Documentary Edited By Temple Student Receives Oscar Nomination

By Todd Quinones

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A film edited by a local student has received a nomination for the best documentary feature Oscar.

Fiona Otway, a Master of Fine Arts student in the Film and Media Arts Department at Temple University edited the documentary, Hell and Back Again. On January 24, the film was film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature.

The film is about 25-year-old Sgt. Nathan Harris who was shot and wounded in Afghanistan. It follows his transition back home in North Carolina from soldier to wounded veteran.

Director Danfung Dennis discovered Harris' story as an embedded journalist.

This is the first Academy Award nomination for Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner.

When so many troops are now returning home from war film editor Fiona Otway, believes the documentary hell and back again offers a revealing look into what many of our troops are going through.

"There's an entire generation of young people who are coming back from war right now and I think we are just beginning to understand the consequences of that," Otway said.

Most of the film was edited in Seattle, but Otway says parts were edited here in Philadelphia.

"It's exciting. It's a little bit surreal, but it's incredible. It's a real honor," Otway said.

Otway, who is originally from the pacific northwest, worked with 100 hours of footage to edit together the documentary. She say at the beginning she says she felt the film was special and on Tuesday that feeling was validated.

"I am most definitely going to the Oscars. I'll get to walk down the red carpet and I think it will be a really incredible time," Otway said.

The other two Oscar nominated films Otway worked on did not receive the Academy Award. She is hoping the third time is a charm.

The DVD of Hell and Back Again was released on Tuesday.

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" led the list of nominations with 11, including nods for best picture and best director.

The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life and War Horse were also among those nominated for top honors.

To see a complete list of all the nominees, visit the official site of the Academy Awards.