Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations 2020: 'Athlete A,' 'Rising Phoenix' And More

The nominees for the annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards have been revealed, and projects like “Athlete A,” Rising Phoenix” and “Gunda” will be battling out for trophies in various categories.

The organization announced the nominees on its official website. Netflix’s “Athlete A” received four nominations, including Best Documentary Feature. It is also nominated for Best Editing and Best Sports Documentary.

Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk have received directing nods for the project that tells the story of one of the biggest scandals in the sports world. The documentary centered on the case of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who was accused of sexual abuse by over 100 female athletes.

Athletes such as Maggie Nichols, Rachael Denhollander, and Jamie Dantzscher are also being recognized with the honor of Most Compelling Living Subjects of a Documentary.

Meanwhile, features like “Gunda,” “Mr. Soul,” and “Crip Camp” nabbed five nods apiece.

Another documentary that received multiple nominations was “Rising Pheonix.” The documentary based on the lives of para-athletes went on to secure two nods, including Best Sports Documentary.

Tatyana McFadden, winner of 17 Paralympic medals and one of the athletes featured in the documentary, shared her excitement on social media and expressed gratitude toward everyone who believed in the film.

“I’m totally fine. The best news of the day. #RisingPhoenix @HTYTstories is up for @CriticsChoice awards. Just wanted to say thanks to every person who believed in this film,” McFadden wrote on Twitter.

Netflix leads the field with 31 nominations, followed by Neon with 14 and Magnolia Pictures with nine.

Talking about the nominations, Christopher Campbell, president of the documentary branch of CCA, noted that documentaries are “more important” to the world right now.

“At a unique time for the entertainment industry and the world, documentaries are more important and fortunately more abundant and more available and more essential than ever. In 2020, documentaries have taken us to places and shown us perspectives we’ve never experienced before,” Campbell said.

The winners of the fifth annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards will be announced on Nov. 16.

Here’s the complete list of nominees:

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

• “Athlete A” (Netflix) “Belushi” (Showtime)
• “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” (Netflix)
• “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix)
• “Feels Good Man” (Wavelength Productions/PBS Independent Lens)
• “The Fight” (Magnolia Pictures/Topic Studios)
• “The Go-Go’s” (Showtime)
• “Gunda” (Neon)
• “Mr. SOUL!” (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
• “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix)
• “The Painter and the Thief” (Neon)
• “A Secret Love” (Netflix)
• “The Social Dilemma” (Netflix)
• “Time” (Amazon Studios)

BEST DIRECTOR

• Garrett Bradley, “Time” (Amazon Studios)
• Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, “Athlete A” (Netflix)
• Kirsten Johnson, “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix)
• Victor Kossakovsky, “Gunda” (Neon)
• James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham, “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” (Netflix)
• Dawn Porter, “John Lewis: Good Trouble” (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)
• Benjamin Ree, “The Painter and the Thief” (Neon)

BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

• Robert S. Bader, “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes” (HBO)
• Chris Bolan, “A Secret Love” (Netflix)
• Melissa Haizlip, “Mr. SOUL!” (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
• Arthur Jones, “Feels Good Man” (Wavelength Productions/PBS Independent Lens)
• Elizabeth Leiter and Kim Woodard, “Jane Goodall: The Hope” (National Geographic)
• Elizabeth Lo, “Stray” (Magnolia Pictures)
• Sasha Joseph Neulinger, “Rewind” (Grizzly Creek Films/PBS Independent Lens)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Roger Horrocks, “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix)
• Kirsten Johnson, “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix)
• Victor Kossakovsky and Egil Håskjold Larsen, “Gunda” (Neon)
• Scott Ressler, Neil Gelinas and Stefan Wiesen, “The Last Ice” (National Geographic)
• Gianfranco Rosi, “Notturno” (Stemal Entertainment)
• Ruben Woodin Dechamps, “The Reason I Jump” (Kino Lorber)

BEST EDITING

• Don Bernier, “Athlete A” (Netflix)
• Eli Despres, Greg Finton and Kim Roberts, “The Fight” (Magnolia Pictures)
• Lindy Jankura and Alex Keipper, “Totally Under Control” (Neon)
• Helen Kearns, “Assassins” (Greenwich Entertainment)
• Victor Kossakovsky and Ainara Vera, “Gunda” (Neon)
• Eileen Meyer and Andrew Gersh, “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” (Netflix)
• Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics)

BEST SCORE

• Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope, “Feels Good Man” (Wavelength Productions/PBS Independent Lens)
• Marco Beltrami, Brandon Roberts and Buck Sanders, “The Way I See It” (Focus Features)
• Tyler Durham, Sven Faulconer and Xander Rodzinski, “The Last Ice” (National Geographic)
• Peter Nashel and Brian Deming, “Totally Under Control” (Neon)
• Daniel Pemberton, “Rising Phoenix” (Netflix)
• Jeff Tweedy, “Long Gone Summer” (ESPN)
• Jeff Tweedy, Spencer Tweedy and Sammy Tweedy, “Showbiz Kids” (HBO)

BEST NARRATION

• “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet” (Netflix) David Attenborough, Narrator; David Attenborough, Writer
• “Dick Johnson is Dead” (Netflix) Kirsten Johnson, Narrator; Kirsten Johnson, Writer
• “Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds” (Apple) Werner Herzog, Narrator; Werner Herzog, Writer
• “Mr. SOUL!” (Shoes in the Bed Productions) Blair Underwood, Narrator;Ellis Haizlip, Writer
• “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix) Craig Foster, Narrator; Craig Foster, Writer
• “Time” (Amazon Studios) Fox Rich, Narrator; Fox Rich, Writer
• “Totally Under Control” (Neon) Alex Gibney, Narrator; Alex Gibney, Writer

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY

• “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes” (HBO)
• “Belushi” (Showtime)
• “Class Action Park” (HBO Max)
• “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” (Netflix)
• “MLK/FBI” (Field of Vision/IFC Films)
• “Mr. SOUL!” (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
• “Spaceship Earth” (Neon)

BEST HISTORICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY

• “Belushi” (Showtime)
• “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” (Netflix)
• “Howard” (Disney+)
• “John Lewis: Good Trouble” (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)
• “Mr. SOUL!” (Shoes in the Bed Production)
• “Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado” (Netflix)
• “Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind” (HBO)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY

• “Beastie Boys Story” (Apple)
• “Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan” (Magnolia Pictures)
• “The Go-Go’s” (Showtime)
• “Laurel Canyon” (EPIX)
• “Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band” (Magnolia Pictures)
• “Other Music” (Factory 25)
• “Zappa” (Magnolia Pictures)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY

• “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios)
• “Boys State” (Apple)
• “John Lewis: Good Trouble” (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)
• “MLK/FBI” (Field of Vision/IFC Films)
• “The Social Dilemma” (Netflix)
• “Totally Under Control” (Neon)
• “The Way I See It” (Focus Features)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY

• “Coded Bias” (7th Empire Media/PBS Independent Lens)
• “Fantastic Fungi” (Moving Art)
• “Gunda” (Neon)
• “I Am Greta” (Hulu)
• “The Last Ice” (National Geographic)
• “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix)
• “Spaceship Earth” (Neon)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

• “Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes” (HBO)
• “Athlete A” (Netflix)
• “Be Water” (ESPN)
• “A Most Beautiful Thing” (50 Eggs Films)
• “Red Penguins” (Universal Pictures)
• “Rising Phoenix” (Netflix)
• “You Cannot Kill David Arquette” (Super LTD)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

• “Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible” (ESPN)
• “The Claudia Kishi Club” (Netflix)
• “Crescendo!” (Quibi)
• “Elevator Pitch” (Field of Vision)
• “Hunger Ward” (Spin Film/Vulcan Productions/RYOT Films)
• “Into the Fire” (National Geographic)
• “My Father the Mover” (MTV Documentary Films)
• “The Rifleman” (Field of Vision)
• “The Speed Cubers” (Netflix)
• “St. Louis Superman” (MTV Documentary Films)

MOST COMPELLING LIVING SUBJECTS OF A DOCUMENTARY (HONOR)

• Dr. Rick Bright – Totally Under Control (Neon)
• Steven Garza – Boys State (Apple)
• The Go-Go’s – The Go-Go’s (Showtime)
• Judith Heumann – Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Netflix)
• Dick Johnson – Dick Johnson is Dead (Netflix)
• Maggie Nichols, Rachael Denhollander, Jamie Dantzscher – Athlete A (Netflix)
• Fox Rich – Time (Amazon)
• Pete Souza – The Way I See It (Focus Features)
• Taylor Swift – Miss Americana (Netflix)
• Greta Thunberg – I Am Greta (Hulu)