Netflix’s “American Factory”, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company took home the award for best documentary at the 92nd Oscars.
Sunday night’s award is the first Academy Award for the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground.
The Obamas were not present at Sunday’s event but the film’s co-directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert were there to accept the award.
Accepting the award, Reichert said, “Working people have it harder and harder these days — and we believe that things will get better when workers of the world unite.”
Michelle Obama sent her congratulations, tweeting: “The best stories are rarely tidy or perfect. But that’s where the truth so often lies.”
Participant Media was also a producer on the film and Participant CEO David Linde said in a statement: “We are deeply humbled and grateful to the Academy for this exciting honor. At Participant, we believe that storytelling has the ever-important opportunity to spark positive social change in our world today. We are incredibly proud of ‘American Factory,’ and congratulate Steve, Julia, Jeff and our friends and colleagues at Netflix and Higher Ground for helping us shed light on these important issues worldwide and here at home.”
“American Factory,” which also won the DGA award and the Los Angeles Film Critics’ documentary prize, beat out fellow Oscar nominees “The Cave,” “The Edge of Democracy,” “For Sama” and “Honeyland.”
“American Factory” tells the story of what happens when a Chinese company opens an automotive glass plant at a former General Motors plant in Ohio and faces intense cultural differences and community skepticism.
