Art docs like last year's "Cutie and the Boxer" are a favorite among Academy voters. This year, voters will have "The Barefoot Artist," which has played only a few small festivals, to consider among an emerging slate of strong possibilities including Oscar bait music doc "Keep On Keepin' On." Paladin will release "Barefoot Artist" on December 5 at NY's IFC Film Center and in LA on December 18 ahead of a national expansion.