11TH Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards
Edison Ballroom, Manhattan, NY
Sunday, November 8th, 2026

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE










14th • Netflix
Ava DuVernay | Director
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
Everest: The Other Side • National Geographic Documentary Films
Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Directors
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes, Bob Eisenhardt, Janet Yang | Producers
Everybody to Kenmure Street • Icarus Films
Felipe Bustos Sierra | Director
Ciara Barry, Felipe Bustos Sierra | Producers
The History of Concrete • Magnolia Pictures
John Wilson | Director
John Wilson, Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti | Producers
Musk • Bleecker Street
Alex Gibney | Director
Alex Gibney, Jessie Deeter, Erin Edeiken, Zhang Xin, Joey Marra, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, Dana O’Keefe, Ronan Farrow, Lawrence Wright | Producers
NAZA • The Guardian / mk2 films
Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor | Directors
Harry Davies, Lindsay Poulton, James Wilson | Producers
Once Upon a Time in Harlem • NEON
David Greaves | Director
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare | Producers
Rehearsals for a Revolution • Sony Pictures Classics
Pegah Ahangarani | Director
Kaveh Farnam, Adria Mones | Producers
Remake • Music Box Films
Ross McElwee, Joe Bini | Directors
Mark Meatto, Ross McElwee | Producers
You Can See Everything • A24
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim | Directors
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST DIRECTOR






Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor
NAZA • The Guardian / mk2 films
Harry Davies, Lindsay Poulton, James Wilson | Producers
Felipe Bustos Sierra
Everybody to Kenmure Street • Icarus Films
Ciara Barry, Felipe Bustos Sierra | Producers
Ava DuVernay
14th • Netflix
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
Nathan Fielder & Lance Oppenheim
You Can See Everything • A24
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis | Producers
Ross McElwee & Joe Bini
Remake • Music Box Films
Mark Meatto, Ross McElwee | Producers
Orlando von Einsiedel
The Cycle of Love • Variance Films
Chloe Leland, Harri Grace, Emelie Mahanandia von Schedvin, Karl Mahanandia von Schedvin | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE






David Greaves
Once Upon a Time in Harlem • NEON
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare | Producers
Baz Luhrmann
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert • NEON
Jeremy Castro, Baz Luhrmann, Schuyler Weiss, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton | Producers
Gabriela Osio Vanden & Jack Weisman
Nuisance Bear • MUBI
Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer | Producers
Xander Robin
The Python Hunt • Oscilloscope Laboratories
Lance Oppenheim, Lauren Cioffi, Melissa Oppenheim, Xander Robin | Producers
Poh Si Teng
American Doctor • Watermelon Pictures
Poh Si Teng, Kirstine Barfod, Reem Haddad | Producers
John Wilson
The History of Concrete • Magnolia Pictures
John Wilson, Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY






The Cycle of Love • Variance Films
Cinematography by Franklin Dow
Orlando von Einsiedel | Director
Chloe Leland, Harri Grace, Emelie Mahanandia von Schedvin, Karl Mahanandia von Schedvin | Producers
Everest: The Other Side • National Geographic Documentary Films
Cinematography by Clair Popkin, Jimmy Chin, & Christopher Murphy
Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Directors
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes, Bob Eisenhardt, Janet Yang | Producers
Lion • National Geographic
Cinematography by Sophie Darlington
Jon Favreau, Joe Treddenick | Directors
Jon Favreau, Michael Gunton | Executive Producers
Nuisance Bear • MUBI
Cinematography by Gabriela Osio Vanden & Jack Weisman
Gabriela Osio Vande, Jack Weisman | Directors
Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer | Producers
The Python Hunt • Oscilloscope Laboratories
Cinematography by David Bolen & Matt Clegg
Xander Robin | Director
Lance Oppenheim, Lauren Cioffi, Melissa Oppenheim, Xander Robin | Producers
You Can See Everything • A24
Cinematography by David Bolen
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim | Directors
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST EDITING






14th • Netflix
Editing by Spencer Averick
Ava DuVernay | Director
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert • NEON
Editing by Jonathan Redmond
Baz Luhrmann | Director
Jeremy Castro, Baz Luhrmann, Schuyler Weiss, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton | Producers
Everybody to Kenmure Street • Icarus Films
Editing by Colin Monie
Felipe Bustos Sierra | Director
Ciara Barry, Felipe Bustos Sierra | Producers
The History of Concrete • Magnolia Pictures
Editing by Cori Wapnowska
John Wilson | Director
John Wilson, Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti | Producers
Once Upon a Time in Harlem • NEON
Editing by Anne de Mare & Lynn True
David Greaves | Director
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare | Producers
You Can See Everything • A24
Editing by Adam Locke-Norton
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim | Directors
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST NARRATION






The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist • Focus Features
Written and Performed by Daniel Roher & Caroline Lindy
Daniel Roher, Charlie Tyrell | Directors
Daniel Kwan, Jonathan Wang, Shane Boris, Diane Becker, Ted Tremper | Producers
The History of Concrete • Magnolia Pictures
Written and Performed by John Wilson
John Wilson | Director
John Wilson, Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti | Producers
Lorne • Focus Features
Written by Morgan Neville, Alan Lowe, Jake Hostetter
Performed by Chris Parnell
Morgan Neville | Director
Morgan Neville, Lauren Belfer | Producers
Nuisance Bear • MUBI
Written and Performed by Mike Tunalaaq Gibbons
Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman | Directors
Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer | Producers
Rehearsals for a Revolution • Sony Pictures Classics
Written and Performed by Pegah Ahangarani
Pegah Ahangarani | Director
Kaveh Farnam, Adria Mones | Producers
Remake • Music Box Films
Written and Performed by Ross McElwee
Ross McElwee, Joe Bini | Directors
Mark Meatto, Ross McElwee | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST MUSIC SCORE






14th • Netflix
Composed by Jason Moran
Ava DuVernay | Director
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
Everest: The Other Side • National Geographic Documentary Films
Composed by Caroline Ho
Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Directors
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes, Bob Eisenhardt, Janet Yang | Producers
Lion • National Geographic
Composed by Hans Zimmer, Niccolò Pacella, George Hutson Warren
Jon Favreau, Joe Treddenick | Directors
Jon Favreau, Michael Gunton | Executive Producers
Nuisance Bear • MUBI
Composed by Cristóbal Tapia de Veer
Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman | Directors
Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer | Producers
Time and Water • National Geographic Documentary Films
Composed by Dan Deacon
Sara Dosa | Director
Shane Boris, Elijah Stevenson, Jameka Autry, Sara Dosa | Producers
You Can See Everything • A24
Composed by Ari Balouzian
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim | Directors
Nathan Fielder, Lance Oppenheim, Tatiana Bears, Maggie Ambrose, Jack Davis | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY






Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World) • HBO Max
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson | Director
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, David Sirulnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, Arron Saxe | Producers
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert • NEON
Baz Luhrmann | Director
Jeremy Castro, Baz Luhrmann, Schuyler Weiss, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton | Producers
Man on the Run • Amazon MGM Studios
Morgan Neville | Director
Morgan Neville, Chloe Simmons, Meghan Walsh, Scott Rodger, Ben Chappell, Michele Anthony, David Blackman | Producers
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Dylan Southern, Will Lovelace | Directors
Steven Knight, Guy Heeley, Davud Karbassioun | Producers
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man • Greenwich Entertainment
Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine | Directors
Dayna Goldfine, Daniel Geller | Producers
Sara Bareilles: Good Grief • Group Effort Films / Naked Edge Films
Josh Alexander | Director
Josh Alexander, Daniel J. Chalfen | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY







14th • Netflix
Ava DuVernay | Director
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
American Doctor • Watermelon Pictures
Poh Si Teng | Director
Poh Si Teng, Kirstine Barfod, Reem Haddad | Producers
Ask E. Jean • Abramorama
Ivy Meeropol | Director
Ivy Meeropol, Laura Bickford, Annabelle Dunne | Producers
Everybody to Kenmure Street • Icarus Films
Felipe Bustos Sierra | Director
Ciara Barry, Felipe Bustos Sierra | Producers
Musk • Bleecker Street
Alex Gibney | Director
Alex Gibney, Jessie Deeter, Erin Edeiken, Zhang Xin, Joey Marra, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, Dana O’Keefe, Ronan Farrow, Lawrence Wright | Producers
NAZA • The Guardian / mk2 films
Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor | Directors
Harry Davies, Lindsay Poulton, James Wilson | Producers
Union Town • Cabin Creek Films
Barbara Kopple | Director
Barbara Kopple, Hannes Hosp, Peter Palandjian | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY






14th • Netflix
Ava DuVernay | Director
Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Paul Garnes, Tammy Thomas-Garnes | Producers
Once Upon a Time in Harlem • NEON
David Greaves | Director
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare | Producers
Rehearsals for a Revolution • Sony Pictures Classics
Pegah Ahangarani | Director
Kaveh Farnam, Adria Mones | Producers
SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of • Netflix
Jason Hehir | Director
Chapman Downes, Andrew Hafnor, Whitney Johnson, Kelly Meinhardt, Molly Montgomery | Producers
Soul Patrol • Kino Lorber
J.M. Harper | Director
Sam Bisbee, Danielle Massie, J.M. Harper, Nas, Peter Bittenbender | Producers
Turning Point: Generation 9/11 • Netflix
Brian Knappenberger | Director
Colin Jones, Hannah McAlilly | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY






Avedon • Netflix
Ron Howard | Director
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Dallas Brennan, Sara Bernstein, Christopher St. John, Justin Wilkes | Producers
Jean-Michel • Netflix
Quinn Wilson, Viridiana Lieberman | Directors
Jordan Wynn, Andrew Fried, Harlin Lawal, Lana Barkin, Dane Lillegard, Ileen Sheppard Gallagher, Will Cohen, Quinn Wilson, David Laven | Producers
Lorne • Focus Features
Morgan Neville | Director
Morgan Neville, Lauren Belfer | Producers
Marty, Life Is Short • Netflix
Lawrence Kasdan | Director
Sara Bernstein, Meredith Kaulfers, Christopher St. John, Lawrence Kasdan, Blair Foster | Producers
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! • HBO Max
Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio | Directors
Judd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio, Kevin Salter, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller | Producers
Musk • Bleecker Street
Alex Gibney | Director
Alex Gibney, Jessie Deeter, Erin Edeiken, Zhang Xin, Joey Marra, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, Dana O’Keefe, Ronan Farrow, Lawrence Wright | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY






EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert • NEON
Baz Luhrmann | Director
Jeremy Castro, Baz Luhrmann, Schuyler Weiss, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton | Producers
Making Marie Antoinette • MUBI
Eleanor Coppola | Director
Andrew DeYoung, Zach Kanin, Adam McKay, Tim Robinson, Todd Schulman, Igor Srubshchik | Executive Producers
Man on the Run • Amazon MGM Studios
Morgan Neville | Director
Morgan Neville, Chloe Simmons, Meghan Walsh, Scott Rodger, Ben Chappell, Michele Anthony, David Blackman | Producers
Once Upon a Time in Harlem • NEON
David Greaves | Director
Liani Greaves, Anne De Mare | Producers
Rehearsals for a Revolution • Sony Pictures Classics
Pegah Ahangarani | Director
Kaveh Farnam, Adria Mones | Producers
Remake • Music Box Films
Ross McElwee, Joe Bini | Directors
Mark Meatto, Ross McElwee | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY






The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist • Focus Features
Daniel Roher, Charlie Tyrell | Directors
Daniel Kwan, Jonathan Wang, Shane Boris, Diane Becker, Ted Tremper | Producers
Ghost Elephants • National Geographic Documentary Films
Werner Herzog | Director
Ariel Leon Isacovitch, Werner Herzog, Brian Nugent | Producers
Lion • National Geographic
Jon Favreau, Joe Treddenick | Directors
Jon Favreau, Michael Gunton | Executive Producers
Nuisance Bear • MUBI
Gabriela Osio Vanden, Jack Weisman | Directors
Michael Code, Will N. Miller, Teddy Leifer | Producers
Secrets of the Bees • National Geographic
Nadége Laici | Director
James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm, Pam Caragol | Producers
Time and Water • National Geographic Documentary Films
Sara Dosa | Director
Shane Boris, Elijah Stevenson, Jameka Autry, Sara Dosa | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY






The Dynasty: UConn Huskies • Apple TV
Matthew Hamachek | Director
Jon Weinbach | Producer
Everest: The Other Side • National Geographic Documentary Films
Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Directors
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes, Bob Eisenhardt, Janet Yang | Producers
Give Me the Ball! • ESPN
Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff | Directors
Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Dominic Crossley-Holland, Dan Cogan, Chris James, Gentry Kirby | Producers
Rafa • Netflix
Zach Heinzerling | Director
Zach Heinzerling, Dan Marks, Benito Perez-Barbadillo | Producers
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story • Samuel Goldwyn Films
Tanner Christensen | Director
Tanner Christensen, T.C. Christensen, Jared Hess | Producers
Tyson • Netflix
Floyd Russ | Director
Bill Simmons, Jim Gray, Ian Orefice | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY






Baby Doe • Narrative Distribution
Jessica Earnshaw | Director
Jessica Earnshaw, Holly Meehl Chapman | Producers
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story • Dark Star Pictures
Brett Harvey | Director
Rocky Mudaliar, Adam Scorgie | Producers
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare • Netflix
Skye Borgman | Director
Joe Berlinger, Madison Gordon-Lavaee, Jen Isaacson, Jon Kamen, Gina Scarlata | Executive Producers
A Killer Story • HBO Max
Matthew Galkin | Director
Matthew Galkin, Joshua Levine, Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin, Kate Barry, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Nicole Stott, Tina Nguyen, Jonathan Silberberg | Producers
Lost Women of Alaska • Investigation Discovery
Sara Kandasamy | Director
Amy Lee-Jones, Matt Robins, Christina Douglas, Octavia Spencer | Executive Producers
Murder in Glitterball City • HBO Max
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato | Directors
Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez | Executive Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY








The Baddest Speechwriter of All • Netflix
Stephen Curry, Ben Proudfoot | Directors
Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Ben Proudfoot | Producers
A Derailment • POV
Nadége Laici | Director
James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm, Pam Caragol | Producers
Escalation • Bonfire Films
Nathan Truesdell | Director
Will Lennon, Kat Nguyen | Producers
Miller Night Football • HBO Max
Jeff Cameron | Director
Nancy Abraham, Jessica Boddy, Keith Cossrow, Lisa Heller, Ross Ketover, Ken Rodgers, Bentley Weiner | Executive Producers
Oh Whale • The New Yorker / Switchboard Magazine
Winslow Crane-Murdoch | Director
Cecilia Brown, Luke Terrell | Producers
The Second Life of Freddie Nole • Sweet World Films
Dana Nachman | Director
Chelsea Matter | Producer
A Short Documentary About a Giant Pencil • archilux
Daniel Straub | Director
Bryce Cyrier, Austin Straub, Daniel Straub | Producers
They’re Here • Praxis Films
Rachel Lauren Mueller, Laura Poitras | Directors
Yoni Golijov, Rachel Lauren Mueller, Laura Poitras | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES







9/11: Reunited • National Geographic
Julian Jones | Director
Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin, David Glover, Mark Raphael, Cate Hall, Carolyn Payne | Executive Producers
The Dark Wizard • HBO Max
Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen | Director
Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, Josh Lowell, Zachary Barr, Elizabeth Potter, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Bentley Weiner | Executive Producers
The Dynasty: UConn Huskies • Apple TV
Matthew Hamachek | Director
Jon Weinbach | Producer
High Horse: The Black Cowboy • Peacock
Jason Perez | Director
Jordan Peele | Executive Producer
Lion • National Geographic
Jon Favreau, Joe Treddenick | Directors
Jon Favreau, Michael Gunton | Executive Producers
The Man Will Burn • HBO Max
Jehane Noujaim, Vikram Gandhi | Directors
Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez, Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer, Lyn Lear, Kristín Ólafsdóttir, Nina Sing Fialkow, David Fialkow, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Vikram Gandhi, Nushin Sabet | Executive Producers
Rafa • Netflix
Zach Heinzerling | Director
Zach Heinzerling, Dan Marks, Benito Perez-Barbadillo | Producers

— 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards —
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES







30 for 30 • ESPN
Connor Schell, Bill Simmons, John Dahl | Creators
Marsha Cooke | Executive Producer
American Masters • PBS
Susan Lacy | Creator
Michael Kantor | Executive Producer
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders • Netflix
Greg Whiteley | Creator & Executive Producer
The Food That Built America • History
Isaac Holub, Jim Pasquarella, Kim Woodard, Mary Donahue, Yoshi Stone | Executive Producers
Hazardous History with Henry Winkler • History
Steve Ascher, Chet Fenster, Richard Foster, Jim Pasquarella, Matt Pearl, Henry Winkler | Executive Producers
Independent Lens • PBS
Lois Vossen, Royd Chung | Executive Producers
Untold • Netflix
Chapman Way, Maclain Way | Creators
Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Isabel San Vargas, Ryan Duffy | Executive Producers

About the Critics Choice Awards
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are an offshoot of the Critics Choice Awards, which are bestowed annually by the CCA to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, the Critics Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 600 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content.






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