Doc Talk Podcast Unpacks Oscar Documentary Nominations And Digs Into Extraordinary Sundance Film ‘The Perfect Neighbor’

For a second year in a row, international-focused stories have dominated the Oscar nominations for Outstanding Documentary Feature: films set in the occupied West Bank, Japan, Ukraine, Canada and Congo. Each of the filmmakers in the category are first-time nominees, and only one is American — Brendan Bellomo, who made Porcelain War with Ukraine artist-soldier Slava Leontyev.

On the latest episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, hosts John Ridley and Matt Carey analyze the nominations in the doc feature category, breaking down what the nominations say about the state of the documentary field, and identifying the odds-on favorite to win the Academy Award on March 2.

Four of the five Best Documentary Feature nominees premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year. As Sundance 2025 continues, we also turn our attention a documentary that could well find itself in Oscar competition next year: The Perfect Neighbor. Director Geeta Gandbhir and executive producer Soledad O’Brien share insights on one of the most talked about documentaries in the festival, a film composed almost entirely of police body cam and dashcam video.

The Perfect Neighbor tells the deeply shocking story of a 2023 killing in Florida, the case of Susan Lorincz, a white woman, who fatally shot her Black neighbor, Ajike “Aj” Owens, a mother of four. Lorincz attempted to shield herself from responsibility by invoking Florida’s “stand your ground” laws, claiming she feared for her life because Owens banged on her front door after Lorincz had harassed neighborhood children, including Owens’ children.

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Doc Talk also reveals details of a new initiative aimed at helping industry professionals affected by the L.A. wildfires. The initiative — from Portrait, a vetted network for modern media and entertainment, and Ridley’s Nō Studios — brings together members of the creative community on the Portrait app where they can “swap equipment, resources, and professional opportunities.”

That’s on the new episode of Doc Talk, hosted by Oscar winner Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley) and Carey, Deadline’s documentary editor. Doc Talk is a production of Deadline and Ridley’s Nō Studios.

Listen to the episode above or on major podcast platforms including Spotify, iHeart and Apple.