The International Documentary Association announced its 2008 nominations on Tuesday and, following last year's controversial awards, has changed course in several notable ways, not least with its nominating of five notable (and known) titles from the past year for its top award.
In selecting box office favorites MAN ON WIRE and YOUNG@HEART to join acclaimed festival titles WALTZ WITH BASHIR, STRANDED: I'VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED ON THE MOUNTAINS and KASSIM THE DREAM for its top prize, the IDA takes a huge step forward in recognizing a variety of styles, subject matters and countries of origin (only KASSIM hails from the US). They also up-end the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose arcane eligibility rules have eliminated YOUNG@HEART, STRANDED and BASHIR from contention for this year's documentary Oscar.
Following in the footsteps of the inaugural Cinema Eye Honors earlier this year, the IDA announced that it is instituting an Audience Award. Members of the organization can select a favorite film from more than 130 titles on the IDA's website.
The IDA also took the opportunity to announce documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock as the host of this year's awards, which previously has often been a comedian or public radio host.
In addition to this year's changes, the IDA today revealed the winners of what it is calling its "career awards". In addition to the previously announced Werner Herzog, who will receieve the Career Achievement Award, honors will go to Rob Epstein (Pioneer Award), Marina Goldovskaya (Preservation and Scholarship Award) as well as the institution of the first Excellence in Editing Award, which will be presented to Sam Pollard. Stefan Forbes will receive the Emerging Filmmaker Award for his work on BOOGIE MAN.
Awards will be announced at the Directors Guild in Los Angeles on December 5.
Full nominees are after the jump.
Feature Documentary Nominees
KASSIM THE DREAM
Directed by Kief Davidson
Produced by Kief Davidson and Liz Silver
MAN ON WIRE
Directed by James Marsh
Produced by Simon Chinn
STRANDED: I'VE COME FROM A PLANE...
Directed by Gonzalo Arijon
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
Directed by Ari Folman
Produced by Ari Folman, Yael Nahlieli, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner and Roman Paul
YOUNG@HEART
Directed by Stephen Walker
Produced by Sally George
Short Documentary Nominees
KICK LIKE A GIRL
Directed by Jenny Mackenzie
REDEMPTION STONE
Directed by Tom Dziedzic
LA CORONA
Directed by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega
TONGZHI IN LOVE
Directed by Ruby Yang
SMILE PINKI
Directed by Megan Mylan
ABCNews VideoSource Award Finalists
AMERICAN IDEALIST: THE STORY OF SARGENT SHRIVER
THE BROTHERS WARNER
CHEVOLUTION
A DAY LATE IN OAKLAND
GET COLLINS
THE JUDGE AND THE GENERAL
THE KING OF SOUTH SHIELDS
LES PAUL: CHASING SOUND
THE PASSIONATE EYE - THE PUTIN SYSTEM
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED
TROUBLE THE WATER
WAR CHILD
IDA/Alan Ett Music Documentary Award Nominees
AMERICAN HARMONY
HEAVY LOAD
LA PALOMA
THE WRECKING CREW
YOUNG@HEART
Pare Lorentz Award Finalists
BURNING THE FUTURE: COAL IN AMERICA
CNN PRESENTS: GOD'S WARRIORS
DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION
GARBAGE WARRIOR
LA VIDA LOCA
NOVA: JUDGMENT DAY: INTELLIGENT DESIGN ON TRIAL
PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL
SAVING LUNA
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
WAR CHILD
Continuing Series Award Nominees
AMERICAN MASTERS
NOVA
THIS AMERICAN LIFE
WIDE ANGLE
Limited Series Award Nominees
CNN PRESENTS: GOD'S WARRIORS
THE JEWISH AMERICANS
SIN CITY LAW
THE WAR
IDA/David Wolper Student Documentary Award Nominees
AS WE FORGIVE
A DAY LATE IN OAKLAND
JESSE'S DAD
KURM RADIO: THE SOAPBOX OF THE AIR
PIZZO
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