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.
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