On December 2 , 2014 , the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the film was 1 of 15 films shortlisted in the Documentary Feature category for the 87th Academy Awards , but it was not nominated . It was also nominated for two News & Documentary Emmy Awards , winning the award for Outstanding Editing : Documentary & Long-Form . The film makes use of footage and interviews with American film critic Roger Ebert during the final months of his life interspersed with interviews of his friends , colleagues , and family including : Chaz Ebert ( his wife ) , Martin Scorsese , Werner Herzog , Errol Morris , and Ava DuVernay , among others . The film features clips from Ebert 's popular television show with Gene Siskel , including outtakes , and their many appearances on shows like '' The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson '' and '' Late Night with David Letterman '' . The film also explores the relationship between Siskel and Ebert , Roger 's friendship with Russ Meyer and their collaboration on '' Beyond the Valley of the Dolls '' , as well as how Roger ultimately came to transcend film criticism to become an influential cultural voice
87th Academy Awards
87th Academy Awards
Life Itself (2014 film)