On Sunday, November 12th, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) unveiled the winners of the Eighth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards at a gala event in New York City. Actor and standup comedian Wyatt Cenac served as the host of the event for the second year in a row. The Critics Choice Documentary Awards recognize the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of qualified CCA members. Film Obsessive Assistant Editor and Content Supervisor Don Shanahan is among those voting members.
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie took home five trophies in all including the top award of the evening for Best Documentary Feature. The film’s other victories were Best Director for Davis Guggenheim, Best Editing for Michael Harte, Best Narration for Michael J. Fox, and Best Biographical Documentary. 20 Days in Mariupol, and American Symphony, and The Deepest Breath each took home two awards.

At the ceremony, the Pennebaker Award was presented to acclaimed documentarian Ross McElwee. The award, formerly known as the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, is named in honor of D. A. Pennebaker, a past winner. It was presented to Kopple by Chris Hegedus, Pennebaker’s long-time collaborator and widow.
To learn more about the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, and see the full list of nominees and winners, visit the Critics Choice Association website.
Winners of the Eighth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards:
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
BEST DIRECTOR
Davis Guggenheim – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Mstyslav Chernov – 20 Days in Mariupol
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Tim Cragg – The Deepest Breath
BEST EDITING
Michael Harte – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
BEST SCORE
Jon Batiste – American Symphony
BEST NARRATION
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie – Written and Performed by Michael J. Fox
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Being Mary Tyler Moore
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
JFK: One Day in America
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
American Symphony
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
20 Days in Mariupol
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Secrets of the Elephants
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
The Deepest Breath
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY – TIE
Lennon: Murder Without a Trial
Telemarketers
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
The Last Repair Shop
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About the Critics Choice Awards
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are an offshoot of the Critics Choice Awards, which are bestowed annually by the CCA to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, the Critics Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.
The Critics Choice Awards ceremony will be held on January 14, 2024 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, CA, and will be broadcast live on The CW.
About the Critics Choice Association (CCA)
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 580 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, in recognition of the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.
To learn more about the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and see the full list of nominees, visit the Critics Choice Association website.