Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor cleaned up at the 10th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, winning five trophies including Best Documentary Feature at a gala ceremony held on November 9 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. The film also earned awards for Best Director (Geeta Gandbhir), Best Editing (Viridiana Lieberman), Best Archival Documentary, and Best True Crime Documentary, making it the evening’s biggest winner.
Other notable winners included Mr. Scorsese, Ocean with David Attenborough, and Orwell: 2+2=5, each taking home two awards apiece. Mr. Scorsese earned Best Biographical Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series, while Ocean with David Attenborough won for Best Cinematography and Best Science/Nature Documentary. Orwell: 2+2=5 received awards for Best Score and Best Narration, with the latter adapted by Raoul Peck and performed by Damian Lewis.
Hosted by Aasif Mandvi, the star-studded event also honored documentary legend Ken Burns with the Critics Choice Impact Award, presented by Christine Baranski. Filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady received the Pennebaker Award, presented by D.A. Pennebaker’s widow and collaborator, Chris Hegedus. The ceremony featured appearances from Mariska Hargitay, Reginald Hudlin, Soledad O’Brien, Questlove, and Ben Stiller, among others.
CCA Vice President of Documentary Christopher Campbell praised the lineup, stating, “Ten years in, and the art of documentary storytelling has never been more vital or vibrant.”
You can stream the ceremony and view the full list of winners at CriticsChoice.com. Films recognized this year are available to watch across major platforms, including Netflix, HBO Max, National Geographic, Apple TV, Hulu, and PBS.
🏆 Winners List – 10th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards
Best Documentary Feature:
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Best Director:
Geeta Gandbhir – The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
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 (Netflix)
Best Score:
Alexei Aigui – Orwell: 2+2=5 (Neon)
Best Narration:
Orwell: 2+2=5 (Neon)
Written by George Orwell, Adapted by Raoul Peck, Performed by Damian Lewis
Best Archival Documentary:
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
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 (National Geographic)
Best Sports Documentary:
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
Best True Crime Documentary:
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Best Short Documentary:
Saving Superman (Switchboard)
Best Limited Documentary Series:
Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)
Best Ongoing Documentary Series:
30 for 30 (ESPN Films)
