Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor was the biggest winner at the 10th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, held on Sunday night in New York City. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the film dominated the evening with five major wins, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Archival Documentary, and Best True Crime Documentary.
Other notable winners included Mr. Scorsese, Ocean With David Attenborough, and Orwell: 2+2=5, each earning two awards. My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay took home Best First Documentary Feature, marking a strong debut for the filmmaker.
The ceremony also honored Ken Burns with the Critics Choice Impact Award, presented by Christine Baranski, and recognized Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady with the Pennebaker Award, formerly the Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement honor, presented by Chris Hegedus.
Hosted by Aasif Mandvi, the evening featured presenters including Maria Cuomo Cole, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Questlove, Ben Stiller, and Soledad O’Brien, among others.
“Ten years in, and the art of documentary storytelling has never been more vital or vibrant,” said Christopher Campbell, Vice President of 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.”
Full List of Winners – Critics Choice Documentary Awards 2025
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)
