Netflix wins an Oscar for documentary short 'The White Helmets'
The film follows volunteers of the Syrian Civil Defense Force.
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While we were expecting Amazon to score an Oscar first for Manchester by the Sea, Netflix ended up beating out that film with a Best Documentary (Short Subject) Oscar for The White Helmets. Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, the film centers on a group of volunteer rescue workers for the Syrian Civil Defense Force, also known as "The White Helmets," who risk their lives to help civilians in that war-torn country.
The group has saved more than 60,000 lives so far, and they've also been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Ava DuVernay's The 13th, another Netflix film, was also nominated for best documentary, but it lost out to the epic-length O.J.: Made in America. As you might have guessed, The White Helmets is available to watch on Netflix now.