The Critics Choice Association unveiled the winners of its 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards. The Perfect Neighbor, Netflix’s documentary about the deadly consequence’s of Florida’s stand-your-ground laws, nabbed five awards at the gala event held in New York City, including the top prize of Best Documentary Feature.
Other notable winners included Rebecca Miller‘s Apple TV series Mr. Scorsese, National Geographic‘s Ocean with David Attenborough and Raoul Peck‘s exploration of George Orwell’s life Orwell: 2+2=5, all of which took home two awards apiece.
Held at the Edison Ballroom, the CCA also honored famed documentarian Ken Burns with the organization’s Impact Award, presented by Christine Baranski. Meanwhile, Folktales and Jesus Camp co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady received the Pennebaker Award, presented by Academy Award nominee and D. A. Pennebaker’s widow/collaborator Chris Hegedus. Former Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi served as host of the ceremony.
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Presenters and attendees included Michael Chernus, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Reginald Hudlin, Brian d’Arcy James, Hilarie Burton Morgan, Sheila Nevins, Soledad O’Brien, Dawn Porter, Questlove, Ben Stiller and Rebecca Wisocky, among others.
“Ten years in, and the art of documentary storytelling has never been more vital or vibrant,” said Christopher Campbell, Vice President of Documentary at the CCA. “This year’s filmmakers show, through their creativity and courage, just how powerful documentaries can be in shaping our view of the world.”
Scroll below to see the full list of winners:
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
BEST DIRECTOR
Geeta Gandbhir – The Perfect Neighbor
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Toby Strong, Doug Anderson (Underwater Photography) — Ocean with David Attenborough (National Geographic)
BEST EDITING
Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor
BEST SCORE
Alexei Aigui – Orwell: 2+2=5 (Neon)
BEST NARRATION
Orwell: 2+2=5 — written by George Orwell, adapted by Raoul Peck, performed by Damian Lewis
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
The Perfect Neighbor
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY (TIE)
The American Revolution (PBS)
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (National Geographic)
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY (TIE)
Becoming Led Zeppelin (Sony Pictures Classics)
Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu, Onyx Collective)
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Ocean with David Attenborough
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
The Perfect Neighbor
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Saving Superman (Switchboard)
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Mr. Scorsese
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN Films)