The forty first annual IDA Documentary Awards brunch held on December 6 on the Los Angeles Athletic Membership assembled the nonfiction group to rejoice one of the best tv and movie documentaries of 2025.
Dozens of world IDA jurors voted on greater than 550 entries in all classes from 85 international locations.
The winner of Greatest Characteristic Documentary, “The Story of Silyan,” beat out nominees “Apocalypse within the Tropics” (Netflix), which did win two awards, for Greatest Writing and Greatest Manufacturing, “Life After” (Multitude Movies), “Songs of Gradual Burning Earth” (EPF Media) and “Seeds,” which additionally gained Greatest Director for Brittany Shyne. The Sundance U.S. Grand Jury prize winner, amongst many different IDA contenders, nonetheless lacks distribution.
“The Story of Silyan” additionally gained Greatest Cinematography. Kevin Macdonald’s “One to One: John & Yoko” gained Greatest Music Documentary.
Successful the highest IDA award pushes NatGeo’s transferring portrait of a failing farm group, “The Story of Silyan,” from the filmmakers behind North Macedonia’s twice-nominated documentary “Honeyland,” forward within the Oscar race.
Successful Greatest Curated Collection was France’s “99,” executive-produced by Jérôme Plan; Greatest Episodic Collection went to PBS’ “Citizen Nation.”
Among the many particular awards, American documentary filmmaker Julie Goldman accepted the Profession Achievement Award; Brittany Shyne (“Seeds”) the Rising Filmmaker Award; and Influence
Companions the Pioneer Award.
The entire winners are listed beneath.
Greatest Characteristic Documentary
“The Story of Silyan” (Republic of North Macedonia, United States, United Kingdom | Nationwide Geographic | Director: Tamara Kotevska | Producers: Tamara Kotevska, Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi,
Jordanco Petkovski)
Greatest Quick Documentary
“Searching for a Donkey” (Mexico, Venezuela | Director: Juan Vicente Manrique | Producers:
Juan Vicente Manrique, María Benítez)
Greatest Director
Brittany Shyne, “Seeds” (United States)
Greatest Cinematography
Jean Dakar, “The Story of Silyan” (Republic of North Macedonia, United States, United Kingdom
| Nationwide Geographic)
Greatest Modifying
Alex Megaro, Ian Bell, “WTO/99” (United States)
Greatest Authentic Music Rating
Frédéric Filiatre, “The Sorcerer,” Julio Zachrisson
Greatest Manufacturing
Alessandra Orofino, Petra Costa, “Apocalypse within the Tropics” (United States | Netflix
Greatest Sound Design
Thomas Perez-Pape, “Solely on Earth” (Denmark, Spain | DR, HBO, SVT)
Greatest Writing
Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino, Nels Bangerter, David Barker, Tina Baz, “Apocalypse in
the Tropics”
Greatest Curated Collection
“99” (France | EP: Jérôme Plan)
Greatest Episodic Collection
“Citizen Nation” (United States | PBS | Administrators: Bret Sigler, Singeli Agnew | Producers:
Veronika Adaskova, Emily Orr, Wesley Harris, Cole Cahill, Victor Couto, Tom Brown)
Greatest Music Documentary
“One to One: John & Yoko” (United Kingdom | Magnolia Photos, HBO Documentary Movies |
Director: Kevin Macdonald | Co-director: Sam Rice-Edwards | Producers: Peter Worsley, Kevin
Macdonald, Alice Webb)
David L. Wolper Scholar Documentary
“What a day, what a life” (United Kingdom | Nationwide Movie and Tv Faculty, UK | Director:
Maylana Colchete | Producers: Luiza Amelio de Carvalho, Maylana Colchete)
ABC Information VideoSource Award
“Deaf President Now!” (United States | Apple | Administrators: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim |
Producers: Amanda Rohlke, Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan King, Nyle DiMarco, Michael Harte, Wayne
Betts Jr.)
Pare Lorentz Award
“River of Grass” (United States | Director: Sasha Wortzel | Producers: Danielle Varga, Sasha
Wortzel)
