Eight acclaimed films will now be represented at exclusive LA event celebrating Academy's shortlisted documentaries Three more distinguished filmmakers have joined the lineup for Sunday's Oscar Documentary Shortlist Roundtable in Los Angeles, presented by Nonfictionfilm.com. Floyd Russ, director of the Netflix short film Zion, has confirmed his participation, along with Skye Fitzgerald, director of the RYOT Films short Lifeboat, and Rayka Zehtabchi, director of the documentary short Period. End of Sentence. They join previously-announced filmmakers from the Oscar Documentary Feature shortlist: Marilyn Ness, director of Charm City; Kimberly Reed of Dark Money; Simon Lereng Wilmont of The Distant Barking of Dogs; On Her Shoulders producer Hayley Pappas, and director Sandi Tan of Shirkers. Nonfictionfilm.com editor Matt Carey will moderate the event, which starts at 4 p.m. Sunday (January 6) at the Downtown Independent theater, 251 S. Main Street, Los Angeles. Zion won Best Documentary Short at the IDA Awards last month, the latest honor for the film about Zion Clark, a young man born without legs. He was given up for adoption as a baby and spent much of his life in foster homes where he was abused. The film reveals how he found new hope and friendship when he got involved in wrestling. In addition to the IDA Award, Zion has won prizes at the Atlanta Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Indy Shorts International Film Festival, among a number of others. "We like to say it's a sports doc that's really about growing up," Russ told Nonfictionfilm.com on the IDA Awards red carpet. "Zion didn't have confidence, no belief in himself. And that's what wrestling gave him." Related: |
AuthorMatthew Carey is a documentary filmmaker and journalist. His work has appeared on Deadline.com, CNN, CNN.com, TheWrap.com, NBCNews.com and in Documentary magazine. |