The 2024 Grierson British Documentary Awards shortlist was unveiled July 22. Spanning 15 programme and presenter categories, the list reflects “the best documentary singles and series launched across broadcasters, streamers and online, as well as theatrical releases,” organisers write.
Established in 1972, the Griersons are one of the biggest events in the UK documentary calendar, and commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary filmmaker John Grierson (1898–1972), famous for Drifters and Night Mail, and the man widely regarded as the father of documentary.
“The awards recognise and celebrate documentaries from Britain and abroad that have made a significant contribution to the genre and that demonstrate quality, integrity, creativity, originality and overall excellence,” organisers add.
The nominations will be announced September 23. The Awards Ceremony will take place Wednesday, 6 November at London’s Roundhouse.
ENVY Best Single Documentary – Domestic
- Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax: Story Films, All3Media International – Channel 4
- Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family, Flicker Productions – ITV
- Forced Out: Their Fight for Pride, Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd – Sky Documentaries
- Hatton: Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries
- Me and the Voice in My Head: Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
- Otto Baxter: Not a F***ing Horror Story: Story Films, Archface Films – Sky Documentaries
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything: Studio 99 – Prime Video
- Wham! A Netflix Documentary: Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix
Best Single Documentary – International
- Another Body: WILLA, Remarkably Calm, Murmuration, Impact Partners – BBC
- My Name is Happy: October Films, Red Zed Films, Horovel Films – Channel 4
- Summer Qamp: Bright West Entertainment, Hello Friend, Cineflix Productions – Human Rights Watch Film Festival
- Tell Them You Love Me: Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries
- To Kill a Tiger: Notice Pictures Inc. and The National Film Board of Canada – Netflix
- Storyville – Total Trust Surveillance State: Witfilm and Interactive Media Foundation, B8, ZDF, Arte, NTR – BBC
- Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods, Hoyo Films Ltd – BBC
- While We Watched: BritDoc Films, LONO, MetFilm – Theatrical release
Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary
- 20 Days in Mariupol: FRONTLINE, PBS and The Associated Press – Theatrical release
- Bobi Wine: The People’s President: Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic
- Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua: BBC Africa Eye in co-production with Open Democracy – BBC
- Evacuation – We Just Left Them: Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4
- Putin vs The West: At War – Invasion: Brook Lapping Productions – BBC
- Dispatches – Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Hardcash Productions, Channel 4 Investigation Unit – Channel 4
- The Other War: BBC Current Affairs – BBC
- You Are Not Alone: Fighting the Wolf Pack: Lucernam Films – Netflix
Best Arts Documentary
- Arena – Coco Chanel Unbuttoned: whynow Studios – BBC
- Donyale Luna: Supermodel: Lightbox, Jeff Friday Media, The American Black Film Festival – Sky Documentaries
- High & Low – John Galliano: KGB Films – Theatrical release
- Madu: Disney Branded Television and Hunting Lane Films – Disney+
- Photographer – Dan Winters: Life is Once. Forever: Little Monster Films, National Geographic – National Geographic
- Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius – Episode 1: 72 Films – BBC
- Squaring The Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis: Raindog Films Ltd – Theatrical release
- Yellow Door: ’90s Lo-fi Film Club: Broccoli Pictures Co. Ltd – Netflix
Sky Documentaries Best Music Documentary
- American Symphony: Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix
- BBC Eye Investigations – Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-Pop Chat Groups: BBC Eye – BBC
- Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution – Rock the Boat: BBC Studios, BBC/PBS co-production – BBC
- Don’t Ever Stop: Restless Films – Doc’n Roll Festival
- Louis Theroux Interviews – Pete Doherty: Mindhouse Productions – BBC
- Milli Vanilli: Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 – Paramount+
- The Greatest Night in Pop: A Netflix Documentary, MRC Film, Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment – Netflix
- Wham!: A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films,
- Nemperor Production – Netflix
Broadcast Sport Best Sports Documentary
- Amputating Alice: Noah Media Group – Channel 4
- Copa 71: New Black Films – Theatrical release
- Hatton: Noah Media Group – Sky Documentaries
- Mark Cavendish: Never Enough: A Netflix Documentary, Pitch Productions Film – Netflix
- Mighty Penguins: Meadowlark, Firelight, Fever – Theatrical release
- One Night in Millstreet: Fastnet Films, Proposition Films – Theatrical release
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything: Studio 99 – Prime Video
- The Deepest Breath: An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix
Best History Documentary
- Defiance: Fighting the Far Right – Episode 1: Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment in association with Left Handed Films – Channel 4
- Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate: A Netflix Documentary, Thursday Company Production – Netflix
- JFK: One Day in America – Assassination: 72 Films – National Geographic
- Miners’ Strike: A Frontline Story: The Garden – BBC
- Stamped from the Beginning: A Netflix Documentary, One Story Up Production – Netflix
- The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1: 72 Films – Channel 4
- The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1: Mindhouse Productions – BBC
- Union with David Olusoga – Union and Disunion: Wall to Wall Media, Uplands Television – BBC
Best Science Documentary
- Better Off Dead?: Burning Bright Productions – BBC Earth – Human: BBC Studios – BBC
- Evolution Earth – Islands: Produced by Passion Planet in association with PBS and Arte France for Love Nature – Sky Nature
- Me and the Voice in My Head: Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
- Secrets of the Neanderthals: A Netflix Documentary with BBC Studios Production – Netflix
- Exposure – The Clinic: Rogan Scotland – ITV
- The Jennings vs Alzheimer’s: Expectation Entertainment – BBC
- The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth – Episode 1: Mindhouse Productions – BBC
Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary
- BBC Eye Investigations – Breathless: BBC News Eye Investigations – BBC
- Living with Leopards: A Netflix Documentary, Wild Space Production in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Freeborne Media – Netflix
- Planet Earth III – Heroes: BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC America, ZDF, FTV and The Open University – BBC
- Silverback: An Off the Fence Production for BBC in co production with France Télévisions in association with Featuristic Films – BBC
- The Great Rhino Robbery – Dead or Alive: BBC Studios – Sky Documentaries
- Tiger: Wildstar Films – Disney+
- Tigers on the Rise: Wildstar Films – Disney+
- Wilding: A Passion Planet and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Production – Theatrical release
Channel 4 Best Popular Culture Documentary
- Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax: Story Films – Channel 4
- Arena – Being Kae Tempest: Bohemia Films and The Open University – BBC
- Big Zuu Goes to Mecca: Acme TV – BBC
- Milli Vanilli: Keep On Running Pictures, Fulwell 73 Productions – Paramount+
- Miriam: Death of a Reality Star – The Truth: Expectation Factual – Channel 4
- Spacey Unmasked – Episode 1: Roast Beef Productions in association with All3Media International – Channel 4
- The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson – Episode 1
- 72 Films – Channel 4
- The Sidemen Story: Pangaea – Netflix
Netflix Best Documentary Series
- American Nightmare: RAW – Netflix
- Cold Case Investigators: Solving Britain’s Sex Crimes: Brinkworth Productions – BBC
- Evacuation: Wonderhood Studios – Channel 4
- Imposter: The Man Who Came Back from the Dead: Five Mile Films – Channel 4
- Lockerbie: Mindhouse Productions – Sky Documentaries
- Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain: Swan Films – Channel 4
- The Push: Murder on the Cliff: Candour Productions – Channel 4
- To Catch a Copper: Story Films – Channel 4
Best Cinema Documentary
- 20 Days in Mariupol: FRONTLINE, PBS and The Associated Press – Theatrical release
- American Symphony: Higher Ground, Mercury Studios, Our Time Projects – Netflix
- Bobi Wine: The People’s President: Southern Films, Ventureland, National Geographic Documentary Films – National Geographic
- Kokomo City: Couch Potato Company, Madison Square Films – Theatrical release
- Queendom: Sundance Institute, Doc Society, Inmaat Productions, Vancouver Film
- School – Theatrical release
- The Deepest Breath: An A24, Motive Films and Ventureland Production – Netflix
- The Eternal Memory: Fabula – Theatrical release
- Your Fat Friend: Glimmer Films – Theatrical release
All3Media Best Student Documentary
- Beyond These Walls: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
- Burnt Country: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
- Hungry for Freedom: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
- Mail Order Queens: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
- Milk: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
- Sahan Shakti: Fortitude: University of Manchester – University/college screening
- The Story of Kween Deekayy: Goldsmiths University – University/college screening
- The Waiter, the Scientist and Jenny: National Film and Television School – University/college screening
Fulwell 73 Best Documentary Short
- Big Moves: Bridging the Gap: Outsiders – Edinburgh International Film Festival
- Black Stroke: BPCS Films Limited – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel
- BBC News Eye Investigations – Gaza 101: Emergency Rescue: BBC News Arabic – BBC
- Iranian Yellow Pages: Snow Films, WDM Entertainment – Netflix Still Watching YouTube Channel
- My Blonde GF: Tyke Films Ltd, in association with 16 Productions Ltd – theguardian.com
- Puffling: Beehive Films Ltd – The New Yorker, Emergence Magazine
- Ted & Noel: Happenstance Films – Channel 4
- The Winterkeeper: Guardian Documentaries – theguardian.com
Best Documentary Presenter
- ELLIE SIMMONDS for Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family: Flicker Productions – ITV
- JOE TRACINI for Me and the Voice in My Head: Hungry Bear Media Ltd – Channel 4
- NADIFA MOHAMED for Britain’s Human Zoos: Red Bicycle with Milk & Honey – Channel 4
- OOBAH BUTLER for The Great Amazon Heist: Zandland – Channel 4
- RHOD GILBERT for Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck: Kailash Films, Llanbobl Vision – Channel 4
- ROSE AYLING-ELLIS for Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change: Rogan Productions – BBC
- STACEY DOOLEY for DNA Family Secrets – Episode 1: Minnow Films – BBC
- ZUHAIR ‘BIG ZUU’ HASSAN for Big Zuu Goes to Mecca: Acme TV – BBC
