This year the IDA Documentary Awards shortlists and nominees are selected by independent committees of 280 documentary makers, curators, critics, and industry experts from 40 countries. We received 669 total submissions in all categories from 48 countries.

Nominees in each of the Best Feature Documentary and Best Short Documentary categories have been selected from the shortlists previously announced on October 24. IDA members can view each of the nominated films and vote for films in the Best Feature Documentary and Best Short Documentary categories from November 21 to December 5, 2023. Become an IDA member here.

The 39th IDA Documentary Awards will be presented in the following categories on December 12: Best Feature Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Curated Series, Best Episodic Series, Best Multi-Part Documentary, Best TV Feature Documentary or Mini-Series, Best Short-Form Series, Best Standalone Audio Documentary, Best Multi-Part Audio Documentary or Series, David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award, Best Music Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Writing, Best Music Score. Winners in two special categories, ABC News VideoSource Award and the Pare Lorentz Award, will also be announced on December 12, 2023.

39th IDA Documentary Awards Nominees

Best Feature Documentary

STREAM BEST FEATURE NOMINEES

Winner: Bobi Wine: The People’s President (Uganda | National Geographic Documentary Films | Directors: Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp | Producers: Christopher Sharp, John Battsek)

Nominees:

• Against the Tide (India | BBC Storyville | Director: Sarvnik Kaur | Producers: Koval Bhatia, Sarvnik Kaur)
• ANHELL69 (Colombia | Square Eyes | Director: Theo Montoya | Producers: Bianca Oana, David Hurst, Theo Montoya, Juan Pablo Castrillon, Balthasar Busmann, Maximilian Haslberger) 
• Apolonia, Apolonia (Denmark, Poland, France | HBO | Max | Director: Lea Glob | Producer: Sidsel Lønvig Siersted)
• Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (United States | HBO Documentary Films | Directors: Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster | Producers: Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster, Tommy Oliver)
• In the Rearview (Poland | Cinephil | Director: Maciek Hamela | Producers: Maciek Hamela, Piotr Grawender)
• Milisuthando (South Africa | Director: Milisuthando Bongela | Producers: Marion Isaacs, Viviana Gomez, Sonia Barrera, Milisuthando Bongela, Hankyeol Lee)
• Q (United States | Chehab Films | Director: Jude Chehab | Producers: Jude Chehab, Fahd Ahmed)
• The Mother of All Lies (Morocco | Arizona Distribution | Director/Producer: Asmae El Moudir)
• While We Watched (United Kingdom, India | POV, BRITDOC Films | Director: Vinay Shukla | Producers: Vinay Shukla, Khushboo Ranka, Luke W Moody)

Best Short Documentary

STREAM BEST SHORT NOMINEES  

Winner: Incident  (United States | Hypnotic Pictures | Director: Bill Morrison | Producers: Bill Morrison, Jamie Kalven)

Nominees:

• How to Carry Water (United States | Multitude Films | Director: Sasha Wortzel | Producers: Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney, Anya Rous)
• Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles (United States | The New Yorker, Condé Nast Entertainment | Director: Dmytro Sukholytkyy Sobchuk | Producer: Daniel Lombroso)
• Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) (Australia | Other Pictures & Switch Productions | Directors: Derik Lynch, Matthew Thorne | Producers: Matthew Thorne, Patrick Graham)
• Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (Grandma & Grandma) (United States | Director: Sean Wang | Producers: Sean Wang, Sam Davis, Malcolm Pullinger)
• Neighbour Abdi (The Netherlands | The New York Times Op-Docs | Director: Douwe Dijkstra | Producer: Richard Valk)
• Raat: Night Time in Small Town India (India | The Third Eye Learning Lab | Directors: Arti Ahirwar, Ashraf Hussain, Rajkumari Ahirwar, Vikas Khatri, Tabassum Ansari, Kulsum Khatoon, Khushi Bano, Parmeshwar Mandrawaliya, Santra Chaurthiya, Rajkumari Prajapati, Manisha Chanda, Anita Sen, Rani Devi, Ajfarul Shaikh | Producers: Ruchika Negi, Dipta Bhog, Shabani Hassanwalia, Shivam Rastogi)
• Suddenly TV (Sudan | Gisa Productions | Director/Producer: Roopa Gogineni)
• The Unicorn in Snowpants Suddenly Ran Off (Germany | The New Yorker, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg | Director: Philipp Schaeffer | Producer: Fabian Leonhardt)
• The Veiled City (United Kingdom | JSH Films | Director: Natalie Cubides-Brady | Producer: Jacob Swan Hyam)

Best Director

Winner: Asmae El Moudir, The Mother of All Lies (Arizona Distribution | Morocco)

Nominees:

• Milisuthando Bongela, Milisuthando (South Africa)
• Sarvnik Kaur, Against the Tide (BBC Storyville | India)
• Theo Montoya, ANHELL69 (Square Eyes | Colombia)
• Lea Glob, Apolonia, Apolonia (HBO | Max | Denmark, Poland, France)

Best Cinematography

Winner: Ants Tammik, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Greenwich Entertainment | Estonia, France, Iceland)

Nominees:

• Andrew H. Brown, Between the Rains (Journeyman Pictures | Kenya, USA)
• Curren Sheldon, King Coal (King Coal Productions LLC | USA)
• Franz Lustig, Anselm (Sideshow and Janus Films | Germany)
• Lars Erlend Tubaas Oymo, Songs of Earth (SWC/Arte, BBC Storyville | Norway)

Best Editing

Winner: Carolina Siraqyan, The Eternal Memory (MTV Documentary Films | Chile, USA)

Nominees:

• Andreas Bøggild Monies, Thor Ochsner, Apolonia, Apolonia (HBO | Max | Denmark, Poland, France)
• Fahd Ahmed, Q (Chehab Films | USA, Lebanon)
• Hendrik Mägar, Tushar Prakash, Qutaiba Barhamji, Martin Männik, Anna Hints, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Greenwich Entertainment | Estonia, France, Iceland)

Best Original Music Score

Winner: Leonard Küssner, Anselm (Sideshow and Janus Films | Germany)

Nominees:

• Jonathan Goldsmith, To Kill a Tiger (National Film Board of Canada | Canada, India)
• Rebekka Karijord, Songs of Earth (SWR/Arte, BBC Storyville | Norway)
• Samora Pinderhughes, Chris Pattishall, Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (HBO Documentary Films | USA)
• Will Epstein, Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV (Greenwich Entertainment | USA)

Best Writing

Winner: Kaouther Ben Hania, Four Daughters (Kino Lorber | France, Tunisia, Germany)

Nominees:

• Asmae El Moudir, The Mother of All Lies (Arizona Distribution | Morocco)
• Lea Glob, Andreas Bøggild Monies, Apolonia, Apolonia (HBO | Max | Denmark, Poland, France)
• Milisuthando Bongela, Milisuthando (South Africa)
• Nisha Pahuja, To Kill a Tiger (National Film Board of Canada | Canada, India)

Best TV Feature Documentary or Mini-Series

Winner: Mariupol: The People's Story (BBC | UK | Director: Robin Barnwell | EP: Darren Kemp, Tom Stone | Producer: Hilary Andersson) 

Nominees:

• Great Photo, Lovely Life (HBO | Max | USA | Directors: Amanda Mustard, Rachel Beth Anderson | EP: Rachel Dretzin, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez | Producers: Amanda Mustard, Rachel Beth Anderson, Luke Malone)
• How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer (Showtime | USA | Director: Jeff Zimbalist | EP: Vinnie Malhotra, Stu Schreiberg, John Buffalo Mailer, Producers: Victoria Marquette, Jeff Zimbalist)
• Reggie (Prime Video | USA | Director: Alexandria Stapleton | EP: Brenda Gilbert, Aaron L. Gilbert, Josh Miller, Kim Carsten, Zoë Morrison, Jason Cloth, Suraj Maraboyina, Producers: Alexandria Stapleton, Christopher Leggett, Rafael Marmor, Daniel Crown, Yoni Liebling)
• The U.S. and the Holocaust (PBS | USA | Directors: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, Sarah Botstein |  Producers: Sarah Botstein, Lynn Novick, Ken Burns, Mike Welt)

Best Curated Series

Winner: POV (PBS | USA | EP: Erika Dilday, Chris White)

Nominees:

• American Masters (PBS | USA | EP: Michael Kantor) 
• America ReFramed (American Documentary, Inc, WORLD Channel | USA | EP: Erika Dilday, Chris White, Christopher Hastings)
• Independent Lens (PBS, Independent Lens | USA | EP: Sally Jo Fifer, Lois Vossen)
• Reel South (PBS, WORLD Channel | USA, South Korea, UK | EP: Rachel Raney, Don Godish, Donald Washington, Linda Midgett)

Best Episodic Series

Winner: Our Planet II (Netflix | USA, UK | EP: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey)

Nominees:

• Frozen Planet II (BBC America | USA | EP: Mark Brownlow) 
• Telemarketers (HBO | Max | USA | EP: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Dani Bernfeld, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Danny McBride, Greg Stewart, Brandon James, Adam Bhala Lough, Sam Lipman-Stern, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Tina Nguyen)
• The Hair Tales (Hulu/OWN | USA | EP: Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michaela Angela Davis, Tara Duncan, Raeshem Nijhon, Carri Twigg, Kisah Imani Cameron, Kadine Anckle, Nicole Galovski)
• VICE (Showtime | USA | EP: Beverly Chase, Subrata De and Craig Thomson)

Best Music Documentary

Winner: Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes (PBS, American Masters | USA | Directors/Producers: Ben Shapiro, Sam Pollard)

Nominees:

• Keeping the Music Alive (France, Singapore, UK | TVF International | Directors: Sarah El Younsi, Mandakini Gahlot | Producers: Babel Doc, CNA)
• Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures, CNN Film, HBO | Max | USA, UK | Director: Lisa Cortés | Producers: Lisa Cortés, Robert Friedman, Liz Yale Marsh, Caryn Capotosto)
• Milli Vanilli (USA | Paramount+ | Director: Luke Korem | Producers: Luke Korem, Bradley Jackson)
• Pianoforte (Poland, Germany | Greenwich Entertainment | Director: Jakub Piatek | Producer: Maciej Kubicki)

Best Multi-Part Documentary

Winner: Dear Mama (FX | USA | Director: Allen Hughes | EP: Lasse Järvi, Quincy “QD3” Jones III, Staci Robinson, Nelson George, Charles King, Peter Nelson, Adel “Future” Nur, Jamal Joseph, Ted Skillman, Allen Hughes, Steve Berman, Marc Cimino, Jody Gerson, John Nanick, Nicholas Ferrall, Nigel Sinclair)

Nominees:

• Algiers, America (Hulu | USA | Director: Jackson Fager | Producers: Jackson Fager, Jeffrey Fager, David Rohde, Connor Schell, Libby Geist, Raina Kelley, Joseph Langford, Durado Brookes, Raza Naqvi, Kristen Lappas)
• Burden of Proof (HBO | Max | USA | Director: Cynthia Hill | EP: Charlotte Cook, Rahdi Taylor, Davis Guggenheim, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller | Producers: Christine Delp, Cynthia Hill, Andrea Weigl)
• Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (Showtime | USA | Director: Dawn Porter | Producers: Vinnie Malhotra, Aaron Saidman, Eli Holzman, Dawn Porter)
• Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (Netflix | USA | Directors: Hannah Beachler, Raeshem Nijhon, Dream Hampton, Giselle Bailey| EP: Dream Hampton, Troy Carter, Raeshem Nijhon, Carri Twigg, MC Lyte, Nicole Galovski, Justin Simien, Jennifer Ryan)

Best Short-Form Series

Winner: POV Shorts (PBS | USA | EP: Opal H. Bennett, Erika Dilday, Chris White)

Nominees: 

• 99: True Stories From Your Fellow Humans (99 | USA, India, UK | Producer: Jérôme Plan)
• Couples Therapy (Showtime | USA | Producers: Eli Despres, Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg, Vinnie Malhotra)
• Equals (Anahad Foundation | India | Producers: Abhinav Agrawal, Shuchi Roy, Mudit Chaturvedi)
• Queer Futures (Multitude Films | USA | Producers: Jess Devaney, Anya Rous, J Wortham, Colleen Cassingham)

Best Standalone Audio Documentary

Winner: This Coal Life (South Africa | Host: Lesedi Mogoatlhe | Reporter: Siyabonga Mokoena | Producer: Dhashen Moodley)

Nominees:

• K-Pop Dreaming, Episode 3 - “Trot” (USA | LAist Studios | Host: Vivian Yoon | Producers: Fiona Ng, Antonia Cereijido)
• Les gardiennes du temple (The Guardians of the Temple) (France | SMAC Le Florida, Théâtre des Quatre Saisons, RTBF, RTS Culture SRG SSR | Hosts: Aurélien Caillaux, Benoit Bores | Producers: Faïdos Sonore, Les Voix de Traverse, SMAC Le Florida, Théâtre des Quatre Saisons)
• Sounds Gay: Melanie Speaks (USA | SiriusXM Podcast Network | Host/Producer: Sarah Esocoff | Producer: Cass Adair)
• NPR's Invisibilia: Freedom Diving (USA | NPR | Host: Kia Miakka Natisse | Producers: Phoebe Wang, Ariana Gharib Lee)
• Toughie (USA | BBC's Short Cuts | Host: Josie Long | Reporter/Producer: Sarah Craig)

Best Multi-Part Audio Documentary or Series

Winner: You Didn't See Nothin (USA | The Invisible Institute, USG Audio | Host: Yohance Lacour | Producers: Bill Healy, Erisa Apantaku, Dana Brozost-Kelleher, Sarah Geis)

Nominees:

• Foretold (USA | Los Angeles Times | Host: Faith E. Pinho | Producers: Asal Ehsanipour, Alex Higgins, Lauren Raab, Sue Horton, Avery Trufelman, Jazmín Aguilera, Heba Elorbany, Ethel Brooks, Mike Heflin, Vadim Kolpakov, Alex PGSV)
• Into America presents: Street Disciples (USA | MSNBC | Host: Trymaine Lee | Producers: Aisha Turner, Isabel Angell, Max Jacobs, Allison Bailey, Mike Brown, Janmaris Perez)
• Operation Morning Light (USA, Canada | Imperative Entertainment, Vespucci | Host: Dëneze Nakehk’o | Producers: Michael LaPointe, Daniel Turcan, Johnny Galvin, Jason Hoch)
• Scamanda (USA | Lionsgate Sound | Host: Charlie Webster | Producer: Charlie Webster, Jaxson McLennan | EP: Craig Piligian, Charlie Webster, Nancy Moscatiello)
• The Greatest Menace: Inside The Gay Prison Experiment (Australia | Audible | Host/Producer: Patrick Abboud | Producer: Simon Cunich)

David L. Wolper Student Documentary

Winner: Lettre à Elie (Letter to Elie) (National Film and Television School | UK | Director/Producer: Alexis Grigorieff)

Nominees:

• El Bastón (The City College of New York | USA, Colombia | Director: ​​Nemo Allen | Producers: Aditi Natasha Kini, Juan Blanco García)
• Hungry for Freedom (National Film and Television School | UK, Thailand | Director/Producer: Rachata Thongruay | Producer: Athena Vlachos)
• The Paradise Park Will Close on Fridays at Three (National Film and Television School | UK | Director/Producer: Frank Eli Martin | Producer: Tal Elkayam)
• With Woman (National Film and Television School | UK | Director/Producer: Mia Harvey)

Pare Lorentz Award

In the Rearview (Poland | Cinephil | Director: Maciek Hamela | Producers: Maciek Hamela, Piotr Grawender)

ABC News VideoSource Award

Storming Caesars Palace (USA | Independent Lens, PBS | Director: Hazel Gurland-Pooler | Producers: Hazel Gurland-Pooler, Nazenet Habtezghi)

Special Mentions & Acknowledgments

This year, five committees decided to recognize some titles with special mentions. Learn more about the 39th IDA Documentary Awards committees here.

Best Director

Special Mention: Milisuthando Bongela

Best Cinematography

20 Days in Mariupol
In a world of fleeting memories and daily news turnover, Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Vasilisa Stepanenko undertook the challenging task of portraying the harsh realities endured by the Mariupol’s civilians during the Russian invasion – an unforgettable account.

As we see yet another war unfolding before us today, 20 Days in Mariupol serves as a poignant reminder that photographic evidence holds everyone accountable. The film bears witness to the tragedies and the resilience of the civilians and frontline workers, emphasizing its significance beyond a mere war film.

In light of the wide variety of extraordinary films this year, choosing our nominees was a particularly difficult decision. Unfortunately, 20 Days of Mariupol couldn’t be included. The Cinematography Committee of the 39th IDA Documentary Awards wishes to extend an honorary mention to the entire team for their commendable efforts and risks taken.

Best Multi-Part Documentary

When Truth Isn't Truth: The Rudy Guiliani Story
Jurors were impressed by the 5 nominees, including the tour de force Dear Mama and Ladies First: The Story of Women in Hip Hop, two titles that brought very different perspectives into the history of rap, hip hop, and activism by focusing on individuals who were instrumental figures. Two additional titles, Burden of Proof and Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court, dove deep into explorations of our justice system –  from the personal quests of one family to decisions impacting a nation made by the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. Finally, Algiers, America, opened an intimate window into the heartbreaks, triumphs, and determination of the coaches and members of a high school football team within a community struggling with poverty and the prevalence of gun violence. A sixth title was an honorary mention: When Truth isn't Truth: The Rudy Giuliani Story. While the series presents some broadly known history of Rudy Guiliani's rise and fall, it details how Guiliani’s actions in the present are not anomalous, but can be traced far back into his actions of the past. 

Best Short-Form Series

Equals

So many incredible series were in this year's Best Short-Form Series submissions; all are to be commended. As a Jury, we wanted to make a special mention of Equals. This seven-part series explores the rich melodies and unveils vibrant participants, stories, and the multifaceted layers of India's folk traditions. It stands as a vivid ode to the artistry, resilience, and cultural significance embedded within each lyrical note—a testament to the enduring legacy of these visionary artists.

It is rare to see mainstream commissioned work that is not about war, poverty, or despair, especially out of the global south. It is also rare to see commissioned work that goes beyond pop culture or celebrities. Equals, in many ways, pushes the boundaries of what can be “commissioned” and what can be “popular.”  As a series, Equals goes beyond socio-economic barriers and borders and celebrates India's unique cultural heritage. Equals gives a platform to stories that we would otherwise never have access to in the mainstream. That’s why we strongly feel that Equals should receive a special mention award – because we want to encourage streamers and broadcasters to take risks and include stories that will never otherwise be told.

Best Curated Series

Reel South
The jury would like to give a special mention to Reel South, a series deeply committed to its mission and viewership. This season's curation encompassed refined meanings of individualism, which, intentionally curated together, express a collective narrative of the American South.

Best TV Feature Documentary or Mini-Series

America Reframed: A Decent Home
We would like to give a Special/Honorable Mention to America Reframed: A Decent Home – for the courage to tell this urgent and important story that is all but ignored in the U.S.

Others that made our top 10 titles that we feel deserve a mention: Bill Russell: Legend; The Stroll, Jelly Roll: Save Me, American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing.

We want to express my deepest gratitude to this extraordinary committee of filmmakers, directors, producers, writers, and other film professionals, passionate human beings, and who took many hours out of their lives to screen and deeply consider each project: Hiran Balasuriya, Asha Boston, Cathy R Fischer, Lisa Scott Gordon, Diana Holtzberg, Elizabeth Lawrence, Mitch Levine, Argyro Nicolaou, Remoy Phillp, Leslie Siben, Laurence Uebersfeld, John Warburton.