BBC snags six at The Grierson’s 2023 Documentary Awards, as Anna Hall honoured

Anna Hall (Source: Grierson)

The BBC and Netflix were among companies taking home multiple prizes from The Grierson Trust’s 2023 British Documentary Awards, with Anna Hall receiving the BBC Grierson Trustees’ Award.

The BBC picked up six awards in total and Netflix won two, while Channel 4, Disney+, Sky Documentaries/HBO Documentary Films and Apple TV+ took home one apiece.

Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland from Keo Films and Walk On Air Films won two awards for Best Documentary Series and Best History Documentary.

All That Breathes from Rise Films, Kiterabbit Films, Tangled Bank Studios also won two awards for Best Single Documentary – International and Best Cinema Documentary. See the full list of winners below.

Documentary maker Hall was honoured in recognition of her contribution to the art and craft of documentary, while Deaf & Disabled People in TV (DDPTV) received the Sky Documentaries Grierson Hero of The Year Award, for its successful work to increase diversity and inclusion in documentary and factual television.

Lorraine Heggessey, chair of The Grierson Trust, said: “At a time when the pressures on documentary filmmakers are higher than ever, The Grierson Trust believes it’s important to celebrate their achievements, and to recognise the commitment to documentaries from such a wide range of commissioners and funders.”

Full list of 2023 Winners:

Best Single Documentary – Domestic
LYRA
Alison Millar, Jackie Doyle, Chloe Lambourne, Siobhan Sinnerton, Mark McCauley, David Holmes
In association with Northern Ireland Screen and TG4 and HiddenLight – Channel 4

Best Single Documentary – International
ALL THAT BREATHES
Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, Teddy Leifer, Sean B. Carroll, David Guy Elisco
Rise Films, Kiterabbit Films, Tangled Bank Studios – HBO/Sky Documentaries

Best Current Affairs Documentary
RETROGRADE
Matthew Heineman, Caitlin McNally, Carolyn Bernstein, Baktash Ahadi, David Fialkow, Joedan Okun
National Geographic Documentary Films – Disney+

Best Arts Documentary
SR
Netflix in association with Team Downey & Library Films

Best Music Documentary
MOONAGE DAYDREAM
Brett Morgen, Live Nation Productions and Public Road Productions – Theatrical release

Best Sports Documentary
THE REAL MO FARAH
Leo Burley, Hannah Richards, Rick Barker, Marvyn Benoit, Shona Thompson, Zad Rogers
Atomized Studios, Red Bull Studios – BBC

Best History Documentary
ONCE UPON A TIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND (Episode 3)
Keo Films and Walk on Air Films for BBC, PBS and The Open University – BBC

The Open University Best Science Documentary
INSIDE OUR AUTISTIC MINDS (Episode 1)
Amanda Lyon, Joe Myerscough, Emma Jones, Shiva Talwar, Nick Ransom, Eloise Millard
BBC Studios Documentary Unit, The Open University – BBC

Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary
BIG OIL VS THE WORLD – DENIAL
Dan Edge, Jane McMullen, Emma Supple, Sarah Waldron, Raney Aronson-Rath, Ella Newton
Mongoose Pictures, BBC, PBS Frontline and ARTE – BBC

Best Entertaining Documentary
PEPSI, WHERE’S MY JET? – THE KID FROM SEATTLE
Netflix, Boardwalk Pictures, Untapped, North of Now

Best Constructed Documentary Series
MONSTER FACTORY
Apple TV in association with Public Record produced by Vox Media – Apple TV+

Best Documentary Series
ONCE UPON A TIME IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Keo Films and Walk on Air Films for BBC, PBS and The Open University – BBC

Best Cinema Documentary
ALL THAT BREATHES
Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, Teddy Leifer, Sean B. Carroll, David Guy Elisco
Rise Films, Kiterabbit Films, Tangled Bank Studios – Theatrical release

Best Student Documentary
WITH WOMAN
Mia Harvey, Yu-Pu Pon, Luke Barnfather, Diana Duah, Sophie Esslemont, Mara Ciobra
NFTS – University/College Screening

Best Documentary Short
LADY OF THE GOBI
Khoroldorj Choijoovanchig, Chantal Perrin, Tessa Louise Salomé, , Kate Kennelly, Luc Sorrel, Gael Rakotondrab
Petite Maison Production – theguardian.com

Best Documentary Presenter
HANNAH FRY for MAKING SENSE OF CANCER WITH HANNAH FRY
Curious Films – BBC