Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special—’We Feed People’ Serves All
Last Year’s Winner: “Boys State”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: Last year Apple TV+ won its first Emmy in the category, ending a three-year streak HBO had going for it.
Notable Ineligible Series: “Summer of Soul,” “Attica,” and “Writing With Fire” (all of which are ineligible for the Emmys after pursuing Oscars earlier this year)
This article will be updated throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2022 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting took place from June 16 to June 27, with the official Emmy nominations announced on Tuesday, July 12. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be given out over two consecutive nights on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4, with an edited presentation on the ceremonies to be broadcast on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:00 p.m. ET on FXX. Finally, the 74rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 12, and air live on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.
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The State of the Race
The Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special race is interesting this year because there is not really one project that was so widely watched it became undeniable. Past winners like “13th,” “Finding Neverland,” and even “Boys State” last year had credentials that poised them to go all the way.
Judging by TV Academy history, there is a bit of a back and forth between a showbiz doc winning one year, and then a more hard news doc winning the next. “Boys State” is as political as one can get, so one could infer that a documentary on the entertainment industry is bound to win this year, but how about something that offers both?
“We Feed People” is a documentary about Spanish chef José Andrés extensive humanitarian relief efforts through his organization World Central Kitchen, and is directed by industry favorite Ron Howard. The film has a lot of heart, and kind of has something for everyone, plus it’s winning over voters’ hearts through their stomachs, so it is our favorite to go all the way.
If it is a year meant for more explicit showbiz docs, look no further than “Lucy and Desi” from Amazon Prime Video and “George Carlin’s American Dream.” Both projects are from present day comedy greats looking to celebrate the artists that paved the way for them. While the former, from director Amy Poehler, seems to have found a larger audience, the latter from director Judd Apatow shares DNA with his special “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling,” which won this category in 2018.
Consider “The Tinder Swindler” this year’s dark horse. It does not quite check the same boxes recent winners here have, but the Netflix doc did have the world talking about it after its premiere in February. Of course, the world was also talking about “Controlling Britney Spears,” a follow up to the New York Times documentary project that helped free the popstar from her conservatorship, but if that film couldn’t win last year, its less urgent follow-up likely won’t win either this year.
Power Rankings:
“We Feed People” (National Geographic)
“Lucy and Desi” (Amazon Prime Video)
“George Carlin’s American Dream” (HBO)
“The Tinder Swindler” (Netflix)
“Controlling Britney Spears” (FX)
Will Win: “We Feed People”
Could Win: “Lucy and Desi”
Should Win: “We Feed People”
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