The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2021 honor the best of the documentary films that were released during the past year.
These are my awards and so, I don’t play by studio rules when it comes to documentaries and docuseries. If I think a three-part documentary from Peter Jackson is the best documentary of the year, I am going to say so. Because it is! And to be fair, it was initially scheduled for a theatrical release until Peter Jackson realized that there’s so much material to put out.
I’m a member of the Documentary Branch so I’ve had to watch a lot of documentaries this year. Not all of my selections were up for nominations but hey, it’s okay to go up against the grain.
Best Documentary (Feature/Docuseries): The Beatles: Get Back (Runner-ups: McCartney 3, 2, 1; Summer of Soul (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), The Neutral Ground)
Best Director: Peter Jackson, The Beatles: Get Back
Best First Documentary Feature (Tie): Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Summer of Soul (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised); CJ Hunt, The Neutral Ground
Best Cinematography: David Katznelson, Ian Seabrook and Picha Srisansanee, The Rescue
Best Editing (Tie): Jabez Olssen, The Beatles: Get Back; Joshua L. Pearson, Summer of Soul (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Best Score: Daniel Pemberton, The Rescue
Best Archival Documentary (Tie): The Beatles: Get Back; Summer of Soul (Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Historical/Biographical (Tie): Clerk; Introducing, Selma Blair; No Ordinary Man
Music: The Beatles: Get Back (Runner-ups: McCartney 3, 2, 1, Summer of Soul)
Science/Nature (Tie): The Rescue, Playing with Sharks, Becoming Cousteau
Political: The Neutral Ground
Sports: LFG (Runner-up: Changing the Game)
You’re Making Me Hungry: Julia
Why We Don’t Have Peace Yet: The Human Factor
Documentary Short: Four Seasons Total Documentary
Best Non-Released Documentary (Tie): Babi Yar. Context; Three Minutes – A Lengthening
Stay tuned for more of The Solzy Awards in December!
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