What 2020 documentary about a common octopus won the Oscar?

The 2020 documentary about a common octopus that won the Oscar is My Octopus Teacher. Directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, the film follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he develops an unusual relationship with a wild common octopus in a South African kelp forest.

Foster began free-diving in 2018 in the waters of False Bay near Cape Town. Over roughly a year, he repeatedly observed the octopus, documenting its hunting, camouflage, movement, injuries, and interactions with other animals. The story combines personal reflection with close-up marine-life footage, making the animal’s intelligence and adaptability central to the film.

My Octopus Teacher won Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards, presented in 2021. It is often confused with nature documentaries such as Chasing Coral or Oceans, but its distinctive focus is one individual common octopus and Foster’s changing perspective. The film was produced by Off The Fence and distributed as a Netflix original.