2009 Gotham Awards Nominees for Best Documentary

IFP has announced the nominees for the 2009 Gotham Awards in the documentaries category, and there are no surprises among them. In fact, three of the five nominees are on my Best Documentaries of 2009 list. The nominees are:

• Food, Inc. - Directed by Robert Kenner, Produced by Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein (Magnolia Pictures) - Robert Kenner's compelling investigation of nutrition in the United States shows that several powerful multinational companies control most food production from the planting of crops to the distribution of pre-packaged cereals, meats and vegetables on supermarket shelves. Unfortunately, as the documentary convincingly points out, their primary motive is profit, often at the expense of food quality and humane concerns. This very well made film has been most effective in stimulating discussion about food production, and in convincing audience members to adopt a healthier approach to personal nutrition.
• Good Hair - Directed by Jeff Stilson, Produced by Chris Rock, Kevin O'Donnell, Nelson George and Jenny Hunter, (Liddell Entertainment and Roadside Attractions with HBO Films) - Motivated by his young daughter's questions about why she doesn't have 'good hair,' the inimitably clever Chris Rock uses his witty wisdom and wise wit to get to the roots of African-American women's attitude towards their 'black' hair and untangle the ways and weaves of the billion-dollar industry that caters to their efforts to make it look 'white.' This is a stunningly funny and provocative documentary.
• My Neighbor My Killer- Produced and Directed by Anne Aghion (Gacaca Productions) - For her extraordinarily gripping and inspiring documentary, filmmaker Anne Aghion spent ten years observing and chronicling events in post-genocide Rwanda, where the government mandated that Tutsis and Hutus -- the victims and killers in the 1994 genocide -- reconcile so that the country could begin to again function effectively and move forward. Aghion brings us to one rural town where women whose husbands, children and siblings were slaughtered sit down with the killers, and with their extraordinary human dignity and strength of character forgive the neighbors who murdered their loved ones. This film is a revelation. Aghion's awesome skills as filmmaker show themselves in every frame.
• Paradise - Directed by Michael Almereyda, Produced by Michael Almereyda and Laurie Butler (Post Factory Films) - In this remarkable documentary, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Almereyda uses dozens of video clips he's shot over the years, showing a wide range of people in seemingly disconnected situations, to create a unique and personal statement about contemporary life.
• Tyson - Directed by James Toback, Produced by James Toback and Damon Bingham (Sony Pictures Classics) - James Toback's profile of Mike Tyson is close up, personal and sort of psychological in approach. With his camera tight on Tyson's face, Toback focuses on the fighter's inner-self and the results are surprising. This is certainly a new and unique view of a fascinating man who has lived in larger than life circumstances.

The 2009 Gotham Awards, presented on November 19 in New York City, are the first honors of the film awards season. IFP, a nonprofit organization representing a network of 10,000 filmmakers in New York City and around the world, also presents filmmaker workshops, seminars, conferences, mentorships and the IFP Independent Film Week, and publishes Filmmaker magazine.