Celebrity-Focused Docs Fail to Impress in Awards Race, Delivering a Blow to Netflix

The International Documentary Association (IDA), Cinema Eye Honors, and Gotham Awards have excluded titles from Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ from their top feature documentary selections, leading to speculation of a streamer backlash. The lists primarily consist of non-U.S. productions, indicating a shift away from serious, current affairs-focused films towards celebrity-focused "vanidocs." Netflix's recent rejection streak may be a result of this trend, as the streamer has cut back on spending and departed from its previous focus on hard-hitting documentaries. The documentary community's message may be echoed by the Academy's documentary branch when it announces its own shortlist.