Documentaries took the spotlight in New York as the Critics Choice Association announced the winners of its 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’, a gripping look at Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground laws, emerged as the night’s biggest winner – sweeping five honours, including the coveted Best Documentary Feature award.
Held at the elegant Edison Ballroom, the gala celebrated the best in non-fiction storytelling, drawing an audience packed with filmmakers, creators and industry figures. Other major winners included Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV), National Geographic’s Ocean with David Attenborough, and Raoul Peck’s ‘Orwell: 2+2=5’ — each earning two awards, underscoring the competitive edge of this year’s slate.
Check the full list of winners below:
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)
The evening also honoured individuals who’ve shaped the art of documentary filmmaking. Veteran storyteller Ken Burns received the Impact Award, presented by actor Christine Baranski, recognising his decades-long contribution to the genre. Directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, best known for Folktales and Jesus Camp, were jointly presented with the Pennebaker Award by filmmaker Chris Hegedus.
Hosted by comedian and former Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi, the ceremony welcomed a star-studded line-up of presenters including Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Questlove, Ben Stiller, Michael Chernus, Soledad O’Brien, and Rebecca Wisocky among others.
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