01-17-2025 - News
Discover the Films and Docs Captured on Sony that are Vying for An Oscar
By: Yaroslav Altunin
The 97th Academy Awards are fast approaching, and Oscar campaigns have been sewn into the fabric of Los Angeles. While the official announcement of nominated films has yet to be released, international feature films, creative biopics, and incredible documentaries shot on Sony cinema cameras can be seen throughout the Oscar shortlist and amidst Oscar speculation.
The following films, captured and crafted by talented documentarians and iconic cinematographers, showcase the artistic tools available to filmmakers. From the VENICE and VENICE 2 to the Sony Cinema Line, the silver screen shines with Sony's brilliant imagery.
A Complete Unknown – Phedon Papamichael VENICE 2
Directed by James Mangold and captured by veteran DP Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC, GCA, on the Sony VENICE 2, A Complete Unknown depicts the rise of Bob Dylan. The life of the celebrated lyricist and musician was captured using two unique techniques: one focused on low-light cinematography and the other on replicating the Kodachrome look of Dylan's era.
Mangold and Papamichael pushed the VENICE 2 to new heights during night scenes, rating the 3200 ISO at 6400 and even 12,800. This allowed the creative team to capture locations in New Jersey at night with the natural light of the city. Only limited, handheld lighting was used to supplement these shots, which Papamichael mixed live with a DMX controller.
In post-production, Papamichael transferred the digital footage onto negative 5203 Kodak film stock before scanning it back into digital. This elevated the image with natural film grain, softened any sensor noise captured during his low-light cinematography, and imbued the compositions with the Kodachrome look Papamichael was searching for.
The Fire Inside – Rina Yang VENICE 2
Following the early boxing career of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, an Olympic fighter from Flint, Michigan, The Fire Inside was penned by Barry Jenkins and directed by Academy Award nominated-cinematographer Rachel Morrison, ASC, in her feature directorial debut.
DP Rina Yang, BSC, captured the film on the VENICE 2, using the Sony VENICE Extension System, which was paired with Panaspeed, Primo 70, and System 65 Lenses from Panavision.
Morrison and Yang explored the story of Claressa’s life outside the ring via the fights that took place within it. By shooting digital on the VENICE 2 instead of film, Yang and Morrison were able to get discover new layers of intimate coverage.
The Fire Inside has already been shortlisted for the Original Song category for the 97th Academy Awards.
Emilia Pérez – Paul Guilhaume VENICE 2
A Spanish-language musical, Emilia Pérez is directed by French film director Jacques Audiard and stars Zoe Saldaña. Captured by French cinematographer Paul Guilhaume, AFC, the film utilized two Sony VENICE 2 cinema cameras, which were paired with Tribe7 Blackwing7 lenses.
This film used a wide range of focal lengths to capture scenes on location and in the studio, ranging from 12mm to 800mm. Guilhaume combined dynamic movements with portraiture to create compelling contrast between camera movement and the action captured in the frame.
Emilia Pérez has already been shortlisted for five categories, including the International Feature Film category, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Original Song, and Sound.
Nickel Boys – Jomo Fray VENICE
A film captured predominantly from the first-person perspective in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Nickel Boys tells the story of Elwood and Turner — two African-American boys — and the abuse they suffered at a reform school in 1960s Florida. Already touted as a new American masterpiece, the film is adapted from Colson Whitehead's 2019 novel of the same name.
Captured by DP Jomo Fray, one of American Cinematographer Magazine's 2022 "Rising Stars of Cinematography," Nickel Boys focuses on what Fray and director RaMell Ross called “sentient images” to create the feel they wanted.
Shot with the VENICE, Fray utilized the Sony VENICE Extension System to create stunning moments of quiet intimacy from a first-person point of view, rigging the VENICE on chest rigs, via helmet cams, on a SnorriCam, and on custom rigs specifically designed for select scenes.
Planetwalker – Dominic Gill FX9
Captured on a limited budget, this short documentary explores the unique life of Dr. John Francis, who after witnessing the tragic effects of the 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill, chose not to ride in oil-powered transport and took a vow of silence that lasted for almost two decades.
Directed by Dominic and Nadia Gill, the film utilized the Sony FX9 and mixed media to document the life of Dr. John Francis through the people he befriended on his journey of silence. Shot entirely in S-Cinetone, audiences witness Francis earning his Master’s and PhD during his vow of silence, showcasing the power of conviction and what we can achieve without saying a single word.
Planetwalker has been shortlisted for the Documentary Short Film category.
Kneecap – Ryan Kernaghan FX9
Directed and written by journalist-turned-filmmaker Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap is a semi-fictionalized biopic set during the 2010s about the origins an Irish hip-hop rap trio from Belfast. Captured on the Sony VENICE 2 by Ryan Kernaghan, ISC, the cinematographer explored a playful and highly-stylized visual language by pairing the cinema camera with Cooke Anamorphic lenses.
Peppiatt and Kernaghan spent two weeks storyboarding the film but made the decision to throw out the cinematic rulebook, allowing the camera to be anywhere. With the support of dual-iso from the VENICE 2, Kernaghan freely shot in low-light and explored artistic compositions using deep focus.
Kneecap has been shortlisted for the Original Song category and the International Feature Film category.
The Nominations
The 97th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 2nd, 2025, yet the official nominations have been postponed due to the natural disaster affecting Los Angeles. The Academy has extended the voting period and will announce the Oscar nominations on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
