In In Search of Memory (Auf der Suche nach dem Gedächtnis), Petra Seeger profiles Eric Kandel, the Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist. Sharing its title with Kandel's highly praised autobiography, the documentary follows the neuroscientist as he researches the science of memory and traces his own memories back to his childhood. Born a Jew in Vienna in 1929, Kandel actually emigrated to America before the Holocaust, but his work -- and his memories -- have been largely influenced by the specter of Nazi persecution. Seeger's blending of neuroscience and biography make this film particularly compelling, and the graphics -- watching short term memory become long term memory, for example -- are fascinating. Released by Icarus Films, In Search of Memory opens at New York's IFC Center on January 8. Meanwhile, you can watch the trailer.

Following a path of discovery similar to that pursued in Jesus Camp, Kate Davis and David Heilbroner's new documentary, Waiting for Armageddon ventures into the realm of American Evangelicals who -- some 20-million strong -- believe that the Bible foretells the world's future and that the End of Days is, indeed, coming. Speaking with Christians and Jews, the filmmakers present varied perspectives on the nature of Biblical prophecy and it's potential political impact not only in the Middle East -- especially in Israel -- and around the world. As in Jesus Camp the dogmatic outlook of many of the film's major players is terrifying, but it's important to know about and understand their mind set. Released by First Run Features, Waiting for Armageddon plays various venues throughout January. Take a look at the trailer

Opening in limited release on January 29, the third documentary, Off and Running, directed by Nicole Opper and Avery Klein-Cloud, focuses on the life of Avery, who is a strong and appealing character whose unusual circumstances make her story fascinating. Avery, a talented track athlete, is the African-American adoptive daughter of two white Jewish lesbian parents, who are also raising two adoptive sons - one of mixed-race and the other of Korean descent - in Brooklyn, New York. When Avery decides to explore her African-American roots by seeking out her birth mother, she's forced to confront complicated issues about race, personal identity and family ties. Her outlook changes significantly, as does her behavior. She stays away from home, skips school, and risks losing the opportunity to realize her personal goals of going to college and becoming a track star. However, through the strength of her adoptive family ties, she manages to get her life back on track, and proves to be quite an inspiring figure for anyone who sees this film. Watch the trailer

New York's Tribeca Cinemas will screen six of the fifteen feature length documentaries on the 2010 Oscars short list. Scheduled as a two-day viewing marathon, the screenings take place on January 8 and 9.

The film selection has been made by Tribeca Film Festival programmers. Funded by the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, the screening series actually features current documentary projects made by filmmakers who've participated in previous editions of the Tribeca Film Festival. Three of the six films selected for screening premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. "We are always looking for ways Tribeca can further support our filmmakers and this series highlights our commitment to documentary film," said Tribeca Enterprises' Nancy Schafer in a press release.

The six films in the series are:

• The Cove
• Food, Inc.
• Living in Emergency
• Soundtrack for a Revolution
• Under Our Skin
• Which Way Home

For scheduling, tickets and other information, check the Tribeca Cinemas Website. Tickets cost $10 for the general public. Academy members are admitted free of charge.

Unfortunately, if you're not in New York City, you'll still have a hard time seeing most of these films. And even New Yorkers are having a hard time finding screenings of most of the other nine documentaries on the 2010 Oscars short list.

There are thousands of documentaries made every year, and being named to the Oscars short list is a huge measure of recognition. It's really a shame that all of the superb short listed films are not given a wider -- and equal -- pre-Oscars distribution.

When the recently announced Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN.tv, premieres in January, 2011, one of the new network's features will be a one-per-month prime time documentary film series. The feature length nonfiction films will be shown in partnership with Ro*Co Films International, the international documentaries distribution company helmed by Annie Roney, Christine Dewey and Sue Turley. Ro*Co's catalog includes Jesus Camp, Lioness and We Are Together, among other great documentaries.

On OWN, the documentaries will reportedly be presented in a way that's similar to Oprah's Book Club, which encourages viewers to form screening groups to watch the films and participate in Web-based panel discussions about them. The selected documentaries will focus on inspiring and inspirational stories. OWN is a collaboration between Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Discovery Communications. For more information regarding OWN, follow About.com's Oprah Guide.

Good news for all who want to see the Oscars short-listed The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers! The film has been acquired by Foirst Run Features, and is set for a nationwide theatrical release starting on February 5, 2010. The DVD release date hasn't yet been set.