Geeta Gandbhir ‘Blown Away’ by Two Oscar Nominations, First Woman To Earn Dual Documentary Nods
Geeta Gandbhir said she was “blown away” after receiving rare oscar nominations for two separate documentaries, becoming the first woman nominated in both best documentary feature and best documentary short in the same year.
Oscar Nominations: Two Documentaries, Two Categories
Gandbhir is nominated for best documentary feature for The Perfect Neighbor and for best documentary short for The Devil Is Busy. The Devil Is Busy is described as documenting a day inside an abortion clinic in Atlanta, seen through the eyes of a security guard who highlights the dangers faced by staff and patients amid the shifting political landscape in the US. The Perfect Neighbor uses police body camera footage to tell the story of a young mother killed by a neighbour who repeatedly called police to complain about children playing near her home. The Devil Is Busy is streaming on HBO Max, and The Perfect Neighbor is streaming on Netflix.
Rare Feat And Historical Context
Being nominated in both documentary categories in the same year is exceptionally rare. Gandbhir joins a small group of filmmakers who have achieved double nominations; only five others, including Walt Disney, have done so in the Academy’s nearly 100-year history. Walt Disney previously made history in 1954 by winning four Oscars for four different projects, including documentary recognitions for The Living Desert and The Alaskan Eskimo. Past instances of dual documentary nominations include other years and pairs of films, underscoring how uncommon Gandbhir’s achievement is. She is the first woman to be nominated in both documentary categories in the same year.
Reaction, Process And What Comes Next
Gandbhir said she tried to sleep through the nominations to avoid disappointment but ended up awake until 3: 00 am and woke to celebratory shouting from her husband, who worked on The Perfect Neighbor, and a call with her best friend who co-directed The Devil Is Busy. She described the recognition as “a thrill and an honour” and laughed when asked if she had prepared two acceptance speeches, saying “touch wood. ” She added that if she wins for The Devil Is Busy she will share the stage with co-director Christalyn Hampton.
The nominations come ahead of the ceremony set for Sunday evening in Los Angeles. The broader field this year also includes other artists with dual nominations in different categories, highlighting recurring but rare moments when filmmakers receive multiple nods in a single awards cycle.
