American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir has achieved a remarkable milestone in Oscar history, earning dual nominations for two distinct documentary projects at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. This extraordinary accomplishment places her among an elite group of only six filmmakers in the Oscars’ nearly century-long history to receive simultaneous nominations in both feature and short documentary categories.
Gandbhir’s nominated works include ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ for Best Documentary Feature and ‘The Devil is Busy’ for Best Documentary Short. The filmmaker described the recognition as both ‘a thrill and an honor,’ admitting to the BBC that ‘our minds are kind of blown’ by the achievement.
In a strategic decision to manage expectations, Gandbhir intentionally slept through the nomination announcements. ‘It’s anxiety inducing to watch the actual announcements. I’ve done it before,’ she explained during the Academy Awards luncheon. Her plan was interrupted by her husband’s celebratory shouts upon learning the news, as he contacted her co-director on ‘The Devil is Busy’ to share the excitement.
The historical significance of Gandbhir’s accomplishment extends beyond the dual nominations themselves. She now stands as the first woman ever to achieve this distinction, breaking new ground in an industry where such double recognition has previously been dominated by male filmmakers, including Walt Disney who accomplished the feat in 1954 with four Oscar wins across different categories.
Gandbhir’s nominated films address pressing social issues. ‘The Devil is Busy,’ available on HBO Max, provides an intimate look at an abortion clinic in Atlanta through the perspective of a security guard, highlighting the dangers faced by staff and patients amid America’s evolving political landscape. Meanwhile, ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ on Netflix utilizes police body camera footage to examine the tragic story of a young mother killed by a neighbor who repeatedly complained about children playing nearby.
When questioned about preparation for potential wins, Gandbhir responded with cautious optimism, noting that for ‘The Devil is Busy,’ she would share the stage with co-director Christalyn Hampton. The ceremony, set for Sunday evening in Los Angeles, will determine whether Gandbhir joins the even more exclusive group of filmmakers who have won in both categories simultaneously.