Ukraine’s first Oscar hailed as reminder of war’s horrors as Russian drones strike buildings

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine awoke Monday to another day of war — Russian drones blasted buildings in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions — but also the news it had won its first Oscar. The best documentary victory for Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing first-person account by The Associated Press journalist of the … Read more

Wendy Williams documentary producers: Didn’t know she had dementia while filming

If you watched Lifetime’s Wendy Williams docuseries that premiered over the weekend and felt uncomfortable, you weren’t alone. “Where is Wendy Williams?” premiered over the weekend and featured numerous scenes of the former talk show host unsteady, belligerent, confused and also drunk. Her manager would regularly find liquor bottles hidden throughout her apartment, behavior that … Read more

A Startup’s Mission to Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth Is Being Made Into a Docuseries

The idea that humans caused this extinction, but human ingenuity can put things right again? Reed: That is one of the big questions that we should be exploring in the documentary series. That is at the heart of whether you support what Colossal are doing, whether you want de-extinction or whether you think it’s not … Read more

AP wins the best-documentary prize at the BAFTA awards for Ukraine film ’20 Days in Mariupol’

LONDON — The Associated Press won the best documentary prize at the British Academy Film Awards for Ukraine war documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” produced with PBS’ “Frontline.” Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov admitted the accolade made him feel conflicted. “It’s a huge honor. It’s a huge responsibility,” the Ukrainian journalist said after winning the trophy Sunday … Read more

Oscar nominees for films from ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ to documentary shorts gather for luncheon

LOS ANGELES — The annual Academy Award nominees luncheon on Monday is a chance for this year’s Oscar hopefuls to come together for photos, hugs and congratulations. The luncheon is a warm, feel-good, egalitarian affair where little-known first-time nominees in categories like best animated short get to rub shoulders and share tables with acting nominees … Read more

Documentary on ‘We Are the World’ goes deep inside recording session of starry 1985 charity single

NEW YORK — Thirty-nine years ago, the biggest music stars in the world crammed into a recording studio in Los Angeles for an all-night session that they hoped might alter music history. “We Are the World” was a 1985 charity single for African famine relief that included the voices of Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob … Read more

The Associated Press wins duPont-Columbia award for Ukraine war documentary ’20 Days in Mariupol’

NEW YORK — The Associated Press has won a prestigious broadcast journalism award for “20 Days in Mariupol,” its documentary on the war in Ukraine produced with PBS’ “Frontline.” The documentary was among 15 winners of the 2024 duPont-Columbia Awards announced at a ceremony at Columbia University in New York on Thursday. Founded in 1942, … Read more

Oscar nomination for ’20 Days in Mariupol’ is a first for the 178-year-old Associated Press

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — “20 Days in Mariupol,” Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing chronicle of the besieged Ukrainian city and the international journalists who remained there after Russia’s invasion, has been nominated for best documentary at the Academy Awards, handing The Associated Press its first Oscar nomination in the 178-year-old news organization’s history. The … Read more

For Netflix documentaries, there’s no place like Sundance

PARK CITY, Utah — Filmmaker Yance Ford was in a “Sundance haze” when he took a meeting with Netflix following the premiere of “Strong Island” in 2017. The streamer was still somewhat new in the original documentary space at that point, but had made several big splashes with docs as different as “The Square,” about … Read more

What to stream this week: Jason Momoa roaming, Green Day rocking and ‘Fast X’ exploding

Jason Momoa hosting a new travel docuseries for Max called “On the Roam” and the Finnish romantic comedy “Fallen Leaves” are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are Mandy Patinkin … Read more