Entries are now open for the 50th anniversary Grierson Awards. The 2022 gongs will celebrate excellence across 16 documentary and factual TV genres.
This year, the Best Cinema Documentary category is back and the two new categories, Best Music and Best Sports Documentary also make a return for the second year.
During the evening two special awards will also be presented: the BBC Grierson Trustees Award and The Talent Manager Grierson Hero of the Year Award. Introduced last year, the Hero of the Year prize will be presented to an individual judged by Grierson Trustees to have made a positive impact within the industry during the previous 12 months. This person may be working in any behind-the-scenes role and be at any level of their career. The category is free to enter and relies on nominations from others in the industry.
Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of The Grierson Trust said: “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Griersons, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how far the documentary genre has come and the significance that factual filmmaking continues to have in shaping our perspectives on the world around us. Documentaries are more relevant than ever in reflecting, investigating and showing the human face of the momentous and disruptive events taking place at home and abroad “
The Trust will be holding a webinar to discuss the significance of the Hero of the Year award, with inaugural winner, Production Manager, Serena Kennedy. Taking place at 7pm on Thursday, 7th April, you can register with The Talent Manager to attend now.
Entrants across all film categories – excluding Best Student Documentary – will again be asked to identify steps that were taken to ensure diversity and inclusion in the making of their film or series. Juries will take into consideration the efforts that have been made to include under-represented groups both on and off screen; as well as any themes and narratives that address diversity and inclusion.
Lorraine Heggessey continued: “By asking entrants to identify these specific elements of their production, we continue to emphasise that diversity and inclusion are intrinsic to the overall excellence of any production.”
For the 2022 awards, all entries must have had their first UK screening between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2022. This includes scheduled screenings within recognised film, television and documentary festivals. Entries are accepted for both analogue and digital platforms – such as Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime – as long as the screening was accessible by a UK-based audience.
The Grierson Trust is grateful to all its sponsors who help support the awards including headline sponsors All3Media and category sponsors BBC, BFI Doc Society Fund, Channel 4, Discovery, Disney+, Envy, Molinare, Netflix, Prime Video, Sky Documentaries, The Open University, as well as supporters British Council, Little Dot Studios, The Talent Manager, Televisual and The Kit Room. The awards event will take place in November at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Entries must be made before the May 20th closing date.
2022 AWARDS CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
Envy Best Single Documentary – Domestic
A single documentary which deals primarily with UK-based subjects on contemporary themes: e.g., society, business, religion, welfare etc.
* Single episodes from series will not be eligible but episodes from strands are acceptable, eg First Cut, etc.
Molinare Best Single Documentary – International
A single documentary which deals primarily with international subjects on contemporary themes: e.g., society, business, religion, welfare etc.
* Single episodes from series will not be eligible but episodes from strands are acceptable, eg Storyville, Unreported World, etc.
Televisual Best Current Affairs Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which focuses on specific news or current affairs events. Entries may cover domestic or international subjects. Judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding investigative journalism, access and insights.
Best Arts Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, on an arts subject.
Sky Documentaries Best Music Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, on a music subject.
Best Sports Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which addresses any aspect of sport.
Best History Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, on an historical subject.
The Open University Best Science Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which addresses any aspect of science or medicine.
Discovery Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary
A single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which addresses any aspect of natural history or the environment.
Prime Video Best Entertaining Documentary
A single documentary or an episode from a strand or series that sets out primarily to entertain. Judges will be looking for humour, wit, and elegance of style. Entries can be on any subject and in any format, including factual and reality-based programmes.
Channel 4 Best Constructed Documentary Series
An unscripted series, of two or more episodes, that examines the actions or behaviour of individuals within a created format or constructed environment.
* Entrants must provide a minimum of two episodes from the series for judging.
Netflix Best Documentary Series
A finite series of two or more episodes with a single, overall theme.
* Entrants must provide a minimum of two episodes from the series for judging.
BFI Doc Society Fund Best Cinema Documentary
A documentary that has had a UK theatrical release within the qualifying period. For the purposes of the awards a theatrical release is a screening in a UK cinema, open to the general public, for a period of at least seven days, the screenings can be in different cinemas and do not have to be on consecutive days.
All3Media Best Student Documentary
Awarded to a student director for a film made during a UK-based, full-time academic course.
* All entries must be supported by a description of the course and the contact details of the course tutor.
Best Documentary Short
Awarded to a single documentary with a running time of 25 minutes or less. Can include branded content.
Disney+ Best Documentary Presenter
This award goes to the presenter or presenting team who has made the most outstanding contribution to documentary programming within the qualifying period. Whether in arts, music, religion, history, science, natural history or contemporary theme, the jury is looking for presenters who engage the audience and bring originality of thought, insight, perspective and content to a subject.
* Entrants should provide a complete programme or episode and entries must be supported by a statement of up to 500 words about why the presenter should be considered for this award.
BBC Grierson Trustees’ Award
Awarded for or an exceptional body of work or an outstanding contribution to the art or craft of the documentary. There is no entry fee for this award and the recipient will be decided by board members of The Grierson Trust.
The Talent Manager Grierson Hero of the Year Award
Awarded to an individual who has made a positive impact within the industry in the previous 12 months. They can be a person working in any area, behind or in front of the camera, and be at any level of their career. The award is given in recognition of someone who has gone the extra mile and made an outstanding difference. There is no entry fee for this award and the recipient will be decided by board members of The Grierson Trust.
Pippa Considine
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