9 Films You Didn't Know Were Nominated As Worst Picture

It’s odd to see The Blair Witch Project nominated for Worst Picture considering it was actually quite innovative when it was released in 1999. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez popularised the “found footage” technique, even though their film was not the first to use it by any means.

The film was also a huge box office success, reaching tenth place for the highest grossing film that year, which was likely due to the unique way the film was marketed. Artisan studio executive Steven Rothenberg came up with the concept to advertise the film as a real recording of events, with the three main actors advertised as missing people on marketing posters.

Although it gives us somewhat irritating and unlikable characters, its style is still widely celebrated and emulated among other found footage style horror films. It also manages to be creepy and scary enough, whilst not necessarily showing anything, because of the way they utilise the found footage technique.

Think what you will of this film, but there’s no denying the absolute creative filmmaking by Myrick and Sánchez.