15 documentary features advance in Oscar race

Fifteen documentary features will advance in the voting process for the 86th edition of the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced.
A total of one hundred forty-seven films had originally qualified in the category.
The films that are eligible for Oscar nomination include "The Act of Killing," "The Armstrong Lie,", "Blackfish," "The Crash Reel," "Cutie and the Boxer," "Dirty Wars," "First Cousin Once Removed," "God Loves Uganda" and "Life According to Sam.
Other films that have also made it to the list are, "Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer," "The Square," "Stories We Tell," "Tim's Vermeer," "20 Feet from Stardom," and "Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington."

The Academy's Documentary Branch determined the shortlist in a preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles.
Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar this year for "Searching for Sugar Man".
The Oscars nominations will be announced live on January 16, 2014 in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.