Will Ferrell made a playful jab at Oscar documentary branch voters for snubbing “Will & Harper” in the best documentary feature race during a recent appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” The film, which centers on a road trip Ferrell took with his transgender friend Harper Steele, was a Netflix acquisition. Despite its critical acclaim and success, the documentary did not receive a nomination, raising questions about celebrity-focused documentaries and streamer preferences.
In recent years, critically acclaimed documentary titles like “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “Life Itself” have been overlooked by the Oscars in favor of more commercially successful films. This year, release year films “Luther: Never Too Much” and “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” also failed to make the cut despite audience praise.
The lack of recognition for these films has prompted discussions among branch members about the future of documentary filmmaking, particularly in light of changes to funding for arts organizations under the Trump administration. Concerns have been raised about the impact of streamers on the industry, with some expressing fears that the focus on awards campaigning may lead to a decline in independent documentary filmmaking.
Overall, the documentary community is grappling with the evolving landscape of the industry, as well as the potential consequences of political and corporate decisions on the future of social issue documentaries. As streaming platforms continue to shape the market, questions remain about the sustainability of documentary filmmaking under these changing dynamics.
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