Colombian photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Juan Arredondo has been nominated for the 2026 Oscars in the category of Best Documentary Short Film for his work Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud. The production portrays the career and killing of American journalist Brent Renaud during the war in Ukraine.
The nomination, announced as part of the 98th Academy Awards, places Arredondo on one of the most important stages in the global audiovisual industry. The ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where his documentary will compete alongside other notable titles in the documentary category.
The documentary for which the Colombian photojournalist is nominated
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud is a documentary short film under 40 minutes that tells the story of the professional life and final moments of American journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud.
Renaud was killed in March 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine, while covering the early days of the Russian invasion. The documentary combines archival footage, testimonies from colleagues, and accounts highlighting his work in conflict zones such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, and Somalia. It also shows his close connection with civilians affected by war and humanitarian crises.
Arredondo is not only credited as a producer of the short film, but he was also a direct witness to the events surrounding Renaud’s death. The Colombian journalist was with him when they were ambushed; according to accounts, Arredondo survived the attack by dropping to the ground as the shooting began. This personal experience deeply influenced the making of the documentary, which not only honors Renaud’s memory but also sheds light on the extreme risks journalists face in war zones.
Juan Arredondo’s career
Juan Arredondo has roots in Salento, Quindio, and Caldas, Antioquia. He currently lives in New York and has built a career that blends documentary photography, war journalism, and social projects focused on human rights, migration, and collective memory.
He studied biology at the University of Colorado and later photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Throughout his career, he has documented conflicts in Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Iraq, and Ukraine, with a strong focus on forced displacement, armed violence, and community resilience.
His work has received international recognition. In 2018, he won a World Press Photo award in the People category for a series about former FARC youth ex-combatants in Colombia. He has also received grants and support, such as the Getty Images & Instagram Grant, and his images have been published in globally recognized media outlets, including The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, and The Wall Street Journal.