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Meet the Nominees: Documentary

On February 3, DGA members enjoyed the 2017 edition of the Meet the Nominees: Documentary event in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater One. The evening opened with a welcome by DGA National Vice-President Vincent Misiano, followed by introductory remarks from DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair Penelope Spheeris. Then DGA’s 2016 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Award nominees: Otto Bell (The Eagle Huntress), Ezra Edelman (O.J.: Made in America), Josh Kriegman (Weiner) and Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated) joined DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair James Moll on the stage to discuss the making of their films, illustrated by clips from each.

The symposium was followed by a reception where the nominees mingled with DGA members and guests. Nominees Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) and Elyse Steinberg (Weiner) were not available to participate.

You can watch the full panel by clicking the video below. Or listen to the panel in podcast form here. Find all of our DGA podcast episodes here

Pictures & Video

photos by Howard Wise

Watch Highlight
INTRODUCTION: DGA Vice-President Vince Misiano and Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair Penelope Spheeris welcome the audience and introduce the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Ezra Edelman reveals why he chose to include the graphic crime scene photographs of the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman in the film.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Josh Kriegman speaks about the access he received from Anthony Weiner to film the documentary and why Weiner agreed to continue filming amidst his ongoing controversy.
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HIGHLIGHT: Roger Ross Williams talks about integrating animation into his documentary to portray the "Land of the Lost Sidekicks," a story that Owen Suskind created that paralleled his own struggles growing up.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Otto Bell explains the great lengths he went to shoot in the most remote areas of Mongolia.
DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair James Moll (moderator), 2016 DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Award nominees Ezra Edelman (O.J.: Made in America), Josh Kriegman (Weiner), Otto Bell (The Eagle Huntress), Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated), and Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair Penelope Spheeris.
DGA National Vice-President Vincent Misiano welcomes the audience.
DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair Penelope Spheeris speaks about this year’s nominated Directors.
DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair James Moll is joined on the stage by 2016 DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Award nominees Otto Bell (The Eagle Huntress), Ezra Edelman (O.J.: Made in America), Josh Kriegman (Weiner) and Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated) for a discussion about their work.
Nominee Otto Bell explains how he was drawn to the story of The Eagle Huntress.
Nominee Ezra Edelman discusses how he found a new avenue to explore the OJ Simpson saga.
Nominee Josh Kriegman speaks about working with his partner, Driector Elyse Steinberg, on the story of the disgraced politician Anthony Weiner.
Nominee Roger Ross Williams reveals what he learned about the inner world of autistic children while making Life, Animated.
DGA Documentary Awards Committee Co-Chair James Moll moderates the conversation with some of this year’s Documentary Award nominees.
DGA members and guests hear about the making of the nominated projects during the 2017 edition of the Meet the Nominees: Documentary symposium.
Nominee Roger Ross Williams poses for a photo with attendees during the reception following the 2017 edition of the Meet the Nominees: Documentary symposium.
Attendees chat with Nominee Josh Kriegman (center) during the reception following the 2017 edition of the Meet the Nominees: Documentary symposium.
Nominee Otto Bell and Director Freida Lee Mock enjoy the reception following the 2017 edition of the Meet the Nominees: Documentary symposium.
L-R: DGA Documentary Host Committee members June Beallor and Patrick Creadon, Host Committee Co-Chair James Moll, Host Committee member Gil Cates Jr., Nominee Ezra Edelman, Host Committee member Marina Zenovich, Nominee Josh Kriegman, Host Committee member Ondi Timoner, Nominees Otto Bell and Roger Ross Williams, Host Committee Co-Chair Penelope Spheeris, and Host Committee member Morgan Neville.