While Netflix is only beginning to provide original specials and documentaries to its streaming video subscribers, the company already has its first big win.
Film festival favorite The Square, which Netflix secured the exclusive rights to back in November as part of an overall strategy to start driving original content beyond television series, grabbed an Oscar nomination in the feature documentary category today. The film itself is a documentary that follows the Egyptian revolution of 2011 by capturing the perspective of the country’s young activists. The film previously won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The nomination follows Netflix’s Emmy awards for its original political drama House of Cards last year. The nomination also helps Netflix become more competitive with rival service HBO.
The Square will open in select theaters Friday and will be available to watch on Netflix the same day.
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