The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2020

The Solzy Awards

The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2020 honor the best of the documentary films that were released during the past year.

Last month, I voted in my second-ever Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards. Some of these awards do match how I voted during the CCDA. However, there were some instances in which my preferred documentary was not a nominee earlier this month.  In other instances, some of my categories were not a category up for voting during those awards.  With no further adieu, I present the the Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2020.

Before getting to the overall honors, I want to state that it’s been another great year for documentaries.  Sundance kicked off a solid film year with plenty of documentaries to fall in love with.  Obviously, the year did not go as scheduled.  There have been a few docs that have been close to my heart since I first watched them: All In: The Fight for Democracy, Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen, and Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes.  There are no shortage of political documentaries this year.

Best Documentary Feature (Tie): All In: The Fight for Democracy, Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen

Best Documentary Series: Hillary

Best Director: Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés, All In: The Fight for Democracy

Best Cinematography (TIE):  Emily Topper, Miss Americana; Kirsten Johnson, Dick Johnson is Dead

Best Editing: Lindy Jankura, Alexis Johnson and Alex Keipper, Totally Under Control

Best Score: Marco Beltrami, Brandon Roberts and Buck Sanders, The Way I See It

Best Archival Documentary (TIE): Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes, Belushi

Historical/Biographical (TIE): Belushi, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

Music (Tie): Miss Americana, Laurel Canyon, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Almost Music: My Darling Vivian

Nature: Dolphin Reef

Political (TIE): All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Way I See It, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Totally Under Control, 537 Votes

Sports: Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes (Runner-up: Athlete A)

Best Documentary That Makes You Nostalgic For Browsing The Aisle Rather Than Spend A Hour Between A Gazillion Streaming Services Deciding What Too Watch: The Last Blockbuster

Best Non-Released Documentary: No Ordinary Man, REDACTED TITLE THAT REMAINS UNDER EMBARGO

Stay tuned for more of The Solzy Awards in late December!

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.