The Critics Choice Association (CCA) celebrated excellence in nonfiction filmmaking at the 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards on November 8th in New York City. You Can See Everything emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, sweeping all five categories in which it was nominated, including Best Documentary Feature. The ceremony also honored acclaimed filmmakers Ron Howard and Jehane Noujaim for their contributions to documentary storytelling.
You Can See Everything dominated the 2026 Critics Choice Documentary Awards, winning five awards, including Best Documentary Feature. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim received Best Director, while David Bolen won Best Cinematography, Adam Locke-Norton earned Best Editing, and Ari Balouzian took home Best Score. Once Upon a Time in Harlem followed with three wins, including Best First Documentary Feature for David Greaves, Best Archival Documentary and Best Historical Documentary.
Additional winners included The History of Concrete, which earned Best Narration for John Wilson, while Musk received Best Biographical Documentary and EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert won Best Music Documentary. NAZA took home Best Political Documentary, Nuisance Bear won Best Science/Nature Documentary, and Everest: The Other Side received Best Sports Documentary. The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare and Lost Women of Alaska tied for Best True Crime Documentary, while The Baddest Speechwriter of All won Best Short Documentary. Lion received Best Limited Documentary Series, and 30 for 30 earned Best Ongoing Documentary Series.
The ceremony also recognized two influential filmmakers with special honors. Ron Howard received the Critics Choice Impact Award, presented by Frank Oz, recognizing his lasting influence on nonfiction filmmaking, while Jehane Noujaim accepted the Pennebaker Award, presented by Chris Hegedus, honoring her contributions to documentary storytelling. Hosted by Ross Mathews, the event welcomed numerous industry figures, including Octavia Spencer, Jimmy Chin, Liz Garbus, Joe Berlinger, Chai Vasarhelyi and more.
WINNERS OF THE 11th ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST DIRECTOR
Nathan Fielder & Lance Oppenheim – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
David Greaves – Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
David Bolen – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST EDITING
Adam Locke-Norton – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST NARRATION
The History of Concrete (Magnolia Pictures)
Written and Performed by John Wilson
BEST SCORE
Ari Balouzian – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (Neon)
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
NAZA (Neon)
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Musk (Bleecker Street)
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Nuisance Bear (Mubi)
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Everest: The Other Side (National Geographic Documentary Films)
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY (TIE)
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (Netflix)
Lost Women of Alaska (Investigation Discovery)
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
The Baddest Speechwriter of All (Netflix)
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Lion (National Geographic)
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN)
