2005 Oscars: The Documentary Short List

The short list for Best Documentary for the upcoming Academy Award nominations was announced. Whittled down from a pool of 82 eligible films, fifteen documentaries made the cut. Two of the year's most popular films were selected: Luc Jacquet's "March of the Penguins," a stunning examination of the extreme mating rites of penguins in Antartica, and Marilyn Agrelo's "Mad Hot Ballroom," the inspirational heartwarmer that follows three diverse groups of 6th grade ballroom dance classes in New York City. Hubert Sauper's harrowing look at the human consequences of global economics, "Darwin's Nightmare" was also recognized.

The other documentaries under consideration: "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "After Innocence," "The Boys of Baraka," "The Devil and Daniel Johnston," "Favela Rising," "Murderball," "Occupation: Dreamland," "On Native Soil: The Documentary of the 9/11 Commission Report," "Rize," "Street Fight," "39 Pounds of Love" and "Unknown White Male."

The nominees for the 78th annual Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 31.