Critics Choice Documentary Awards: ‘Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie’ sweeps

It’s a sweep! The Critics Choice Association revealed the winners for its 8th annual documentary awards on Sunday, November 12, 2023, and one film claimed all five of the awards it was nominated for. Though it trailed “American Symphony” in bids going into the night, “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” prevailed as the night’s biggest winner, taking home prizes in all five of its categories, including Best Documentary. The film’s other wins went to Davis Guggenheim in Best Director, Michael Harte in Best Editing, and in Best Narration and Best Biographical Documentary.

“American Symphony,” the nomination leader with six, took home two prizes: Jon Batiste won Best Score and the film was named Best Music Documentary. The other two-time winners were “20 Days in Mariupol,” Best First Documentary Feature and Best Political Documentary, and “The Deepest Breath,” Best Cinematography and Best Sports Documentary.

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If, like us, you’re already thinking about which non-fiction films will go on to be Oscar-nominated, the CCDA winners are not the strongest bellwether. In 2022, the CCDA anointed “Good Night Oppy” with its top prize and four other awards, just as they have “Still,” but “Oppy” failed to make any other waves in the race and was ultimately not nominated by the film academy. Instead, CCDA nominees “Fire of Love” and “Navalny” were on the Oscar list with the latter title taking home the gold. In its first seven years, the CCDA and Oscar winners have matched only twice: in 2021 with “Summer of Soul” and 2016 with “O.J.: Made in America.”

SEE Key dates for Best Documentary Feature contenders

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards recognize the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms. The ceremony was hosted for the second year in a row by longtime event supporter, actor, and standup comedian Wyatt Cenac. The Pennebaker Award, formerly known as the Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to acclaimed documentarian Ross McElwee.

See the full list of 2023 winners below.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)

BEST DIRECTOR

Davis Guggenheim – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)

BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Tim Cragg – The Deepest Breath (Netflix)

BEST EDITING

Michael Harte – Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+

BEST SCORE

Jon Batiste – American Symphony (Netflix)

BEST NARRATION

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+); Written and Performed by Michael J. Fox

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY

Being Mary Tyler Moore (HBO | Max)

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY

JFK: One Day in America (National Geographic)

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (Apple TV+)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY

American Symphony (Netflix)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY

20 Days in Mariupol (PBS)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY

Secrets of the Elephants (National Geographic)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

The Deepest Breath (Netflix)

BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY

John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial (Apple TV+)
Telemarketers (HBO | Max)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

The Last Repair Shop (Breakwater Studios)

BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

The 1619 Project (Hulu/Onyx Collective)

BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES

30 for 30 (ESPN)

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