Wollongong first-time filmmakers Al Hicks and Adam Hart didn't get an Oscar nomination, but Hollywood is calling.
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The surfing mates' acclaimed documentary feature, Keep On Keepin' On, about 94-year-old American jazz legend Clark Terry and his relationship with young, blind and stage-fright afflicted piano prodigy Justin Kauflin, has been a sensation on the global film festival circuit.
One of the top US film critic sites that collates reviews has given it an extraordinary 97 per cent approval rating and last month the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Keep On Keepin' On had made its 15-film shortlist for the documentary category.
However, when the five nominees for February 22's 87th Academy Awards ceremony were announced on Thursday, the film didn't make the cut.
"It's a bummer to not get nominated, but the good thing is people loved the film and we were able to make a film about Clark, who is just an extraordinary person," Hicks said.
With or without an Oscar nomination, the hard work has paid off, with Hollywood agents and producers looking to work with the duo.
Hicks aims to move into directing feature films and has meetings booked with a list of Hollywood agents.
Hart and another director of photography on the film, Rory Anderson, have already been offered new projects.
Hicks, 31, and Hart, 30, had never made a movie and worked odd jobs to pay for the five-year shoot.
Hicks, a drummer, came up with the idea when studying in New York, was invited to play in Terry's band and introduced fellow student Kauflin to the jazz great.
When he saw the special bond between Terry and 23-year-old Kauflin he thought it would make an interesting documentary.
They weren't the only Australians snubbed by Oscar voters, with supporting actress hope Naomi Watts, singer-songwriter Sia Furler and editor Kirk Baxter among the Australians failing to hear their names called out at the nomination ceremony.
But Australian sound mixer David Lee was nominated for Angelina Jolie's Unbroken.
Keep on Keepin' On is playing at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema.
AAP