2.60 2024 Documentaries Recap

2.60 2024 Documentaries Recap

Author: Jonathan Ytreberg December 21, 2024 Duration: 23:40

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I am joined on the podcast today by fellow Substack author Vicki Lesley where we sit down to discuss 2024 in documentaries. We review the Oscar short lists that were announced earlier this week, and talk about a few of our favorites as well as some of the titles that were missing from these lists.

The full list of short listed documentaries is below.

Documentary Feature

  • The Bibi Files
  • Black Box Diaries
  • Dahomey
  • Daughters
  • Eno
  • Frida
  • Hollywoodgate
  • No Other Land
  • Porcelain War
  • Queendom
  • The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
  • Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
  • Sugarcane
  • Union
  • Will & Harper

Documentary Short Subject

  • “Chasing Roo”
  • “Death by Numbers”
  • “Eternal Father”
  • “I Am Ready, Warden”
  • “Incident”
  • “Instruments of a Beating Heart”
  • “Keeper”
  • “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World”
  • “Once upon a Time in Ukraine”
  • “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”
  • “Planetwalker”
  • “The Quilters”
  • “Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr”
  • “A Swim Lesson”
  • “Until He’s Back”

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There's a whole century of stories waiting in the Academy's archives, and The Oscar Project Podcast is digging through every single one. Instead of just focusing on the current awards season, this show takes the long view, working its way through every film ever nominated for an Oscar starting all the way back in 1929. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific year or a particular film, unpacking not just the cinematic craft on screen but the historical context that shaped it. You'll hear about forgotten gems, surprising snubs, and how the art of filmmaking has evolved over decades. Alongside these detailed reviews and discussions, the podcast regularly features conversations with filmmakers, historians, and authors who provide unique insights into the industry's past and present. It’s for anyone who loves film history as much as the movies themselves, offering a structured but fascinating journey through Hollywood's most celebrated-and sometimes controversial-moments. Tune in to this thoughtfully crafted podcast for a richer understanding of how the Oscars have reflected, and sometimes directed, the entire trajectory of modern cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 226

The Oscar Project Podcast
Podcast Episodes
3.90-The Rogue Song with Helen Cox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:51
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1930 film The Rogue Song. I'm joined by Helen Cox from the Movies of Note newsletter and we talk about how MGM could let a momentous film like this end up lost…
3.89-Filmmaker Interview with Tobias Eckerlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:03
Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I interview Tobias Eckerlin, director of the short film "A Sparrow's Song," a story of a widowed air raid warden in the midst of World War II struggles to overcome grief and rediscover…
3.88-Their Own Desire with Maria Banson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:19
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Their Own Desire. I'm joined by Maria Banson from the Brunello Bombshell newsletter and we talk about Norma Shearer's place as an inspiration for wom…
3.87-Filmmaker Interview with David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I interview David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz, the duo over brother directors behind the film "A Lien" which was nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards last March. T…
3.86-Sally with Dan Pal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:08
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Sally. I'm joined by Dan Pal from the PalCinema, Television, & Music newsletter and we talk about the use and re-use of popular songs in movies even…
3.85-Filmmaker Interview with Elham Ehsas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:34
Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I interview Elham Ehsas, director of the short film "There Will Come Soft Rains," a story of a young woman confronting the personal implications of rising sea levels resulting from glo…
3.84-The Love Parade with Enrico Banson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:33
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Love Parade. I'm joined by Enrico Banson from the Director's Notes newsletter and we talk about some uses of editing we haven't seen much in earl…
3.83-Filmmaker Interview with Daniel Persitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I interview Daniel Persitz, director of the short film "Key of Genius," a story of a young blind autistic savant and the teacher determined to unlock his genius through music.Listen to…
3.82-Condemned with Luis Mendez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Condemned. I'm joined by Luis Mendez from The Mendez Movie Report and we talk about whether or not it is smart for a prison warden to bring in a pris…
3.81-Filmmaker Interview with Sam Davis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:12
Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I interview Sam Davis, director of the new short film "The Singers," a beautiful exploration of untapped talent and raw emotion.Listen to hear about the Russian short story that served…