The official shortlist has been announced for the Academy Award’s Documentary Feature category.

Included are those we all expected to see such as Burma VJ, Food Inc, The Beaches of Agnes and The Cove, but there are some some surprising omissions, including The September Issue, Capitalism: A Love Story (although not one I’m unhappy about), Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner We Live in Public, Tyson, The Way We Get By and possibly most notably, Anvil.

Personally I’m really thrilled to see Sergio on the list. It was one of the most powerful documentaries I’ve seen all year. The Most Dangerous Man in America — a real late comer as it has only just started making the festival rounds — also certainly deserves to be on the list. In reaction to the news, Cinetic’s Matt Dentler said that “this might be the most obscure doc features shortlist ever” and he may have a point. It misses out on a large majority of the those most expected to appear on the shortlist. So far reception of the nominees on twitter has seen definite consensus that The Beaches of Agnes and Mugabe and the White African are the frontrunners to grab the statue on the night. What do you think?

The 15 films shortlisted:

* “The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
* “Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
* “The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
* “Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
* “Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
* “Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
* “Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
* “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
* “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
* “Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
* “Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
* “Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
* “Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
* “Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
* “Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

You can see the official press release here.