These 15 documentaries could win Oscars. Here’s how you can see them in NC.

Documentaries have been a hot genre in film in recent years, with many of them very good.

But only 15 make the Oscar shortlist — the films that Academy voters will consider for Oscar nominations. Those Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Raleigh is one of about 30 theaters across the country to screen all 15 of them as part of “Oscar Spotlight: Documentaries.”

It’s the second year the short-listed documentaries have had their own mini-film festival. And Raleigh is the only city in North Carolina to show non-fiction films like “Knock Down the House,” “One Child Nation,” “Apollo 11” and “American Factory.” It should be noted that all of those films were seen in Durham last year at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival before they opened wide in theaters with “American Factory” opening the festival and “One Child Nation” winning the Grand Jury Award.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 12 with the Oscars on Feb. 9.

In other Alamo programming, there will be a Terror Tuesday showing of “Re-Animator” (1985), Movie Parties for “The Big Lebowski” (1998), and “Tremors” (1990); and a Cyberpunk screening of “Hackers” (1995).

Check drafthouse.com/raleigh for showtimes.

Here’s a look at other highlights this month in area theaters.

‘Napoleon Dynamite’ and Jon Heder Q&A

Technically, this is a highlight for February, so consider this advance notice for what should be a hilarious evening. Jon Heder, star of the quirky 2004 film “Napoleon Dynamite” will come to the Carolina Theatre to talk about and screen the classic film that spawned so many memorable lines. “Gosh!”

The screening is Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $32.50.

As for this month, the main event at the Carolina Theatre is the AnimeMagic Film Series, which will feature such renowned titles as “Princess Mononoke” (1997), “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988), and “Vampire Hunter D” (1985) among many others.

The theater also will host a Cinema Overdrive showing of “Commando” (1985) on Jan. 15; a Coen Brothers double feature of “Big Lebowski” (1998) and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000) on Jan. 17; and the MovieDiva series screening of the 1931 classic “Possessed” on the Jan. 22. 919-560-3030 or carolinatheatre.org.

‘Wilmington on Fire’

On Jan. 11, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, in conjunction with the Black on Black Project, will host a special screening of Chris Everett’s “Wilmington on Fire.” The 2015 documentary, about the investigation into the Wilmington Massacre of 1898, will be followed by a community discussion with Everett. Tickets are free but most be reserved via eventbrite.com. See blackonblackproject.com/events

The Cary

Throughout the month, The Cary will show “Official Secrets,” the timely tale of whistleblower Katharine Gun as portrayed by Keira Knightly; Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”; and the Imelda Marcos documentary “The Kingmaker.” On Jan. 15, the Indie 101 series presents the 1992 arthouse hit “The Crying Game.”

Oscar hopefuls “Pain & Glory,” “The Biggest Little Farm,” “Varda by Agnès” and “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” round out the rest of the month. 919-462-2051 or thecarytheater.com.

Monday at the Movies

The Rialto will screen John Huston’s immortal 1941 classic “The Maltese Falcon,” starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre on Jan. 20. 919-834-2233 or ambassadorcinemas.com.

N.C. Museum of Art Winter Film Series

On Jan. 12, the museum will feature Otto Preminger’s 1944 film noir classic “Laura,” starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb. The screening of the 35mm print from Fox will start at 2 p.m. at the SECU Auditorium at the East Building.

On Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at the same venue, the NCMA will host a screening of Judd Apatow’s 2018 documentary “May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers,” an inside look at the Grammy Award–nominated North Carolina band. The film coincides with the ongoing art exhibit by Scott Avett, one of the brothers in the band and in the film. 919-715-5923 or ncartmuseum.org/calendar.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 8:45 AM.