San Diego suburbs. The film prompted Filmmaker Magazine to cite Scott as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. He went on to make Occupation: Dreamland, co-directed with Ian Olds, about U.S. soldiers in Falluja, Iraq. It won prizes at Full Frame and the Independent Spirit Awards. Both films were broadcast by the Sundance Channel. In 2005, Scott died of a heart attack at age 37.

Scottâ€s work examined how the forces of state power and economics impact individuals. Stylistically, his films broke convention, giving audiences new perspectives on familiar milieus like suburbia or war torn Iraq. He was a beloved member of film communities from San Francisco to New York City and several points in between.

His friends, family and colleagues established this development grant to help other emerging filmmakers reach their potential. The grantâ€s selection committee looks especially for filmmakers who somehow fulfill Scottâ€s example, by bringing a unique vision to the content and style of contemporary documentary making.

Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder, living in the continental United States; any age 18 or older. By “first time filmmaker,” we mean someone who is in the early stage of their documentary career and not yet received significant recognition (such as major festival play or broadcast). All applicants should anticipate finishing their first project by March 2008. You can still qualify as a “first time filmmaker,” even if youâ€ve made shorts or student projects or worked professionally as a crew member on other peopleâ€s films. Or if youâ€ve recently completed a documentary that hasnâ€t been released yet. The grant is open to students and non-students alike.

How: Applicants should send a 2 page letter addressing these areas:

1) Project summary: Describe the documentary youâ€re working on. It doesnâ€t matter whether the film is a short or a feature. Describe the characters, structure, visual approach and what stage youâ€re at.

2) Directorâ€s statement: Describe how you came to filmmaking and how youâ€ve trained as a filmmaker. It doesnâ€t matter whether you went to film school or are self-taught. Describe what you want audiences to take from your film.

In addition, if applicants have a 5-10 minute sample of their work or work-in-progress, please send that as well on DVD or VHS (NTSC format). A sample work isnâ€t required to apply. But if the selection committee has to choose between several strong applicants, the sample work will become a factor in making the decision.

Submit two copies of both the letter and work sample along with your…

Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:

Send to:
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
324 Blackwell Street. Suite 500
Washington Building, Bay 5
Durham, NC 27701
attn: Garrett Scott Documentary Grant

You can also make a donation to the grant in Garrettâ€s honor by following this link.

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November 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Teni Melidonian — (310) 247-3000
tmelidonian@oscars.org
15 Docs Advance in 2006 Oscar® Race

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 79th Academy Awards®. Eighty-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order:

“Blindsight”
“Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?”
“Deliver Us from Evil”
“The Ground Truth”
“An Inconvenient Truth”
“Iraq in Fragments”
“Jesus Camp”
“Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peopleâ€s Temple”
“My Country, My Country”
“Shut Up & Sing”
“Sisters in Law”
“Storm of Emotions”
“The Trials of Darryl Hunt”
“An Unreasonable Man”
“The War Tapes”

The Documentary Branch screening committee viewed the eligible documentaries in a preliminary round of screenings. Documentary Branch members will now select the five 2006 nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.

Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at 5:30 a.m. PST in the Academyâ€s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST, beginning with a half-hour arrival segment.

# # #
©A.M.P.A.S.®
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
(310) 247-3000
www.oscars.org
publicity@oscars.org

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8 Doc Shorts
Short-Listed for 2006 Oscars®

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that the field of Documentary Short Subject entries has narrowed to eight films, from which three to five will earn Academy Award® nominations.

The eight films are listed below in alphabetical order:
“The Blood of Yingzhou District”
“Dear Talula”
“The Diary of Immaculée”
“Phoenix Dance”
“Recycled Life”
“Rehearsing a Dream”
“A Revolving Door”
“Two Hands”

Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at 5:30 a.m. PST in the Academyâ€s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST, beginning with a half-hour arrival segment.

# # #

©A.M.P.A.S.®
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
(310) 247-3000 | www.oscars.org | publicity@oscars.org

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Jeff Smith film Sold Out

“The documentary of Jeff Smith’s 3rd CD campaign that will show at Silverdocs Film Festival sold-out today in 30 minutes. But there could be stand-by tickets the day of the show and there’s always the possibility that they wll add another screening. So if you’re heading to DC, check in and see if tix become available.”

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The Sundance Institute announced that Cara Mertes has been named its new director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program. In her new position, Mertes will oversee all of the initiatives of the program, including the Sundance Documentary Fund, the annual Documentary Edit and Story Laboratory, the annual Documentary Composers Laboratory, the House of Docs programming at the Filmmaker Lodge at the Sundance Film Festival and ongoing year-round support for doc filmmakers. She will also curate documentary series with partner institutions, acting as liaison with other Sundance entities on doc initiatives and representing the Institute in the worldwide documentary community. Mertes, who is currently executive director of American Documentary, Inc. and executive producer of the PBS series P.O.V., will officially begin her work with Sundance this summer and will be involved with planning the Documentary Film Labs taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah.

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