In an unusually successful year for documentaries in terms of audience interest, two of the biggest hits, Won't You Be My Neighbor? ($22.6 million) and Free Solo ($7.3 million and climbing) now have yet more to crow about. They each won three prizes at the 3rd annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards last night. Though they both appear to be likely future Oscar nominees you just never know with the documentary branch.
The winners in each of the Critics Choice doc categories are listed after the jump...
- Best Documentary: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
- Best Political Documentary: RBG
- Best Sports Documentary: Free Solo
Alan Hicks (Quincy) won Best Music Documentary. Rashida Jones presenting
- Best Music Documentary: Quincy
- Best Limited Documentary Series: The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
- Best Ongoing Documentary Series: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
- Best Director: Morgan Neville for Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Bing Liu won best new director (in a tie) for "Minding the Gap"
- Best First Time Director: TIE: Bing Liu for Minding the Gap, and Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster for Science Fair
- Best Political Documentary: RBG
- Best Sports Documentary: Free Solo
- Best Music Documentary: Quincy
- Most Innovative Documentary: Free Solo
- Best Cinematography: Free Solo
- Best Editing: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Matt Dillon was one of the celebrities presenting trophies
For those who are curious, though I am a member of the BFCA, I don't vote on these particular awards because I don't feel it'd be right. I only see a few docs a year given that my interest is squarely with narrative features, and I don't believe in voting without seeing the bulk of the acclaimed contenders (unlike say Academy members haha). I leave the documentary watching to people who are better suited for the form, like Glenn. I am interested in these two films though so hopefully I'll find time.
The Oscar chart for Best Documentary Feature has been updated now that we have the list of 166 eligible titles.