By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 12/6/25 – The documentary community gathered in full force on Saturday, December 6, as the International Documentary Association (IDA) hosted its 41st Annual IDA Documentary Awards at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club. With red-carpet arrivals, an elegant brunch, and a theater-in-the-round presentation in the sparkling Centennial Ballroom, the event once again affirmed why this ceremony remains one of the most respected celebrations of nonfiction storytelling worldwide.
I was on the carpet throughout the morning, conducting 18 live interviews with nominees, honorees, and creative teams from around the globe—and the energy was unmistakably hopeful, determined, and deeply artistic. This year’s field was one of IDA’s most internationally diverse yet: 550+ submissions from 85 countries, all rigorously reviewed by documentary professionals committed to elevating truth-driven cinema. (stay tuned for our live interviews)
The ceremony, warmly hosted by Tabitha Jackson (who didn’t walk the red carpet), honored three influential contributors to the field:
-
Julie Goldman — Career Achievement Award, saluted for her transformative impact across decades of documentary producing.
-
Brittany Shyne — Emerging Filmmaker Award, recognized for her acclaimed feature Seeds, which went on to win Best Director. -
Impact Partners — Pioneer Award, acknowledging their groundbreaking support of independent nonfiction work.
Goldman’s acceptance reflected a career spent championing truth and justice onscreen, while Shyne’s rising-star moment became one of the emotional high points of the day.
Best Feature Documentary: The Tale of Silyan
Tamara Kotevska’s haunting and poetic film, a tri-national collaboration (North Macedonia, U.S., U.K.), claimed the festival’s top prize. With its gripping narrative and remarkable visual tone, it also secured a win for Best Cinematography for Jean Dakar.
Best Short Documentary: Looking for a Donkey
Director Juan Vicente Manrique’s tender yet socially pointed charmed jurors, taking home the win for its beautifully observed storytelling.
Best Director: Brittany Shyne (Seeds)
Shyne’s win punctuated a breakthrough year—an exciting nod to a filmmaker whose voice is both intimate and expansive.
Other Major Winners Included:
-
Best Editing: WTO/99 – Alex Megaro & Ian Bell
-
Best Production: Apocalypse in the Tropics – Alessandra Orofino & Petra Costa
-
Best Original Score: The Sorcerer: Julio Zachrisson – Frédéric Filiatre
-
Best Sound Design: Only on Earth – Thomas Perez-Pape
-
Best Writing: Apocalypse in the Tropics – Petra Costa et al.
-
Best Music Documentary: One to One: John & Yoko – Kevin Macdonald, Sam Rice-Edwards
-
Best Episodic Series: Citizen Nation – PBS
-
Student Documentary Winner: What a day, what a life – Maylana Colchete
The red carpet buzzed with filmmakers representing countries from Ukraine to Brazil, Denmark to Hong Kong, India to France, each bringing stories shaped by lived experience and urgent cultural realities.
Filmmakers spoke about climate, resistance, personal identity, war, healing, and community resilience. Many expressed gratitude to IDA for continuing to spotlight stories that challenge systems, preserve histories, and give voice to the unheard.
This year’s celebration felt particularly energizing—perhaps because documentary filmmaking continues to shoulder the cultural weight of truth-telling during tumultuous times. What was clear on Saturday is that nonfiction storytellers remain undeterred. Their work continues to pierce, provoke, and illuminate.
Thanks to support from sponsors including Open Society Foundations, National Geographic, HBO Documentary Film, ABC News VideoSource, and LA County Arts & Culture, as well as media partners KCRW and Variety, IDA’s commitment to uplifting creators remains strong.
For audiences and filmmakers alike, the morning was a reminder: documentaries not only reflect our world, but they also reshape it.
Covering the IDA Awards, witnessing this global tapestry of filmmakers, conducting 18 interviews, and hearing firsthand the passion behind the projects, was a profound reminder of the transformative power of storytelling. The IDA continues to nurture the art form with integrity, inclusivity, and an unwavering belief in truth.
As the 41st year closes, the message rings clear: the documentary landscape has never been more vibrant, and its storytellers never more essential.
