The nominees for the 98th annual Academy Awards have been unveiled, showcasing a diverse range of documentaries that continue to highlight the genre’s significance in storytelling. This year’s nominations feature five films each in both the Documentary Feature Film and Documentary Short Film categories, along with two additional recognitions in the Music (Original Song) category.
Among the notable nominees is Geeta Gandbhir, acclaimed for directing both “The Perfect Neighbor,” a contender for Documentary Feature Film, and “The Devil is Busy,” recognized in the Documentary Short Film category. The nominations reflect the burgeoning talent in the documentary field.
While the list does include several deserving films, there were unexpected exclusions, such as the highly regarded “2000 Meters to Andriivka” and the extensive “My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow.” Conversely, the documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” which premiered just yesterday, has garnered attention and was highlighted as a top three documentary from the previous year.
Out of the documentaries nominated this year, only three have previously been recognized among the best documentaries of 2025, showing a lack of overlap with earlier awards like the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Notably, “The Perfect Neighbor” becomes only the third recipient of the Critics Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature to achieve an Oscar nomination, leaving many to wonder if this marks a shift in trends for future nominations.
The following is a comprehensive list of this year’s documentary Oscar nominees and their streaming availability:
**Documentary Feature Film:**
1. **The Alabama Solution** – Directed by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, available on HBO Max.
2. **Come See Me In The Good Light** – Directed by Ryan White et al., available on Apple TV.
3. **Cutting Through Rocks** – Directed by Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, currently unavailable.
4. **Mr. Nobody Against Putin** – Nominees yet to be determined, available in theaters and on the Kino Film Collection.
5. **The Perfect Neighbor** – Directed by Geeta Gandbhir et al., streaming on Netflix.
**Documentary Short Film:**
1. **All The Empty Rooms** – Directed by Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones, available on Netflix.
2. **Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud** – Directed by Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo, available on HBO Max.
3. **Children No More: “Were And Are Gone”** – Directed by Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins, currently unavailable.
4. **The Devil Is Busy** – Directed by Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir, available on HBO Max.
5. **Perfectly A Strangeness** – Directed by Alison McAlpine, currently unavailable.
**Music (Original Song):**
– “Dear Me” from *Relentless*, written by Diane Warren, available on Kanopy.
– “Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from *Viva Verdi!*, written by Nicholas Pike, available on YouTube.
The unveiling of these nominees serves as a reminder of the rich tapestry of stories being told through documentary filmmaking. As audiences look forward to the awards ceremony, there remains a sense of excitement and possibility for the future of this impactful genre.