Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer' and '20 Feet From Stardom' and among the documentaries that have been shortlisted for this year's Oscars. 

Of the initial 147 films that qualified in the category, 15 have now been placed on a shortlist from which the five nominees will be selected.

'Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer', was directed by Mike Lerner and tells the compelling story of how a group of young, feminist punk rockers known as Pussy Riot captured the world's attention by protesting against Putin's Russia. 

'20 Feet from Stardom' is director Morgan Neville's look at the history of the background singer. The film focuses on that focuses on backing singers like Merry Clayton, of 'Gimme Shelter' fame, Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, Tata Vega and Judith Hill. It also features interviews with the likes of Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and Sting.

Pussy Riot have vowed that they still want to topple Russian President Vladmir Putin. Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were released from prison under a new amnesty law on December 23 2013.

The infamous feminist punk collective's members were given 2-year sentences in August 2012 after their "punk prayer" protest at Moscow's Cathedral Of Christ The Saviour. They were taken to remote prison camps.

On release from prison, Pussy Riot called for a boycott on the Russian Winter Olympics.

Watch the documentary, 'Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer' below: