Our Documentary Lists

Academy Award — Documentary Feature

1943–present

The Oscar for Best Documentary Feature is awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Films are selected through a nomination process that includes a screening requirement and shortlisting phase.

Academy Award — Documentary Short

1941–present

The Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject recognizes documentary films under 40 minutes. Films must meet Academy eligibility requirements and pass through the same nomination process as the feature category.

BAFTA — Documentary

1979–present

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards the BAFTA for Best Documentary to films released in the UK. BAFTA is widely considered one of the most prestigious film awards outside of the Academy Awards.

British Independent Film Awards

1998–present

The BIFA honors excellence in British independent cinema, including a documentary category recognizing British documentary filmmakers working outside the studio system.

Cinema For Peace — Documentary

2002–present

Cinema for Peace is a global initiative using the power of cinema to raise awareness for humanitarian, environmental, and political issues. Their annual award highlights impactful documentary filmmaking.

Critics Choice — Documentary

2018–present

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are presented by the Critics Choice Association, honoring the finest in documentary filmmaking across film and television. Separate from the main Critics Choice Awards.

Emmy Awards — Documentary

1949–present

The Emmy Awards are presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The documentary category covers long-form and short documentary programming across broadcast and streaming platforms.

European Film Awards — Documentary

1988–present

Presented by the European Film Academy, the European Film Awards documentary category recognizes outstanding European documentary filmmaking. Winners are selected by EFA members from across Europe.

Gotham Awards — Documentary

1991–present

The Gotham Awards celebrate independent film from New York and beyond. The documentary category highlights films that exemplify the spirit of independent storytelling. A bellwether for awards season.

IDA Documentary Awards

1984–present

The International Documentary Association presents its annual awards recognizing outstanding achievement in documentary film and video. The IDA Awards are a key recognition in the documentary community.

NAACP Image Awards — Documentary

1967–present

The NAACP Image Awards honor outstanding works by and about people of African descent. The documentary category recognizes films that authentically reflect and celebrate the African American experience.

Peabody Awards — Documentary

1941–present

The George Foster Peabody Awards honor stories that matter across broadcasting, cable, and digital media. Peabody's documentary category is one of the most selective and prestigious in the industry.

Spirit Awards — Documentary

1986–present

The Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrate American independent cinema. The documentary category recognizes films made outside the studio system with budgets under a certain threshold, emphasizing creative freedom.

Boston Society of Film Critics — Documentary

1981–present

The Boston Society of Film Critics is one of the oldest film critics organizations in the United States. Their annual documentary award recognizes the finest nonfiction film of the year as selected by Boston-based critics.

IndieWire Critics Poll — Documentary

Annual

IndieWire's annual critics poll surveys film critics and journalists about the best films of the year. The documentary category aggregates votes from hundreds of industry voices.

LA Film Critics Association — Documentary

1975–present

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association is composed of professional film critics based in the Los Angeles area. Their documentary award reflects the collective judgment of critics in one of the world's major film markets.

National Board of Review — Documentary

1909–present

The National Board of Review selects the year's best films in advance of awards season. Their documentary selection is viewed as an early indicator of awards momentum. The NBR is composed of filmmakers, academics, and film enthusiasts.

National Society of Film Critics — Documentary

1966–present

The National Society of Film Critics is a membership organization of leading American film critics. Their annual awards are among the most critically respected in the industry.

New York Society of Film Critics — Documentary

1935–present

The New York Film Critics Circle is one of the oldest and most respected critics organizations in the US. Their documentary award reflects the consensus of New York's leading film critics.

Satellite Awards — Documentary

1996–present

The Satellite Awards are presented by the International Press Academy. The documentary film category is selected by an international body of entertainment journalists and publicists.

Toronto Film Critics Association — Documentary

1997–present

The Toronto Film Critics Association presents annual awards for the best films of the year as judged by critics based in Canada's largest city. Their documentary award highlights outstanding nonfiction cinema.

Cinema Eye Honors

2008–present

Cinema Eye Honors celebrates craft, innovation, and artistry in nonfiction filmmaking. The awards recognize outstanding achievement across editing, cinematography, direction, and other disciplines in documentary film.

Hot Docs

1993–present

Hot Docs is the largest documentary film festival in North America, held annually in Toronto. Recognition at Hot Docs — including the Jury Award and Audience Award — is a significant milestone for documentary filmmakers.

Sundance Film Festival — Documentary

1978–present

The Sundance Film Festival is one of the world's most celebrated independent film festivals. The documentary competition at Sundance is considered a launching pad for major nonfiction films, with Grand Jury and Audience Award winners often going on to wide release and awards recognition.

IMDb Top 100 Documentaries

Ongoing

The Internet Movie Database's list of the top-rated documentaries is determined by aggregated user ratings from IMDb's global audience of millions of film fans. The list is a snapshot of documentaries most highly regarded by general audiences worldwide.

Rotten Tomatoes Top 100 Documentaries

Ongoing

Rotten Tomatoes aggregates reviews from professional film critics to calculate a Tomatometer score. The RT Top 100 Documentaries list ranks nonfiction films by their critical consensus, representing the documentaries that critics most consistently recommend.