Published on: 11 November 2022 in Industry

2022 Grierson Award Winners Announced

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On Thursday, the Winners of the 2022 Grierson Awards were announced at a Ceremony at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. We were thrilled to see so many directors, including many Directors UK members, recognized for their outstanding documentary work.

The Grierson Trustees’ Award was presented to the late Roger Graef OBE, described by Grierson Chair Lorraine Heggesey as “an inspirational figure to generations of documentary makers and championed young talent throughout his career”.

The Grierson Hero of the Year Award was presented to Clare Richards, documentary director and founder of We Are Doc Women. On the award, Lorraine Heggesey said: “In a very short space of time Clare’s work with We Are Doc Women has started to effect real and substantial change within the documentary industry. Clare is a prime example of someone who is prepared to put her head above the parapet and name uncomfortable truths, going the extra mile and having a real impact on the sector.”

The award for Best Single Documentary — Domestic was presented to Grenfell: The Untold Story, directed by James Newton. Meanwhile, the award for Best Single Documentary — International was presented to The Reason I Jump, directed by Jerry Rothwell.

Afghanistan: No Country for Women, directed by Ramita Navai, won the award for Best Current Affairs Documentary, while Salt, by Selina Thompson — directed by Alison Ramsay — took home the award for Best Arts Documentary.

The award for Best Music Documentary was presented to jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy - act i: VISION, directed by Coodie and Chike Ozah, while jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy took home the award for Best Documentary Series. Citizen Ashe, directed by Rex Miller and Sam Pollard, took home the award for Best Sports Documentary.

The award for Best Science Documentary went to A Year in the Ice: The Arctic Drift, directed by Ashley Morris. Meanwhile, the winner in the Best History Documentary category was The Missing Children, directed by Tanya Stephan. The Green Planet: Tropical Worlds, directed by Paul Williams, picked up the prize for Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary.

’Twas the Fight Before Christmas, directed by Becky Read, was named Best Entertaining documentary, while Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised) — directed by Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson — was awarded Best Cinema Documentary.

The award for Best Documentary Short went to We Are Black and British, directed by Ryan Samuda. Three Songs for Benazir, directed by Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei, was presented with the award for Best Documentary Short. The award for Best Student Documentary was presented to Ten by Ten, directed by Jami L Bennet.

Congratulations to all of this year’s fantastic winners and nominees, across all categories! You can read a full list here, along with judges’ comments.

You can watch the ceremony in full on YouTube.

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