Kevin Spacey Doc Among 2024 British Documentary Awards Shortlist
The Grierson Trust has announced the shortlist for the 2024 British Documentary Awards, with the BBC coming top at 28 entries.
Channel 4 follows closely behind with 23, Netflix with 17, Sky Documentaries with eight and National Geographic with four. The shortlist spans 15 program and presenter categories to reflect the best documentary singles and series launched across broadcasters, streamers and online, as well as theatrical releases.
This year’s awards includes a new category titled best popular culture documentary, open to single documentaries or an episode from a strand or series that depicts people, events, movements or trends that have had a major impact on pop culture in recent years. Shortlisted entries in this category cover a hoax pedophile scare created by Internet users, one of the U.K.’s most prominent performance poets, and an investigation into allegations of abuse against Kevin Spacey.
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The Arts category features several films about fashion industry icons such as Coco Chanel and John Galliano, plus the first black supermodel, alongside the life of photographer Dan Winters and the genius of Shakespeare. Music is represented through films and series covering Disco, K-pop and composing a contemporary American Symphony.
The History and Science categories cover contemporary subjects from the U.K. and internationally, including the Space Shuttle disaster, the rise of the far right, the miners’ strike and former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“This year’s shortlist highlights the power of documentaries to tell new stories that cut through in a sea of content that’s constantly fighting for our attention,” said Lorraine Heggessey, chair of the Grierson Trust. “These films really connect with audiences, uncovering characters and perspectives that have previously been unseen. We have been so impressed by the breadth and range of entries which demonstrate that — despite the very difficult current climate — our industry remains committed to identifying new talent and exploring pressing issues such as mental health, sexuality, gender and disability, all through best-in-class filmmaking.”
The shortlisted films will now go on to be judged by category juries who will decide the four nominations and winner in each. The awards ceremony takes place Nov. 6 at iconic music arts venue Roundhouse, in London.
The Grierson Trust’s British Documentary Awards’s headline sponsor is All3Media. Category sponsors include BBC, Channel 4, ENVY, Fulwell 73, Netflix, Sky Documentaries, Broadcast Sport and Televisual, as well as supporters the British Council, Picture Shop and Satusfaction.
See the full shortlist below.
ENVY Best Single Documentary – Domestic
Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax, Story Films, All3Media International – Channel 4
Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family, Flicker Productions – ITV
Forced Out: Their Fight for Pride, Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd – Sky Documentaries
Hatton, Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries
Me and the Voice in My Head, Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
Otto Baxter: Not a F***ing Horror Story, Story Films, Archface Films – Sky Documentaries
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, Studio 99 – Prime Video
Wham!, A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix
Best Single Documentary – International
Another Body, WILLA, Remarkably Calm, Murmuration, Impact Partners – BBC
My Name Is Happy, October Films, Red Zed Films, Horovel Films – Channel 4
Summer Qamp, Bright West Entertainment, Hello Friend, Cineflix Productions – Human Rights Watch Film Festival
Tell Them You Love Me, Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries
To Kill a Tiger, Notice Pictures Inc. and The National Film Board of Canada – Netflix
Storyville – Total Trust Surveillance State, Witfilm and Interactive Media Foundation, B8, ZDF, Arte, NTR – BBC
Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods, Hoyo Films Ltd – BBC
While We Watched, BritDoc Films, LONO, MetFilm – Theatrical release
Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary
20 Days in Mariupol, Frontline, PBS and the Associated Press – Theatrical release
Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic
Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua, BBC Africa Eye in co-production with Open Democracy – BBC
Evacuation – We Just Left Them, Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4
Putin vs. the West: At War – Invasion, Brook Lapping Productions – BBC
Dispatches – Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, Hardcash Productions, Channel 4 Investigation Unit – Channel 4
The Other War, BBC Current Affairs – BBC
You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack, Lucernam Films – Netflix
Best Arts Documentary
Arena – Coco Chanel Unbuttoned, whynow Studios – BBC
Donyale Luna: Supermodel, Lightbox, Jeff Friday Media, The American Black Film Festival – Sky Documentaries
High & Low – John Galliano, KGB Films – Theatrical release
Madu, Disney Branded Television and Hunting Lane Films – Disney+
Photographer – Dan Winters: Life Is Once. Forever, Little Monster Films, National Geographic – National Geographic
Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius, Episode 1, 72 Films – BBC
Squaring The Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis, Raindog Films Ltd – Theatrical release
Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club, Broccoli Pictures Co. Ltd – Netflix
Sky Documentaries Best Music Documentary
American Symphony, Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix
BBC Eye Investigations – Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-Pop Chat Groups, BBC Eye – BBC
Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution – Rock the Boat, BBC Studios, BBC/PBS co-production – BBC
Don’t Ever Stop, Restless Films – Doc’n Roll Festival
Louis Theroux Interviews – Pete Doherty, Mindhouse Productions – BBC
Milli Vanilli, Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 – Paramount+
The Greatest Night in Pop, A Netflix Documentary, MRC Film, Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment – Netflix
Wham!, A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix
Broadcast Sport Best Sports Documentary
Amputating Alice, Noah Media Group – Channel 4
Copa 71, New Black Films – Theatrical release
Hatton, Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries
Mark Cavendish: Never Enough, A Netflix Documentary, Pitch Productions Film – Netflix
Mighty Penguins, Meadowlark, Firelight, Fever – Theatrical release
One Night in Millstreet, Fastnet Films, Proposition Films – Theatrical release
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, Studio 99 – Prime Video
The Deepest Breath, An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix
Best History Documentary
Defiance: Fighting the Far Right – Episode 1, Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment in association with Left Handed Films – Channel 4
Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate, A Netflix Documentary, Thursday Company Production – Netflix
JFK: One Day in America – Assassination, 72 Films – National Geographic
Miners’ Strike: A Frontline Story, The Garden – BBC
Stamped From the Beginning, A Netflix Documentary, One Story Up Production – Netflix
The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1, 72 Films – Channel 4
The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1, Mindhouse Productions – BBC
Union With David Olusoga – Union and Disunion, Wall to Wall Media, Uplands Television – BBC
Best Science Documentary
Better Off Dead?, Burning Bright Productions – BBC
Earth – Human, BBC Studios – BBC
Evolution Earth – Islands, Produced by Passion Planet in association with PBS and Arte France for Love Nature – Sky Nature
Me and the Voice in My Head, Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
Secrets of the Neanderthals, A Netflix Documentary with BBC Studios Production – Netflix
Exposure – The Clinic, Rogan Scotland – ITV
The Jennings vs. Alzheimer’s, Expectation Entertainment – BBC
The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1, Mindhouse Productions – BBC
Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary
BBC Eye Investigations – Breathless, BBC News Eye Investigations – BBC
Living With Leopards, A Netflix Documentary, Wild Space Production in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Freeborne Media – Netflix
Planet Earth III – Heroes, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC America, ZDF, FTV and The Open University – BBC
Silverback, An Off the Fence Production for BBC in co production with France Télévisions in association with Featuristic Films – BBC
The Great Rhino Robbery – Dead or Alive, BBC Studios – Sky Documentaries
Tiger, Wildstar Films – Disney+
Tigers on the Rise, Wildstar Films – Disney+
Wilding, A Passion Planet and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Production – Theatrical release Channel 4
Best Popular Culture Documentary
Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax, Story Films – Channel 4
Arena – Being Kae Tempest, Bohemia Films and The Open University – BBC
Big Zuu Goes to Mecca, Acme TV – BBC
Milli Vanilli, Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 Productions – Paramount+
Miriam: Death of a Reality Star – The Truth, Expectation Factual – Channel 4
Spacey Unmasked – Episode 1, Roast Beef Productions in association with All3Media International – Channel 4
The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1, 72 Films – Channel 4
The Sidemen Story, Pangaea – Netflix
Netflix Best Documentary Series
American Nightmare, RAW – Netflix
Cold Case Investigators: Solving Britain’s Sex Crimes, Brinkworth Productions – BBC
Evacuation, Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4
Imposter: The Man Who Came Back From the Dead, Five Mile Films – Channel 4
Lockerbie, Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries
Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain, Swan Films – Channel 4
The Push: Murder on the Cliff, Candour Productions – Channel 4
To Catch a Copper, Story Films – Channel 4
Best Cinema Documentary
20 Days in Mariupol, Frontline, PBS and The Associated Press – Theatrical release
American Symphony, Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix
Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic
Kokomo City, Couch Potato Company, Madison Square Films – Theatrical release
Queendom, Sundance Institute, Doc Society, Inmaat Productions, Vancouver Film School – Theatrical release
The Deepest Breath, An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix
The Eternal Memory, Fabula – Theatrical release
Your Fat Friend, Glimmer Films – Theatrical release
All3Media Best Student Documentary
Beyond These Walls, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Burnt Country, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Hungry for Freedom, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Mail Order Queens, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Milk, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Sahan Shakti: Fortitude, University of Manchester – University/college screening
The Story of Kween Deekayy, Goldsmiths University – University/college screening
The Waiter, the Scientist and Jenny, National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Fulwell 73 Best Documentary Short
Big Moves, Bridging the Gap: Outsiders – Edinburgh International Film Festival
Black Stroke, BPCS Films Limited – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel
BBC News Eye Investigations – Gaza 101: Emergency Rescue, BBC News Arabic – BBC
Iranian Yellow Pages, Snow Films, WDM Entertainment – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel
My Blonde GF, Tyke Films Ltd, in association with 16 Productions Ltd – theguardian.com
Puffling, Beehive Films Ltd – The New Yorker, Emergence Magazine
Ted & Noel, Happenstance Films – Channel 4
The Winterkeeper, Guardian Documentaries – theguardian.com
Best Documentary Presenter
Ellie Simmonds for Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family, Flicker Productions – ITV
Joe Tracini for Me and the Voice in My Head, Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
Nadifa Mohamed for Britain’s Human Zoos, Red Bicycle with Milk & Honey – Channel 4
Oobah Butler for The Great Amazon Heist, Zandland – Channel 4
Rhod Gilbert for Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck, Kailash Films, Llanbobl Vision – Channel 4
Rose Ayling-Ellis for Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change, Rogan Productions – BBC
Stacey Dooley for DNA Family Secrets – Episode 1, Minnow Films – BBC
Zuhair “Big Zuu” Hassan for Big Zuu Goes to Mecca, Acme TV – BBC
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