Get ready for a cinematic showdown! The International Documentary Association (IDA) has just unveiled the nominees for its 41st annual Documentary Awards, and the competition is fiercer than ever. But here's where it gets controversial: while Netflix’s Apocalypse in the Tropics and National Geographic’s The Tale of Silyan—both helmed by past Oscar nominees—made the cut, Sundance darling The Perfect Neighbor is conspicuously absent. This Netflix acquisition recently swept the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Director, leaving many scratching their heads. Is this a snub or a strategic move? You decide.
This year’s IDA Awards, set for December 6 in Los Angeles, received over 550 submissions from 85 countries—a record-breaking number of international entries. And this is the part most people miss: instead of a traditional shortlist, IDA juries included special mentions alongside nominees, shining a spotlight on even more deserving films. From November 19 to December 2, IDA members can screen the nominated films and vote for the Best Feature and Best Short Documentary winners. All other categories will be decided by juries representing the global documentary community.
Among the highlights: documentary powerhouse Julie Goldman will receive the Career Achievement Award, while Brittany Shyne (Seeds) takes home the Emerging Filmmaker Award. Impact Partners will be honored with the Pioneer Award. But let’s dive into the nominees—a diverse lineup tackling everything from environmental crises to untold personal stories.
Best Feature Documentary Nominees
- Apocalypse in the Tropics (Petra Costa, Netflix)
- Life After (Reid Davenport, Multitude Films)
- Seeds (Brittany Shyne)
- Songs of Slow Burning Earth (Olha Zhurba, EPF Media)
- The Tale of Silyan (Tamara Kotevska, National Geographic)
Special Mentions: Come See Me in the Good Light (Ryan White, Apple), Cover-Up (Laura Poitras & Mark Obenhaus, Netflix), Deaf President Now! (Nyle DiMarco & Davis Guggenheim, Apple), Mothers of Chibok, and Orwell: 2+2=5 (Raoul Peck, NEON).
Best Short Documentary Nominees
- Correct Me If I’m Wrong (Hao Zhou)
- If a Walnut Falls (Bohao Liu)
- Looking for a Donkey (Juan Vicente Manrique)
- Mama Micra (Rebecca Blöcher & Frédéric Schuld, interfilm Berlin)
- Their Eyes (Nicolas Gourault, The New York Times Op-Docs)
Special Mentions: All The Empty Rooms (Joshua Seftel, Netflix), The Candy Factory (Cory Jacobs & Jason Schmidt, The New Yorker), and Voices From The Abyss (Irving Serrano & Víctor Rejón, EPF Media).
Thought-Provoking Questions for You
Why do you think The Perfect Neighbor was left off the list despite its recent accolades? Are special mentions a fair way to recognize more films, or do they dilute the prestige of nominations? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a debate!
