Geeta Gandbhir nominated twice at 98th Oscars for documentary work

Geeta Gandbhir is an Indian American documentary filmmaker whose work focuses on contemporary social and political issues in the United States. On Thursday, she reached a significant milestone in her career by earning two nominations at the 98th Academy Awards. The recognition places Geeta Gandbhir among a small group of filmmakers honored in multiple documentary categories in the same year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Geeta Gandbhir has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film for The Devil Is Busy and Best Documentary Feature for The Perfect Neighbor. The dual nominations reflect both the scope of her work and the sustained relevance of the subjects she examines through documentary storytelling.

Geeta Gandbhir Earns Two Oscar Nominations in Separate Categories

Geeta Gandbhir’s nomination for The Devil Is Busy comes in the Best Documentary Short Film category. The film, which runs for 31 minutes, was co-directed by Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton. It follows Tracii, the head of security at a women’s healthcare clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, over the course of a single workday.

The documentary documents the operational and emotional realities of providing healthcare amid tighter abortion restrictions, active protests, and increased security risks. The film focuses on the labor required to maintain patient and staff safety, offering an observational account of a day shaped by policy changes and public tension. The project has been noted for its close, character-driven perspective rather than broad political commentary.

In the Best Documentary Feature category, Geeta Gandbhir is nominated for The Perfect Neighbor, a Netflix documentary that examines the fatal shooting of Ajike Owens in Ocala, Florida, in June 2023. Owens, a Black woman, was killed by her white neighbor, Susan Louise Lorincz. The film explores the events leading up to the shooting and the legal and social context surrounding the case.

Geeta Gandbhir and The Perfect Neighbor

The Perfect Neighbor investigates themes of racial bias, gun violence, and the impact of “stand your ground” laws in the United States. Geeta Gandbhir served as a producer on the film alongside Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu, and Sam Bisbee. The documentary uses recorded evidence, community testimony, and legal context to examine how neighborhood disputes intersect with broader systemic issues.

The film adds to Gandbhir’s body of work that centers on how individual lives are shaped by structural forces, particularly within the American justice system. The nomination places Geeta Gandbhir’s work in conversation with ongoing national debates around race, public safety, and legal accountability.

Geeta Gandbhir’s Background and Early Influences

Geeta Gandbhir was born in the United States to Indian parents who emigrated in the 1960s. Her background informs her approach to storytelling, particularly her focus on lived experience and institutional power. She was mentored by filmmakers Sam Pollard and Spike Lee, both of whom are known for historically grounded and socially focused film work.

These mentorships played a role in shaping Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary approach, which often combines investigative reporting with close attention to individual narratives. Her work frequently centers on communities affected by policy decisions and social inequities.

Geeta Gandbhir’s Career in Documentary Filmmaking

Over nearly two decades, Geeta Gandbhir has built a career defined by impact-driven documentary projects. She has received multiple Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards, with films that have contributed to national conversations on justice and accountability.

Her 2017 documentary I Am Evidence examined the backlog of untested rape kits across the United States and highlighted systemic failures in evidence processing. The film played a role in raising public awareness and policy discussions around sexual assault investigations.

In 2022, Gandbhir directed Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power, which explored grassroots political organizing in the American South and the origins of independent Black political movements. The same year, she directed the Emmy-winning short Through Our Eyes: Apart, continuing her focus on structural inequality through personal narratives.

What the Oscar Nominations Mean for Geeta Gandbhir

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Regardless of the final outcome, Geeta Gandbhir’s double nomination represents a defining moment in her career and adds to the visibility of Indian American filmmakers in documentary cinema.

The recognition underscores Geeta Gandbhir’s sustained focus on stories rooted in social reality and contemporary American life. Her nominations highlight the role of documentary film in addressing complex issues through careful reporting and character-centered storytelling.