Ethel, Bully, Chasing Ice, Searching For Sugar Man and The Imposter have emerged as favourites for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar after landing on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 15-film shortlist.

They join Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, Detropia, 5 Broken Cameras, The Gatekeepers, The House I Live In, How to Survive a Plague, The Invisible War, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, This Is Not a Film and The Waiting Room on the list for next year's (13) Academy Award.

The five nominees going forward for Oscar contention will be announced on 10 January (13).