Academy Award winners and best friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have a shot at more Oscar recognition for producing the documentary “Kiss the Future.”
Variety has learned exclusively the Academy has granted eligibility to the documentary feature for consideration for the upcoming 97th Oscars. The decision follows an initial ruling by the Academy’s Documentary Branch Executive Committee that deemed the film ineligible, citing a shortfall in meeting required daily theatrical screening showtimes per the Academy’s regulations.
In a procedural review, the Academy’s Awards Committee re-evaluated “Kiss the Future” as part of its commitment to fairness and inclusion in the eligibility process. The committee ultimately reversed the initial ruling, citing the film’s release on more than 100 screens across multiple markets as evidence of its wide release intent, which aligns with the Academy’s objective to foster theatrical experiences for moviegoers.
The reversal highlights a standing precedent within the Academy, where initial eligibility decisions may be altered to ensure the spirit of the Oscars’ mission is upheld.
Directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain, and also produced by Sarah Anthony, “Kiss the Future” delves into the resilience of Sarajevo citizens during the Bosnian War, with a particular focus on the band U2’s involvement in raising global awareness of their plight.
Now officially part of the 97th Academy Awards documentary race, it joins other high-profile contenders such as Netflix’s “Daughters” and Mubi’s “Dahomey.” As the film looks ahead to a competitive landscape in hopes of making the initial 15 film shortlist that is announced in mid-December, it hopes to find a way to break through. Currently, there are 90 documentaries uploaded to the Academy Screening Room, the online portal for AMPAS members to watch official contenders, with the number expected to grow substantially over the next few weeks. Some of those include Apple’s “Girls State” and Netflix’s “Martha.”
Affleck and Damon won their first Oscars for penning the original screenplay for the box office hit drama “Good Will Hunting” (1997). Affleck won a second Oscar as a producer for the political thriller “Argo” (2012), which he also directed. Under the pair’s production company Artists Equity, the film marks the company’s first documentary, continuing to support projects spotlighting global human rights issues. The movie premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Feb. 2023, and was released cinematically by AMC Theatres in February 2024.
The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will take place in March, with final nominations set to be announced in January.