Will Academy Awards Favor “Positive” Documentaries?

This year’s five Oscar nominees for Best Feature Documentary all seek social change. That’s not surprising. But what was news to me is that The Academy, in the words of Stephen Simon, head of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, “has become very aware of, and sensitive to, the fact that most Oscar nominations and awards in the last few years have been going to small, mostly dark, and non-commercial films.” Simon hopes that a “positive” narrative film will sweep the awards.

I must admit my bias. I subscribe to the Spiritual Cinema Circle, and after years of making and watching depressing social issue documentaries, I take my hat off to directors can make inspiring documentaries.  And I am elated when I see a documentary that tackles an environmental or social justice issue and allows me to leave the theater feeling good about humanity.

So, as well edited as Food Inc. is, my hope is that Cove will win the award. This wonderful documentary tackles a nasty injustice, the slaughter of dolphins, but draws us into a superhero, undercover and thrilling effort to change this terrible practice. I left the theater feeling good about my fellow human beings.