Outstanding
Debut Feature
From Barbara Kopple’s Harlan County U.S.A. to Frederick Wiseman’s Titicut Follies, some of the most lauded and lasting nonfiction films of all time have been crafted by debut filmmakers.
2024 Honors
2024 Honors
Nominees
20 Days in Mariupol
Directed by Mstyslav Chernov
Orlando, My Political Biography
Directed by Paul B. Preciado
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
Directed by Anna Hints
The Tuba Thieves
Directed by Alison O’Daniel
Previous Years
2023 Honoree The Territory Directed by Alex Pritz
Nominees
- Bad Axe Directed by David Siev
- Beba Directed by Rebeca Huntt
- I Didn’t See You There Directed by Reid Davenport
- A Night of Knowing Nothing Directed by Payal Kapadia
- Nothing Compares Directed by Kathryn Ferguson
2022 Honoree Ascension Directed by Jessica Kingdon
Nominees
- A Cop Movie Directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios
- Faya Dayi Directed by Jessica Beshir
- Jacinta Directed by Jessica Earnshaw
- Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
2021 Honoree Time Directed by Garrett Bradley
Nominees
- Feels Good Man Directed by Arthur Jones
- Mr. Soul! Directed by Melissa Haizlip
- Softie Directed by Sam Soko
- Some Kind of Heaven Directed by Lance Oppenheim
- Stray Directed by Elizabeth Lo
2020 Honoree The Disappearance of My Mother Directed by Beniamino Barrese
Nominees
- Jawline Directed by Liza Mandelup
- Scheme Birds Directed by Ellen Fiske, Ellinor Hallin
- Searching Eva Directed by Pia Hellenthal
- Swarm Season Directed by Sarah Christman
- Symphony for the Ursus Factory Directed by Jasmina Wojcik
2019 Honoree Minding the Gap Directed by Bing Liu
Nominees
- América Directed by Erick Stoll, Chase Whiteside
- Distant Constellation Directed by Shevaun Mizrahi
- Hale County This Morning, This Evening Directed by RaMell Ross
- Shirkers Directed by Sandi Tan
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