Documentaries at the Oscars: A History of Breaking Out of Their Category — and What It Means for ‘You Can See Everything’
A documentary is a film, too. But at the Oscars, it still hasn’t been fully embraced as one. One of the breakout hits of the awards season is A24’s insanely entertaining “You Can See Everything” from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, which had a surprise world premier
The Oscars have a long history of underappreciating documentaries, often relegating them to their own category without giving them the same recognition as narrative films. However, there have been instances where documentaries have broken out of their category and received widespread acclaim, including nominations for Best Picture. This is significant because it acknowledges that documentaries are not just informative films, but also compelling stories that can resonate with audiences.
The success of "You Can See Everything" from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim is a great example of this. The film's surprise world premiere and subsequent awards season buzz demonstrate that documentaries can be just as entertaining and engaging as narrative films. A24's backing of the film also highlights the importance of distributors in bringing documentaries to a wider audience and giving them the recognition they deserve.
As the awards season heats up, it's worth keeping an eye on how "You Can See Everything" performs at the Oscars. Will it be nominated for Best Picture or other categories, or will it be limited to the Best Documentary category? The film's success could pave the way for more documentaries to break out of their category and receive the recognition they deserve. Additionally, with the rise of streaming platforms and changing viewer habits, it's an exciting time for documentaries and their place in the film industry.
Originally reported by variety.com. FilmNews adds analysis for culture, style & media readers.