Brief
Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations spotlight Ava DuVernay and Elizabeth Holmes film
Netflix tops the field with 17 nominations as the Critics Choice Documentary Awards prepare for their Nov. 8 ceremony in New York.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Ava DuVernay’s documentary "14th" leads the Critics Choice Documentary Awards nominations with six nods, including Best Documentary Feature, Variety reported on Oct. 13. Close behind, Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s "You Can See Everything," a three‑hour examination of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, earned five nominations.
What happened
The 11th‑annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards will be held on Nov. 8 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, with Ross Matthews serving as host. The nominations cover feature‑length, two‑part and short‑form documentaries released in the United States between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026.
What the reports add
Variety notes that Netflix leads all distributors with 17 nominations, nearly double the nine earned by runner‑up Neon. Other nominated distributors include A24, Sony Pictures Classics, National Geographic Documentary Films, and Bleecker Street. The list of nominees for Best Documentary Feature includes "14th" (Netflix), "Everest: The Other Side" (National Geographic), "Everybody to Kenmure Street" (Icarus Films), "The History of Concrete" (Magnolia Pictures), "Musk" (Bleecker Street), "Naza" (The Guardian/MK2 Films), "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" (Neon), "Rehearsals for a Revolution" (Sony Pictures Classics), "Remake" (Music Box Films) and "You Can See Everything" (A24).
What was said
Variety reports that Ron Howard will receive the Critics Choice Impact Award, while visionary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim will be honored with the Pennebaker Award, presented by Chris Hegedus, D. A. Pennebaker’s widow.
How it came about
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards have become a noted predictor of Oscar success, though its track record is mixed. The inaugural top‑prize winner, "O. J.: Made in America" (2016), won the Academy Award for Documentary Feature, and only three other winners or nominees have crossed over to the Oscars since then. The ceremony’s focus on nonfiction storytelling continues to draw high‑profile filmmakers, as seen with DuVernay’s and Fielder’s entries. For further context on the Elizabeth Holmes documentary, see Felo’s earlier coverage of its R rating and festival premieres.
Key facts
- "14th" leads nominations with six nods, including Best Documentary Feature. (variety.com)
- "You Can See Everything" received five nominations. (variety.com)
- Netflix tops distributors with 17 nominations, Neon follows with nine. (variety.com)
- The awards ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Edison Ballroom, New York. (variety.com)
- Ron Howard will receive the Critics Choice Impact Award. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “’14th,’ ‘You Can See Everything’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in Harlem’ Lead Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations”
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