Canadian doc filmmakers Ann Shin, Adam Benzine, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy are Oscar semi-finalists

The U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences narrowed the list of contenders in the category of documentary short subject to 10 semi-finalists, which it unveiled Monday.Three Toronto filmmakers have made this latest cut.

Adam Benzine made the list for Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah. The film explores French filmmaker Lanzmann's life and challenging, years-long journey creating his epic documentary saga Shoah considered the foremost cinematic investigation of the Holocaust. Benzine will screen his film at the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival on Nov. 11 and it will also air on HBO in spring 2016.

• Oscar-winning Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker inspired by Canada

Obaid-Chinoy previously won an Oscar in 2012 in the doc short subject category for her film Saving Face, which followed the struggles of women disfigured by acid attacks perpetrated by relatives.

• Body Team 12
• Chau, beyond the Lines
• 50 Feet from Syria
• Last Day of Freedom
• Minerita
• Starting Point
• The Testimony

Five of the 10 films will officially become Academy Awardnominees when the Oscar contenders in all categories are announced on Jan. 14, 2016.