2025 Critics Choice Documentary Award Nominee

The Critics Choice Association has announced the nominees for the 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, which honor the year’s outstanding achievements in nonfiction filmmaking.

Topping this year’s nominations was “Orwell: 2+2=5,” which received seven nominations including documentary feature, director Raoul Peck, editing, music, narration by Damien Lewis, archival documentary, and political documentary.

Netflix’s “Perfect Neighbor,” which won after its Sundance premiere, received six nominations, including best documentary feature and best true crime documentary.

Recognizing the year’s outstanding achievements in nonfiction filmmaking, the winners will be announced at a gala event hosted by actor, writer, and producer Aasif Mandvi on November 9 at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. The ceremony will be produced by Bob Bain of Bob Bain Productions and Joey Berlin of Berlin Entertainment. National Geographic Documentary Films sponsors Catalyst.

CCA members with expertise in the documentary field will select the nominated films. At last year’s ceremony, “Superman: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” tied for best documentary feature.

“This year’s nominated films and series remind us how documentary storytelling can illuminate truth, inspire empathy, and deepen our understanding of the world,” said Christopher Campbell, vice president of documentaries at the Critics Choice Association. “We are thrilled to recognize filmmakers whose vision and dedication continue to advance the art form.”

As previously announced, the Critics Choice Impact Award will be presented to legendary documentarian Ken Burns, presented by Christine Baranski. The award recognizes filmmakers whose work illuminates history, inspires public debate, and deepens cultural understanding, a legacy that Burns embodies throughout his decades-long career. In addition, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady will receive CCA’s Pennebaker Award (formerly known as the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award), presented by Chris Hegedus, prosecutor Pennebaker’s widow and associate. This honor honors artists who have made a lasting contribution to documentary film.

The full list of candidates is below.

Best Documentary Award
“2000 meters to Andriy Uka” (Front line feature / Associated Press)
“Alabama Solution” (HBO Max)
“Tropical Apocalypse” (Netflix)
“Cover Up” (Netflix)
“Deaf President, Now!” (Apple TV)
“Orwell: 2+2=5” (neon)
“Pee-wee as Himself” (HBO Max)
“Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
“Riefenstahl” (Kino Lorber)
“Sillian’s Story” (National Geographic)

Best Director Award
Mstislav Chernov – “2000 meters to Andriivka” (Frontline feature/AP)
Petra Costa – “Tropical Apocalypse” (Netflix)
Nyle DiMarco & Davis Guggenheim – “Deaf President Now!” (Apple TV)
Gita Gundbir – “Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman – “Alabama Solution” (HBO Max)
Raoul Peck – “Orwell: 2+2=5” (Neon)

Best feature documentary award
“Art for Everybody” (Tremolo Productions)
“Grand Theft Hamlet” (movie)
“My Mama Jane: A Mariska Hargitay Movie” (HBO Max)
“Seeds” (interior film)
“Stiller and Meara: Nothing Lost” (Apple TV)
“Strange Journey: A Rocky Horror Story” (Margot Station)

Best Cinematography Award
Ben Barnard – “Architecton” (A24)
Jean Dakar – “The Syrian Story” (National Geographic)
Elizabeth Law – “Mistress Dispeller” (Oscilloscope)
Lars Erlend Tuvers Oimo & Thor Edvin Eliassen – “Folktales” (Magnolia Pictures)
Brittany Shine – “Seeds” (interior film)
Toby Strong, Doug Anderson (underwater photography) – “Ocean with David Attenborough” (National Geographic)

Best editing award
Michael Hart – “The Deaf President Now!” (Apple TV)
James Lester and Oz Rodriguez, John McDonald (Music Montage) – “Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music” (NBC)
Viridiana Lieberman – “Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Paige Marcella – “Alabama Solution” (HBO Max)
Michelle Mizner – “2000 meters to Andriivka” (Frontline Feature/Associated Press)
Alexandra Strauss – “Orwell: 2+2=5” (Neon)

best score
Alexei Aigi – “Orwell: 2+2=5” (Neon)
Chris Bowers – “The Eyes of Ghana” (Breakwater Studios/Higher Ground Media)
Laura Heinzinger – “Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Claudia Saen – “Love + War” (National Geographic)
Sam Slater – “2000 meters to Andriyuka” (Frontline Feature/Associated Press)
Paweł Szymanski – “Trains” (EPF Media / Drygas Film Production)

Best Narration Award
“2000 Meters to Andriivka” (Frontline Feature/AP) — written by Mstislav Chernov, performed by Mstislav Chernov
“The American Revolution” (PBS) — written by Jeffrey C. Ward, performed by Peter Coyote
“The Americans” (NBC) — script to be determined, starring Tom Hanks
“Tropical Apocalypse” (Netflix) — written by Petra Costa, performed by Petra Costa
“Octopus!” (Prime Video) — Lyrics: Gabriel Bisset-Smith, Performer: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
“Orwell: 2+2=5” (Neon) — Written by George Orwell, adapted by Raoul Peck, performed by Damian Lewis

Best Archive Documentary Award
“One to One: John & Yoko” (Magnolia Pictures)
“Orwell: 2+2=5” (neon)
“Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
“Riefenstahl” (Kino Lorber)
“Trains” (EPF Media/Drygas Film Production)
“WTO/99” (Foghorn characteristics)

Best historical documentary award
“American Revolution” (PBS)
“Cover Up” (Netflix)
“Looking at the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Can’t Rest 1977-2015” (HBO Max)
“Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time” (National Geographic)
“Number One on the Call Sheet” (Apple TV)
“Riefenstahl” (Kino Lorber)

Best Biographical Documentary Award
“John Candy: I ​​Like Me” (Prime Video)
“Love + War” (National Geographic)
“Mr. Scorsese” (Apple TV)
“My Mama Jane: A Mariska Hargitay Movie” (HBO Max)
“Pee-wee as Himself” (HBO Max)
“Stiller and Meara: Nothing Lost” (Apple TV)

Best Music Documentary Award
“Becoming Led Zeppelin” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Billy Joel: And It Goes” (HBO Max)
“Bono: A Story of Surrender” (Apple TV)
“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” (Magnolia Pictures)
“Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music” (NBC)
“Sly Lives! (aka: The Burden of Black Genius)” (Hulu)

Best political documentary award
“Alabama Solution” (HBO Max)
“Tropical Apocalypse” (Netflix)
“Deaf President, Now!” (Apple TV)
“The Librarians” (Independent Lens)
“Unwanted Friends: Part I – Moscow’s Last Air” (Marminchyla)
“Orwell: 2+2=5” (neon)

Best Science/Nature Documentary Award
“The America” ​​(NBC)
“Checkpoint Zoo” (Abramorama)
“The Last Rhino: A New Hope” (National Geographic)
“David Attenborough’s Sea” (National Geographic)
“Octopus!” (Prime Video)
“Pangolin: Kuru’s Journey” (Netflix)

Best Sports Documentary Award
“America’s Sweetheart: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” (Netflix)
“America’s Team: Gamblers and Their Cowboys” (Netflix)
“Big Dreams: Little League World Series 2024” (ESPN Films)
“Full Court Press” (ESPN+)
“Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott” (ESPN)
“We Beat the Dream Team” (HBO Max)

Best crime documentary award
“Alabama Solution” (HBO Max)
“Gone Girls: Long Island Serial Killer” (Netflix)
“Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
“Predators” (MTV documentary film / Paramount+)
“Unknown Number: The High School Catfish” (Netflix)
“Yogurt Shop Murder” (HBO Max)

Best short documentary award
“All the Empty Rooms” (Netflix)
“Classroom 4” (PBS)
“The Devil is Busy” (HBO Max)
“Exodus” (Park County)
Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space (Ironbound Films)
“Sally’s Ashes” (Robi Creative)
“Saving Superman” (Switchboard)
“Shanti Ride Shotgun” (Voyager)

Best Limited Documentary Series
“American Revolution” (PBS)
“Looking at the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Can’t Rest 1977-2015” (HBO Max)
“Gone Girls: Long Island Serial Killer” (Netflix)
“Hurricane Katrina: A Race Against Time” (National Geographic)
“Magic City: American Fantasy” (Starz)
“Mr. Scorsese” (Apple TV)
“SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” (Peacock)
“Yogurt Shop Murder” (HBO Max)

Best ongoing documentary series award
“30 for 30” (ESPN Movie)
“American Masters” (PBS)
“The Reluctant Traveler” (Apple TV)
“Tracee Ellis Ross’s solo journey” (Roku Channel)
“Mariana Van Zeller’s Trafficking” (National Geographic)
“Trainwreck” (Netflix)

List of films with 3 or more nominations: