The documentary features remaining in contention for an Oscar nomination have been whittled down from 169 to a shortlist of a mere 15, a brutal culling that has inevitably left many filmmakers disappointed, and a select few in celebratory mode.

What were the harshest snubs? That question comes up for debate in a special Oscar-shortlist-reaction episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, hosted John Ridley, the Oscar-winning writer-director, and Matt Carey, Deadline’s documentary editor. We get into what Academy Documentary Branch members voted in, and the most surprising hopefuls they left out.

One of the big omissions: a highly regarded film about an iconic Hollywood star who made a comeback after a near fatal accident dramatically altered his life.

One surprise inclusion: a film that takes a very unflattering view of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister was so angered by the documentary that he sued to block its unofficial...