“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” Tie for Best Documentary Feature at Critics Choice Documentary Awards in New York
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced the winners of the Ninth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards on November 10, 2024, at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Among the evening's top honorees, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Will & Harper tied for Best Documentary Feature.
Directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story swept all six of its nominated categories, including Best Director, Best Editing for Otto Burnham, and Best Score for Ilan Eshkeri. The documentary also won Best Archival Documentary and Best Biographical Documentary.
The Last of the Sea Women earned Best Cinematography for Iris Ng, Eunsoo Cho, and Justin Turkowski, and Best Science/Nature Documentary. Simone Biles Rising triumphed with awards for Best Sports Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series, while Sugarcane claimed both Best Political Documentary and Best True Crime Documentary.
Natalie Rae and Angela Patton were recognized as Best New Documentary Filmmakers for their work on Daughters, while The Only Girl in the Orchestra secured Best Short Documentary. Other winners included Music by John Williams for Best Music Documentary and The Greatest Night in Pop for Best Historical Documentary.
Veteran filmmaker Rory Kennedy received the prestigious Pennebaker Award, presented by Chris Hegedus, the widow and collaborator of the late D A Pennebaker. Kennedy’s prolific career in documentary filmmaking was celebrated during the ceremony.
The event, hosted by actor Erich Bergen, was attended by prominent figures including Ron Howard, Chelsea Clinton, Jerry Seinfeld, and many others. Christopher Campbell, Vice President of Documentaries at the CCA, remarked, “Tonight brought about some wonderful surprises as we celebrated a fantastic array of documentaries and the remarkable people whose stories they told.”
Complete List of Winners – Ninth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards:
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (TIE)
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui / USA
- Will & Harper / Directors Unspecified / USA
BEST DIRECTOR
- Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / USA
BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER(S)
- Natalie Rae & Angela Patton – Daughters / USA
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Iris Ng, Eunsoo Cho, Justin Turkowski – The Last of the Sea Women / USA
BEST EDITING
- Otto Burnham – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / USA
BEST SCORE
- Ilan Eshkeri – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / USA
BEST NARRATION
- Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces / Written and performed by Steve Martin / USA
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / USA
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
- The Greatest Night in Pop / USA
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story / USA
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
- Music by John Williams / USA
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
- Sugarcane / USA
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
- The Last of the Sea Women / USA
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
- Simone Biles Rising / USA
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
- Sugarcane / USA
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
- The Only Girl in the Orchestra / USA
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
- Simone Biles Rising / USA
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
- 30 for 30 / USA