Participant Media has manage to sneak in the year’s first screeners of two prominent documentaries this year: The Internet’s Own Boy and Ivory Tower (which follows after the fold).

The Internet’s Own Boy

Director: Brian Knappenberger
Premise: From IMDb: “The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz, who took his own life at the age of 26.”
Oscar Chances: Documentary Feature: The Academy loves to go political and this could be just the kind of film they support for a nomination. An Oscar is likely out of the question.
Rotten Tomatoes:
92% (52 critics; as of 11/7/14)
Metacritic:
72 out of 100 (22 critics; as of 11/7/14)

Ivory Tower

Director: Andrew Rossi
Premise: From IMDb: “A documentary that questions the cost — and value — of higher education in the United States.”
Oscar Chances: Documentary Feature: If a film like Waiting for Superman can’t get a nomination from the Academy, this lesser-received film is unlikely to make many waves either.
Rotten Tomatoes:
83% (42 critics; as of 11/7/14)
Metacritic:
65 out of 100 (19 critics; as of 11/7/14)