Welcome back to the Cause Cinema Spotlight.
The Oscar nominations were announced this week, and over the past 6 months we’ve shared most of the socially relevant movies nominated. You know about the studio blockbusters. It’s the docs that can always use some extra love, so we’re going to cover a two here today, plus a wonderful festival darling that was Mexico’s Oscar submission (though it didn’t earn the Academy nomination).
One powerful drama with a 7-year old heroine, the Audience Award winner for Best doc at Sundance last year, and an inspiring doc nominee with a pop star turned politician.
We’ll start there with…
Bobi Wine: The People's President
Ugandan opposition leader, activist and musical star Bobi Wine uses his music to fight the regime that has led the country for 35 years, and runs in the 2021 presidential election.
You can see Bobi Wine: The People's President on Disney+
Totem
7-year old Sol spends the day at her grandfather's home, helping to prepare a surprise party for her father. Throughout the day, chaos slowly takes over and fractures the family's foundations. Mexico’s submission to the Academy for the Best International Feature Oscar. The film was shot in Spanish with English subtitles.
Totem was just given a limited theatrical release.
20 Days In Mariupol
Winner of the prestigious Audience Award at Sundance in 2023 in the documentary section, Ukrainian filmmaker and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov offers a window into the practices of conflict zone reporters and an unflinching, anguishing account of the 20 days he and colleagues spent covering Mariupol. 20 Days in Mariupol is a @frontline and @AssociatedPress collaboration. The film was shot in Ukrainian, Russian and English languages.
20 Days In Mariupol is playing on AmazonPrime, Vudu and YouTube.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Cause Cinema Spotlight.
Until next time, you take care.
Bobi Wine, Totem and 20 Days In Mariupol