125 Oscar Documentary Film Submissions
125 titles
- 101
Marinoni: The Fire in the FrameMovie · 2015 · 90mA grumpy bicycle maker decides to try and break a distance record while cycling.IMDb 8.4TMDB 6.8 - 102
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't ChangeMovie · 2016 · 125mAfter reflecting deeply, documentarian Josh Fox decides the solutions to environmental damage aren't to be found locally. He journeys across the globe to meet communities already severely impacted by climate change. He discovers a blend of hardship and hope, examining how climate change is reshaping our values. *How to Let Go of the World* presents a stark look at the climate crisis, exploring humanity’s capacity for resilience and innovation.IMDb 7.0TMDB 4.5 - 103
Art BastardMovie · 2015 · 82mART BASTARD explores the nature of art and its place in society. It questions whether art's worth lies in popularity or innovation, and whether artists should prioritize profit or personal expression. The film follows Robert Cenedella, a fiercely independent New York artist, as he navigates decades of striving for creative freedom. A former student, protégé, and friend of George Grosz, Cenedella now carries on Grosz's artistic legacy in the same studio where Grosz once taught. The film portrays Cenedella's determination to challenge prevailing trends while critiquing them, aiming to disrupt the art world. ART BASTARD offers a humorous, moving, and perceptive look into the mind of a truly original artist.IMDb 6.5TMDB 8.8 - 104
The AbolitionistsMovie · 2016 · 87mIn 2013, Special Agent Tim Ballard left his job with Homeland Security after a decade of rescuing children from sex trafficking, both in the US and abroad. While proud that his country was actively addressing the issue, he grew frustrated with bureaucratic obstacles. Ballard founded OURrescue.com to continue saving children who had fallen through the government's safety net – children representing over 90% of those lost to sex slavery. The story follows these lost children and the efforts of Ballard's team as they investigate and free enslaved children worldwide.IMDb 7.6 - 105
Theo Who LivedMovie · 2016 · 86mIn late fall 2012, Theo Padnos, an American journalist working to make ends meet, entered Syria to cover the ongoing civil war. He was quickly taken captive by Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.0 - 106
The Eagle HuntressMovie · 2016 · 87m · Family, Documentary, AdventureThe film follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first woman in her family's twelve-generation history to become an eagle hunter. She strives to reach the highest level of a tradition traditionally passed down from father to son for centuries.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.1 - 107
Black Women in MedicineMovie · 2016 · 57m"Black Women in Medicine" is the first documentary to highlight the stories of often-overlooked Black women doctors, detailing their paths from facing inequality to achieving professional success.IMDb 6.2 - 108
CamerapersonMovie · 2016 · 102m · DocumentaryCAMERAPERSON is a visually striking memoir that uses filmmaker Kirsten Johnson's existing footage to explore moments that have deeply impacted her. The film reframes these scenes, transforming their original presentation into a personal story about journey, filmmaking, and genuine human connection—a meditation on how the camera shapes our understanding of truth.IMDb 7.5TMDB 6.7 - 109
Citizen SoldierMovie · 2016 · 105mCITIZEN SOLDIER is a dramatic film following a group of soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the "Thunderbirds." The story is a firsthand account of the war in a dangerous region of Afghanistan during the peak of the surge. It’s a raw and personal look at the experiences of these soldiers, reminiscent of Band of Brothers, detailing their life-altering tour of duty. The film offers an intimate perspective on modern warfare, brotherhood, and patriotism, using real footage from helmet cams to capture the chaos and bravery displayed by these citizen soldiers under extreme conditions.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.9 - 110
Be Here NowMovie · 2015 · 100m · DocumentaryThis inspiring documentary follows Andy Whitfield, the actor known for his breakout role in "Spartacus" and his status as an international heartthrob. It's a story of determination and resilience as Whitfield applies the same focus he brought to his acting career to the fight against a life-threatening illness. It’s also a love story.IMDb 8.5TMDB 8.0 - 111
Class DivideMovie · 2016 · 74mClass Divide examines the gentrification and increasing inequality in New York City through the lens of a single intersection: 10th Avenue and 26th Street in Chelsea. On one side of the avenue stand the Chelsea-Elliot Houses, offering long-term affordable public housing. Across the street, established in 2012, is Avenues: The World School, an expensive private institution. The film explores what happens when students from these two vastly different worlds try to connect.IMDb 7.3TMDB 5.9 - 112
Keepers of the GameMovie · 2016 · 75mLacrosse originated as a sacred game among the Mohawk people of Akwesasne, traditionally played by men. At Salmon River High near Fort Covington, NY, an all-Native girls' lacrosse team unites with the goal of becoming the first Native women's team to win a Section Championship. First, they must defeat their rivals, Massena High. As the season progresses, the team faces growing uncertainty within their community and must demonstrate that lacrosse is a rightful part of their heritage. With more than just a championship at stake, the girls strive to create opportunities for future Native women while respecting their traditions in a modern world.IMDb 8.2TMDB 6.5 - 113
Holy HellMovie · 2016 · 100m · DocumentaryThis film explores a West Hollywood cult that emerged in the 1980s, led by a captivating teacher, and ultimately fell apart.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.6 - 114
They Will Have to Kill Us FirstMovie · 2015 · 105mIn 2012, jihadists seized control of northern Mali, implementing a severe interpretation of sharia law. On August 12th, they banned music, destroying radio stations and instruments, and threatening musicians with torture or death. Mali’s respected musicians were forced into hiding or exile. This film follows these musicians as they struggle to preserve music in their homeland. It depicts clashes between the army and the jihadists, life in impoverished refugee camps, dangerous journeys back to war-torn cities, and the rise of one band, Songhoy Blues, to international recognition.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.2 - 115
Don't Blink - Robert FrankMovie · 2015 · 82mRobert Frank's photography and filmmaking are inseparable, reflecting a consistent artistic vision across his extensive work since "The Americans" in 1958. Since the early 1990s, he has collaborated with editor Laura Israel, who has helped him maintain a raw, personal approach to his films and videos, capturing authentic moments. "Don't Blink" is Israel's intimate portrait of Frank, a vibrant collection of images, sounds, memories, and reflections on loss and friendship. It offers a quick glimpse into the life of the Swiss-born artist who redefined American filmmaking and continues to shape his own path at 90.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.0 - 116
Everything Is CopyMovie · 2015 · 89m · DocumentaryThis film offers an honest look at the life and career of writer and director Nora Ephron, seen through the eyes of her son, journalist Jacob Bernstein.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 117
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own WordsMovie · 2016 · 93mThrough revealing television interviews and previously unseen performances from his three-decade career, the film explores two sides of Frank Zappa's multifaceted personality. He was a captivating composer who loved to perform, and simultaneously, a sharp, uncompromising interviewer whose beliefs deepened with each success.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.3 - 118
Unlocking the CageMovie · 2016 · 90mFilmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus document animal rights activist Steven Wise as he fights in court for a groundbreaking legal case. Wise aims to grant certain animals legal personhood using the writ of habeas corpus. His plaintiffs are chimpanzees, Tommy and Kiko, former entertainment stars now facing dire living conditions. The film follows Wise and his legal team as they gather compelling evidence of animal abuse and challenge our understanding of non-human animals.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 119
Older Than IrelandMovie · 2015 · 81mOlder Than Ireland profiles thirty people who are 100 years old or older. The film is often humorous, and sometimes moving, following each centenarian's life story from their birth when Ireland gained independence to their life today. Through an observational approach, Older Than Ireland provides a unique look into the personal lives of these extraordinary people.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.2 - 120
The SyndromeMovie · 2014 · 86mThis documentary follows a team of doctors as they reveal the flawed science driving a major crisis in the criminal justice system.IMDb 7.6TMDB 8.8 - 121
Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to CatastropheMovie · 2016 · 91mThis documentary claims the CDC, the U.S. government agency responsible for public health, deliberately destroyed data from a 2004 study. The study reportedly suggested a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.IMDb 4.6TMDB 5.6 - 122
Colliding DreamsMovie · 2015 · 134mThe Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a century-long struggle with profound global implications, has deeply affected both Israelis and Palestinians. At its core, the story is about two peoples vying for national identity in a limited but historically important area. As noted by novelist Amos Oz and scholar Sari Nusseibeh, the tragedy of this history arises from the clash between the equal and valid claims of two groups seeking self-determination within the same territory.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.9 - 123
The Seventh FireMovie · 2015 · 78mAfter receiving a prison sentence for the fifth time, gang leader Rob Brown is forced to face his responsibility for introducing violent drug culture into his American Indian community in northern Minnesota. As Rob reflects on his history, his seventeen-year-old protégé, Kevin, envisions a future of power and fear as the reservation's dominant Native gangster.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.0 - 124
13thMovie · 2016 · 100m · DocumentaryThis film examines the American prison system, revealing how it reflects the country's ongoing history of racial inequality.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.9 - 125
Harry & SnowmanMovie · 2015 · 84mAfter World War II, Dutch immigrant Harry deLeyer found an extraordinary connection with a discarded Amish plow horse he saved from a slaughterhouse. For eighty dollars, he bought the horse and named him Snowman. In under two years, Harry and Snowman achieved unprecedented success, winning the prestigious show jumping Triple Crown and defeating established champions, becoming internationally renowned. Their life-changing encounter at a Pennsylvania horse auction forged a lasting friendship. Now, at eighty-six, Harry recounts their remarkable story, sharing the details of their unforgettable journey as he continues to compete in show jumping today.IMDb 7.6TMDB 6.5
