‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Tops Critics Choice Documentary Awards

The Perfect Neighbor topped the 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, which were handed out Sunday night in New York City.

The film scooped up five awards, including best documentary feature, best director for Geeta Gandbhir, best editing for Viridiana Lieberman, best archival documentary and best true crime doc.

Mr. Scorsese, Ocean With David Attenborough and Orwell: 2+2=5 each took home two awards during the ceremony, which was held at the Edison Ballroom. My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay won best first documentary feature.

Also during the ceremony, Ken Burns was honored with the Critics Choice Impact Award, presented by Christine Baranski, while Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady received the Pennebaker Award (formerly the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award), presented by Chris Hegedus.

Aasif Mandvi served as host, with presenters including Michael Chernus, Maria Cuomo Cole, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Reginald Hudlin, Brian d’Arcy James, Hilarie Burton Morgan, Sheila Nevins, Soledad O’Brien, Raoul Peck, Dawn Porter, Questlove, Ben Stiller and Rebecca Wisocky.

“Ten years in, and the art of documentary storytelling has never been more vital or vibrant,” said Christopher Campbell, vp documentary at the Critics Choice Association. “This year’s filmmakers show, through their creativity and courage, just how powerful documentaries can be in shaping our view of the world.”

The awards honors the year’s best documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of qualified CCA members. Nominations are determined by the voting of qualified CCA members with expertise in the documentary field.

A full list of winners follows.

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)