Longtime LBI Visitor Wins Academy Award For Documentary

HOLLYWOOD — A longtime Long Beach Island visitor just won an Academy Award and received praise for former President Barack Obama. Julia Reichert co-directed "American Factory," which won the Oscar for best feature-length documentary.

Reichert, 73, spent her summers growing up on LBI in the 1950s and 1960s. Her nephew, Jeff Reichert, is listed as a producer for "American Factory." Jeff was raised in Northfield.

"American Factory" is the first documentary released by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company. The movie follows Chinese company Fuyao's factory in Moraine — a city near Dayton, Ohio — that occupies a shuttered General Motors plant.

Barack Obama congratulated the filmmakers and gave special recognition to Julia Reichert.

"Congrats to Julia and Steven, the filmmakers behind American Factory," Obama tweeted Sunday night, "for telling such a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change. Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground’s first release."

The film beat out "The Cave," "The Edge of Democracy," "For Sama" and "Honeyland" for the award.

Netflix picked up "American Factory," which also won the directing award for top U.S. documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

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