Meet the Director Nominated for Two Oscars for Two Different Films

Why It Matters

The dual nomination showcases the Academy’s expanding recognition of nonfiction storytelling and marks a historic gender milestone, signaling greater opportunities for women in documentary cinema.

Key Takeaways

• Gandbhir nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Short
• First woman ever nominated in both categories same year
• Docs stream on Netflix and HBO Max, increasing visibility
• Only five filmmakers have achieved dual documentary nominations historically
• Highlights growing industry recognition for socially relevant documentaries

Pulse Analysis

The Academy’s 2025 nominations have placed American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir in an exclusive club: she is up for Best Documentary Feature with *The Perfect Neighbor* and Best Documentary Short with *The Devil Is Busy*. Only five individuals have ever been nominated in both documentary categories in a single year, a list that includes Walt Disney and Charles Guggenheim. Gandbhir’s double nod underscores the Academy’s expanding appetite for nonfiction storytelling and marks a historic first for a woman to achieve this feat.

Both films are already reaching global audiences through major streaming services—*The Perfect Neighbor* on Netflix and *The Devil Is Busy* on HBO Max. Their presence on these platforms amplifies the documentaries’ social impact, from police‑body‑cam footage exposing a tragic murder to an inside look at an abortion clinic’s security challenges. The streaming boom has turned documentaries into premium content, attracting higher budgets and broader distribution, which in turn fuels Oscar campaigns and elevates the genre’s commercial viability.

Gandbhir’s achievement sends a powerful signal to women creators seeking recognition in a traditionally male‑dominated field. By breaking the gender barrier at the Oscars, she may inspire studios and investors to back more female‑led nonfiction projects, accelerating diversity behind the camera. As the industry watches, her dual nominations could reshape award‑season strategies, prompting filmmakers to pursue parallel short‑form and feature‑length projects that complement each other and maximize awards potential.