Critics' Choice Documentary Award for Best First Documentary Feature

The Best First Documentary Feature is one of the annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards. It is usually given to the director (or directors). The "first feature" designation is applied to the director.

At the 9th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, the category was renamed to Best New Documentary Filmmaker(s).

Winners and nominees

  indicates the winner

2010s

Year Film Director(s) Ref.
2016
(1st) 		Weiner Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg [1][2]
The Eagle Huntress Otto Bell
Hooligan Sparrow Nanfu Wang
Off the Rails Adam Irving
Tickled David Farrier and Dylan Reeve
The Witness James D. Solomon
2017
(2nd) 		Kedi Ceyda Torun [3]
California Typewriter Doug Nichol
Nowhere to Hide Zaradasht Ahmed
Step Amanda Lipitz
Strong Island Yance Ford
Whose Streets? Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis
2018
(3rd) 		Science Fair Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster [4][5]
Minding the Gap Bing Liu
Kusama: Infinity Heather Lenz
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda Stephen Nomura Schible
The Sentence Rudy Valdez
Wild Wild Country Chapman Way and Maclain Way
2019
(4th) 		Honeyland Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov [6][7]
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché Pamela B. Green
David Crosby: Remember My Name A.J. Eaton
For the Birds Richard Miron
Love, Antosha Garret Price
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound Midge Costin

2020s

Year Film Director(s) Ref.
2020
(5th) 		Mr. Soul! Melissa Haizlip [8][9]
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes Robert S. Bader
A Secret Love Chris Bolan
Feels Good Man Arthur Jones
Jane Goodall: The Hope Elizabeth Leiter and Kim Woodard
Stray Elizabeth Lo
2021
(6th) 		Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson [10]
Ascension Jessica Kingdon
Faya Dayi Jessica Beshir
Introducing, Selma Blair Rachel Fleit
Pray Away Kristine Stolakis
The Sparks Brothers Edgar Wright
The Velvet Underground Todd Haynes
2022
(7th) 		Bad Axe David Siev [11]
Cow Andrea Arnold
The Automat Lisa Hurwitz
My Old School Jono McLeod
Lucy and Desi Amy Poehler
The Territory Alex Pritz
Three Minutes: A Lengthening Bianca Stigter
2023
(8th) 		20 Days in Mariupol Mstyslav Chernov [12]
26.2 to Life Christine Yoo
Bad Press Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler
Bobi Wine: The People's President Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo
Kokomo City D. Smith
Orlando, My Political Biography Paul B. Preciado
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood Anna Hints
The Thief Collector Allison Otto
2024
(9th) 		Daughters Natalie Rae and Angela Patton [13]
Porcelain War Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev
Frida Carla Gutiérrez
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story Charlie Hamilton James
The Last of the Sea Women Sue Kim
Sugarcane Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie

References

  1. ^ Hammond, Pete (October 10, 2016). "'13th,' 'O.J.: Made In America' & 'Gleason' Lead Nominations For First Critics' Choice Documentary Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  2. ^ Tapley, Kristopher (November 3, 2016). "'O.J.: Made in America,' '13th' Top First Annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Chuba, Kirsten (October 11, 2017). "Critics' Choice Documentary Awards: 'Kedi' Leads Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Erbland, Kate (October 15, 2018). "Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominees Announced: 'Free Solo,' 'Minding the Gap,' and 'Wild Wild Country' Lead Nods". IndieWire. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 10, 2018). "Mr. Rogers Film 'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' Tops Critics' Choice Documentary Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Gray, Tim (October 14, 2019). "'Biggest Little Farm' Nabs Seven Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly; Howard, Annie (November 10, 2019). "Critics' Choice Documentary Awards: 'Apollo 11' Tops Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Hammond, Pete (October 26, 2020). "Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations: 'Mr. Soul', 'Gunda', 'Crip Camp' And 'Totally Under Control' Top List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Moreau, Jordan (November 16, 2020). "'Dick Johnson Is Dead' Wins Best Feature at Critics Choice Documentary Awards". Variety. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Feinberg, Scott (October 18, 2021). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'Summer of Soul' and 'Ascension' Lead With 6 Nominations Each". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (November 13, 2022). "'Good Night Oppy' Wins Top Prize at Critics Choice Documentary Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Zilko, Christian (November 12, 2023). "'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' Sweeps the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 10, 2024). "Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'Super/Man' and 'Will & Harper' Tie for Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2024.