Anne and I discussed the documentary feature category at length on yesterday’s podcast, commenting on a wide array of movies. Naturally, then, most of them were featured in the PGA’s list of nominees in the category.
The two that were — “The Gatekeepers” and “Searching for Sugar Man” — are easily two of the best in the field this year. The former, though, hasn’t gotten a lot of discussion, but with a qualifying release this week, talk should start circulating. I saw it at Telluride in September, noting that it “provides an invaluable perspective on evolving methods of anti-terrorism while treading the philosophical waters of playing God and having the power to extinguish another life with the push of a button.”
“Searching for Sugar Man,” meanwhile, is potentially the most popular film of the lot this year, and that actually counts this time around, as the documentary feature category’s process now allows for that kind of wide-spread appeal to register.
The full list of nominees:
“The Gatekeepers”
“The Island President”
“The Other Dream Team”
“A People Uncounted”
“Searching for Sugar Man”
Previously announced, special honors will be awarded by the guild to Bob and Harvey Weinstein, J.J. Abrams, Tin Bevan and Eric Fellner and Russell Simmons. The full list of feature nominees will be announced on January 3, 2013.
Speaking of documentaries, by the way, it’s worth noting that the great D.A. Pennebaker will receive an Honorary Oscar at tonight’s Governors Awards (which I’ll be attending). He’ll be presented the honor by Michael Moore, who has been instrumental in the overall shift of rules and regulations in the Best Documentary Feature category at the Oscars this year.
The 24th annual Producers Guild Awards will be held on January 26, 2013.