‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ documentary overlooked in nominations
In a stunning snub by the voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” failed to earn an Oscar nomination Tuesday morning.
Director Morgan Neville’s documentary highlights the gentle wisdom of Latrobe native and Peabody Award winner Fred Rogers, who served as a guide for generations of children through his “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
The film had won scores of awards leading up to the announcement, including ones from the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. It has been a popular favorite as well, earning more than $22 million at the box office, a North American record.
Even the trades must have been surprised; a recent Variety preview called it the hands-down favorite to win when the awards are handed out Feb. 24. Another strong contender, “Three Identical Strangers,” also was overlooked.
Nominees for best documentary are “Free Solo,” “Minding the Gap,” “RBG,” “Of Fathers and Sons” and “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” explores the ideas behind Fred Rogers’ beloved children’s program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which premiered in 1968 and found a home at WQED-TV studios in Oakland.
The film will be broadcast Feb. 9 as part of PBS’s “Independent Lens” series. It also will debut that night on HBO.