Documentary brilliance recognized: Critics Choice Awards nominations announced

The ninth annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations have been unveiled, showcasing some exceptional works in the documentary film and TV industry. Leading the pack this year is National Geographic’s Sugarcane, which has garnered an impressive eight nominations, including for the prestigious best documentary feature.

Dominating the nominations

Highlighted below are some of the key nominations for the Critics Choice Documentary Awards:

Best documentary feature

• Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
• Daughters (Netflix)
• The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
• Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
• Music by John Williams (Walt Disney Studios)
• Piece by Piece (Focus Features)
• The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
• Sugarcane (National Geographic)
• Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
• Will & Harper (Netflix)

Best director

• Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
• Josh Greenbaum – Will & Harper (Netflix)
• Ron Howard – Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
• Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
• Natalie Rae & Angela Patton – Daughters (Netflix)
• Benjamin Ree – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)

Emerging talent and technical prowess

Best new documentary filmmaker(s)

• Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev – Porcelain War (Picturehouse)
• Carla Gutiérrez – Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Charlie Hamilton James – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
• Sue Kim – The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
• Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
• Natalie Rae & Angela Patton – Daughters (Netflix)

Best cinematography

• Michael Cambio Fernandez – Daughters (Netflix)
• Charlie Hamilton James, Johnny Rolt, Bertie Gregory – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
• Christopher LaMarca, Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
• Iris Ng, Eunsoo Cho, Justin Turkowski – The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
• Zoë White – Will & Harper (Netflix)
• Jessica Young – The Blue Angels (Amazon MGM Studios)

Cinematography is one of the crucial elements that can elevate a documentary, transforming real-life footage into an art form. The nominees this year exemplify how powerful and evocative visual storytelling can be, each contributing unique styles and perspectives.

Best editing

• Otto Burnham – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
• Rik Chaubet – Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
• Paul Crowder – Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
• Troy Lewis, Adelina Bichiș – Daughters (Netflix)
• Nathan Punwar, Maya Daisy Hawke – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
• Robert Stengård – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)

Editing in documentary filmmaking is where the story truly comes to life. This year’s nominees have shown excellence in piecing together narratives that are engaging, informative, and emotionally compelling.

The sound of storytelling

Best score

• Erland Cooper – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
• Ilan Eshkeri – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
• Nathan Halpern – Will & Harper (Netflix)
• Uno Helmersson – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
• Kelsey Lu – Daughters (Netflix)
• Marc Shaiman – Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (HBO | Max)

Music scores in documentaries serve as an emotional undercurrent, enhancing the viewer’s experience and driving the narrative forward. The composers nominated this year have crafted soundscapes that resonate deeply with their respective stories.

Best historical documentary

• Bad River (50 Eggs Films)
• Dahomey (Mubi)
• The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
• Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (Cohen Media Group)
• Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
• Sugarcane (National Geographic)

Best biographical documentary

• Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
• I Am: Celine Dion (Amazon MGM Studios)
• Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
• The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
• Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces (Apple TV+)
• Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)

Honoring truth and reality

Best true crime documentary

• American Nightmare (Netflix)
• Black Box Diaries (MTV Documentary Films/Paramount+)
• Incident (The New Yorker)
• The Jinx – Part Two (HBO | Max)
• Stopping the Steal (HBO | Max)
• Sugarcane (National Geographic)

Best science/nature documentary

• Apollo 13: Survival (Netflix)
• Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
• Blink (National Geographic)
• The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
• Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic)
• The Space Race (National Geographic)

Science and nature documentaries offer viewers a glimpse into the wonders and challenges of our world. This year’s nominees have expertly captured these realities, providing both education and awe.

Expanding genres and narratives

Best sports documentary

• Copa 71 (New Black Films)
• The Dynasty: New England Patriots (Apple TV+)
• Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (Netflix)
• Mr. McMahon (Netflix)
• Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)
• The Turnaround (Netflix)

Best limited documentary series

• America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
• Black Twitter: A People’s History (Hulu/Onyx Collective)
• Mr. McMahon (Netflix)
• Ren Faire (HBO | Max)
• Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic)
• Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)

The nominations reflect a vibrant and diverse field of documentary storytelling. Each entry provides a unique lens through which viewers can experience and understand new perspectives and stories.

For more in-depth analysis of upcoming releases, trailers, and the latest trends in documentary films and TV, make sure to follow our updates. There’s plenty more in store as we celebrate the creativity and impact of documentary filmmaking.