IDA Documentary Awards 2025 Nominations: Full List of Best Documentaries Revealed! (2025)

The 2025 IDA Documentary Awards are sparking excitement in the film world, with a star-studded lineup of nominees announced – but hold onto your seats, because some big hits from the year are surprisingly absent, making us question what's really driving these selections!

The International Documentary Association (IDA) has just unveiled its nominees for the 41st annual IDA Documentary Awards, set to take place on Saturday, December 6, in vibrant Los Angeles, California. For those new to this scene, IDA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing documentaries, providing resources, education, and recognition to filmmakers worldwide. This year's ceremony promises to be a gathering of voices telling real stories from across the globe.

Standouts among the nominees include the Netflix-acquired "Apocalypse in the Tropics," which explores environmental crises in the Amazon, and the National Geographic production "The Tale of Silyan," a poignant look at heritage and identity. Both films are helmed by directors who were previously nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars – imagine the buzz around their work! But here's where it gets controversial: Notably missing from the list is "The Perfect Neighbor," a Sundance Festival darling that Netflix also snapped up and which recently scooped multiple honors at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Director. Why did this one get overlooked? Is there a bias toward certain distributors, or did the judges have other priorities? It's a debate that's sure to ignite passionate discussions among film enthusiasts.

This year, IDA saw over 550 entries flooding in from a whopping 85 countries, marking a boost in global representation compared to previous years. That's a testament to how documentaries are breaking barriers and shining a light on diverse perspectives. The entries were meticulously reviewed by a panel of jurors – dozens of seasoned documentary professionals from every corner of the world – ensuring the selections reflect a broad and thoughtful consensus.

And this is the part most people miss: In a fresh twist, instead of just a shortlist leading to nominations, IDA's juries added special mentions alongside the nominees to give more films the spotlight they deserve. It's like giving an honorable nod to runners-up, celebrating the year's rich documentary landscape.

IDA members get an exclusive perk: They'll have access to stream all nominated films and cast their votes for winners in the Best Feature Documentary and Best Short Documentary categories from November 19 to December 2, 2025. For the other categories, it's the international jury that decides the victors – a democratic nod to community input.

On the big night, we'll also learn the winners of two special accolades: the ABC News VideoSource Award, which highlights impactful news-related content, and the Pare Lorentz Award, honoring films that delve into social issues, much like the pioneering works of Pare Lorentz himself in the 1930s.

Adding to the festivities, this year's ceremony will feature prestigious lifetime honors. Documentary producer Julie Goldman, known for her prolific career in storytelling, will receive the Career Achievement Award. Emerging talent Brittany Shyne, director of "Seeds" – a film about farming and resilience in America – will snag the Emerging Filmmaker Award. And Impact Partners, a group fostering socially conscious films, will be honored with the Pioneer Award for their innovative support of change-making documentaries.

To keep things fair and alphabetical, here's the breakdown of nominees by category, complete with directors and producers.

Best Feature Documentary Nominees

• "Apocalypse in the Tropics" (United States | Netflix | Director: Petra Costa | Producers: Alessandra Orofino, Petra Costa) – A gripping tale of climate devastation and indigenous struggles.
• "Life After" (United States | Multitude Films | Director: Reid Davenport | Producer: Colleen Cassingham) – Examining post-traumatic life, this one offers hope and healing for beginners diving into trauma documentaries.
• "Seeds" (United States | Director: Brittany Shyne | Producers: Danielle Varga, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, Brittany Shyne) – A fresh perspective on agriculture and community in the modern world.
• "Songs of Slow Burning Earth" (Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark | EPF Media | Director: Olha Zhurba | Producer: Darya Bassel) – Blending music and environmental themes, it's a poetic exploration for those new to international docs.
• "The Tale of Silyan" (Republic of North Macedonia, United States, United Kingdom | National Geographic | Director: Tamara Kotevska | Producers: Tamara Kotevska, Jean Dakar, Anna Hashmi, Jordanco Petkovski) – A cultural journey that might remind you of how stories preserve history.

Best Feature Documentary Special Mentions

• "Come See Me in the Good Light" (United States | Apple | Director: Ryan White | Producers: Jessica Hargrave, Ryan White, Tig Notaro, Stef Willen) – A humorous yet heartfelt look at comedy and life.
• "Cover-Up" (United States | Netflix | Director: Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus | Producers: Yoni Golijov, Olivia Streisand, Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus) – Investigative journalism at its finest, uncovering hidden truths.
• "Deaf President Now!" (United States | Apple | Directors: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim | Producers: Amanda Rohlke, Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan King, Nyle DiMarco, Michael Harte, Wayne Betts Jr.) – Celebrating disability rights and activism.
• "Mothers of Chibok" (United States, Nigeria | Director: Joel ‘Kachi Benson | Producers: Jamie Patricof, Katie McNeill, Rachel Halilej, Joel ‘Kachi Benson, Samira Mohammed, Adeyinka Oduniyi) – A powerful story of resilience and motherhood in the face of tragedy.
• "Orwell: 2+2=5" (United States | NEON | Director: Raoul Peck | Producers: Alex Gibney, Raoul Peck, George Chignell, Nick Shumaker) – Delving into George Orwell's legacy and modern parallels.
• "Yanuni" (Austria, Brazil, United States | Director: Richard Ladkani | Producers: Anita Ladkani, Richard Ladkani, Juma Xipaia, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson, Phillip Watson) – Environmental advocacy with a star-studded team.

Best Short Documentary Nominees

• "Correct Me If I’m Wrong" (Germany, United States | Director: Hao Zhou | Producer: Tyler Hill) – A witty examination of language and identity.
• "If a Walnut Falls" (China, Hong Kong | Director: Bohao Liu | Producer: Bohao Liu) – Nature's small wonders in a poetic short.
• "Looking for a Donkey" (Mexico, Venezuela | Director: Juan Vicente Manrique | Producers: Juan Vicente Manrique, María Benítez) – A charming quest that highlights cultural traditions.
• "Mama Micra" (Germany | interfilm Berlin | Director: Rebecca Blöcher | Co-director: Frédéric Schuld | Producer: Fabian Driehorst) – Tiny worlds and big stories about insects.
• "Their Eyes" (France, United States | The New York Times Op-Docs | Director: Nicolas Gourault | Producers: Yannick Beauquis and Quentin Brayer) – Sensory exploration for the visually impaired.

Best Short Documentary Special Mentions

• "All The Empty Rooms" (United States | Netflix | Director: Joshua Seftel | Producers: Joshua Seftel, Conall Jones, James Costa, Trevor Burgess) – Reflecting on loss and space.
• "The Candy Factory" (United States | The New Yorker | Directors: Cory Jacobs and Jason Schmidt | Producers: Cory Jacobs and Jason Schmidt) – Sweet treats and societal insights.
• "Landscapes of Longing" (India, United States | Directors: Alisha Tejpal, Mireya Martinez, Anoushka Mirchandani | Producers: Alisha Tejpal, Mireya Martinez) – Artistic takes on migration and desire.
• "perfectly a strangeness" (Canada, Chile | Premium Films | Director: Alison McAlpine | Producer: Alison McAlpine) – Quirky explorations of the unknown.
• "Please Step Aside!" (Germany | Raha Films | Director: Raha Faridi | Producer: Raha Faridi) – Navigating public spaces and social norms.
• "Voices From The Abyss" (Mexico | EPF Media | Directors: Irving Serrano & Víctor Rejón | Producer: Ramón Llaven Zavala) – Echoes from the depths of life.

Best Director

• Petra Costa, "Apocalypse in the Tropics" (United States | Netflix)
• Reid Davenport, "Life After" (United States | Multitude Films)
• Brittany Shyne, "Seeds" (United States)
• Olha Zhurba, "Songs of Slow Burning Earth" (Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark | EPF Media)
• Tamara Kotevska, "The Tale of Silyan" (Republic of North Macedonia, United States, United Kingdom | National Geographic)

Best Cinematography

• Ben Sturgulewski, "Champions of the Golden Valley" (United States) – Stunning visuals of rural triumphs.
• Subhadeep Dey, Mrinmoy Mondal, Rupesh Chaturbedi, "Redlight to Limelight" (India, Finland, Latvia | BBC Storyville) – Transformative shots in a story of change.
• Jean Dakar, "The Tale of Silyan" (Republic of North Macedonia, United States, United Kingdom | National Geographic)
• Natalia Pietsch, Grzegorz Piekarski, "The Town That Drove Away" (Poland | Polish National TV) – Evocative scenes of community shifts.
• Richard Ladkani, "Yanuni" (Austria, Brazil, United States)

Best Editing

• Julia Loktev, "My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow" (United States | Argot) – Tightly woven narratives from Russia.
• Pablo Proenza, "Natchez" (United States | ITVS) – Fluid storytelling in historical contexts.
• Jason Reid, Robinson Devor, Adam Sekuler, Matt Levinthal, "Suburban Fury" (United States) – Pulsating edits that capture tension.
• Daniel Claridge, Pedro Kos, Sara Newens, "The White House Effect" (United States | Netflix) – Political intrigue edited with precision.
• Alex Megaro, Ian Bell, "WTO/99" (United States) – Fast-paced takes on global protests.

Best Original Music Score

• Sam Slater, "Divia" (Ukraine, Poland, Netherlands) – Melodies that enhance emotional depth.
• Mato Wayuhi, "Free Leonard Peltier" (United States) – Soundscapes for justice stories.
• Matthew Dougherty, "Shuffle" (United States) – Rhythmic accompaniments to life's chaos.
• Fréderic Filiartre, "The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson" (Panama) – Enchanting tunes for mystical tales.
• Afshin Azizi, "Writing Hawa" (France, Netherlands, Qatar | First Hand Films, Icarus Films) – Cultural harmonies.

Best Production

• Alessandra Orofino, Petra Costa, "Apocalypse in the Tropics" (United States | Netflix)
• Yoni Golijov, Olivia Streisand, Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus, "Cover-Up" (United States | Netflix)
• Colleen Cassingham, "Life After" (United States | Multitude Films)
• Danielle Varga, Sabrina Schmidt Gordon, Brittany Shyne, "Seeds" (United States)
• Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman, "The Alabama Solution" (United States | HBO Max)

Best Sound Design

• Yannick Dauby, "Always" (United States, France, Taiwan) – Immersive audio experiences.
• Alexander Dudarev, "Architecton" (Germany, France, United States | A24) – Sonic architectures.
• Thomas Perez-Pape, "Only on Earth" (Denmark, Spain | DR, HBO, SVT) – Earthly echoes.
• Rico Andriolo, Manu Gerber, "Song of Breath" (Switzerland, Italy) – Breathing life into sound.
• Rubí J. Pérez, "The Silence of My Hands" (Mexico | AD Maiora) – Powerful quiet moments.

Best Writing

• Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino, Nels Bangerter, David Barker, "Apocalypse in the Tropics" (United States | Netflix)
• Bipuljit Basu, "Redlight to Limelight" (India, Finland, Latvia | BBC Storyville)
• Sasha Wortzel, "River of Grass" (United States)
• Cristina Costantini, Tom Maroney, "Sally" (United States | National Geographic)
• Robinson Devor, Jason Reid, Bob Fink, Charles Mudede, "Suburban Fury" (United States)

Best Curated Series

• "99" (France | EP: Jérôme Plan) – Curated gems from French cinema.
• "Independent Lens" (United States | PBS | EPs: Lois Vossen, Carrie Lozano, Royd Chung) – Diverse voices on public TV.
• "POV Season 38" (United States | PBS | EPs: Erika Dilday, Chris White) – Point-of-view stories that challenge norms.
• "POV Shorts Season 8" (United States | PBS | EPs: Opal H. Bennett, Erika Dilday, Chris White) – Bite-sized perspectives.
• "The New York Times Op-Docs" (United States | The New York Times Op-Docs | EPs: Kathleen Kingsbury, Adam B. Ellick, Alexandra Garcia) – Opinionated docs from the newsroom.

Best Episodic Series

• "Citizen Nation" (United States | PBS | Directors: Bret Sigler, Singeli Agnew | Producers: Veronika Adaskova, Emily Orr, Wesley Harris, Cole Cahill, Victor Couto, Tom Brown) – Community-driven narratives.
• "Earnhardt" (United States | Prime Video | Director: Joshua Altman | Producers: Riel Roch-Decter, Tally Hair, Rebecca Russell) – Racing legacies explored.
• "Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015" (United States | HBO Max | Directors: Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha Knowles, Muta’Ali, Rudy Valdez, Smriti Mundhra, Asako Gladsjo | Producers: Asako Gladsjo, Nimco Sheikhaden, Jevon Frank, Leah Smith, Clare Smith Marash, Niema Jordan) – Civil rights history continued.
• "The Sing Sing Chronicles" (United States | PNBC News Studios in association with Trilogy Films, MSNBC Films | Director: Dawn Porter | Producers: Lauren Capps, Sadie Bass, Nick McElroy) – Prison life and reform.
• "Turning Point: The Vietnam War" (United States | Netflix | Director: Brian Knappenberger | Producers: Doan Hoang Curtis, Bo Kovitz, Keven McAlester, Tommy Nguyen) – War's turning points dissected.

Best Music Documentary

• "El Canto de las Manos" (Spain, United States | Feel Sales | Director: María Valverde | Producers: María Valverde, Martí Font Isern, Cristina Oliva, Gustavo Dudamel) – Musical hands in symphony.
• "Move Ya Body: The Birth of House" (United States | Director: Elegance Bratton | Producer: Chester Algernal Gordon) – Dance culture origins.
• "One to One: John & Yoko" (United Kingdom | Magnolia Pictures, HBO Documentary Films | Director: Kevin Macdonald | Co-director: Sam Rice-Edwards | Producers: Peter Worsley, Kevin Macdonald, Alice Webb) – Iconic love and art.
• "Selena y Los Dinos" (United States | Netflix | Director: Isabel Castro | Producers: Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, J. Daniel Torres, Simran Singh, David Blackman) – Tejano music legends.
• "Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)" (United States | Hulu | Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson | Producers: Joseph Patel and Derik Murray) – Genius and burden in music.

David L. Wolper Student Documentary

• "Beyond Eden" (United Kingdom | National Film and Television School, UK | Director: Al Johnstone | Producer: Al Johnstone) – Exploring utopias.
• "Dancing in Tomorrowland" (United States | UCLA | Director: Jakob Roston | Producers: Grace Vincent, Nazanin Nemetollahi) – Futuristic dance dreams.
• "Two Days on the Interstate" (United Kingdom | National Film and Television School, UK | Director: Tatiana Stark | Producer: Tatiana Stark) – Road trip reflections.
• "Two Travelling Aunties" (United Kingdom | National Film and Television School, UK | Director: Christine Seow | Producer: Christine Seow) – Adventurous family tales.
• "What a day, what a life" (United Kingdom | National Film and Television School, UK | Director: Maylana Colchete | Producers: Luiza Amelio de Carvalho, Maylana Colchete) – Daily life magnified.

What do you think – are these nominations a fair shake, or is there an undercurrent of favoritism toward streaming giants like Netflix? Should student films get more mainstream attention, or do they thrive in their niche? Do you agree that special mentions add value, or are they just a consolation prize? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments – let's debate!