Doc World Is Reeling from Oscar Nominations and What They Might Mean for the Struggling Sector: “There Is This Resentment Towards Certain Kinds of Success”

The 2024 Oscar documentary nominations, featuring all international filmmakers and a lack of major streamer-backed films, has sparked debates about the influence of campaign spending and potential resentment within the documentary branch. Notable documentaries backed by Netflix, Apple TV+, and Max failed to gain nominations, leading to speculation that there is a backlash against streamers and a desire for more egalitarian approaches. Some attribute the nominations to a shift in priority towards social-issue documentaries, while others argue that the increased number of international branch members has influenced the results. There are also discussions about potential changes to the voting system and the creation of separate categories for US and international documentaries.