This year was already seeming like a good one for newcomers to the documentary community, and now there’s even more evidence. Amir “Questlove” Thompson‘s debut feature, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was named the best documentary of 2021 by the Critics Choice Association on Sunday evening.
The film also won five other awards — sweeping every category in which it was nominated — including Best First Feature Documentary and also Best Director. Well, the latter was in the obligatory tie. The other film to win that award at the 6th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards was The Rescue, helmed by Oscar-winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
The Rescue also won awards for its score and its cinematography (two places Summer of Soul wasn’t eligible). Val, which is the first film directed by Ting Poo and Leo Scott, was the only other multiple-award-winner, taking home the honors for Best Historical or Biographical Documentary and Best Narration, which was performed by Val Kilmer’s son, Jack Kilmer.
Here’s the full list of winners of the 6th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards honoring the best documentaries of 2021:
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
BEST DIRECTOR (TIE)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
&
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin – The Rescue
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
David Katznelson, Ian Seabrook and Picha Srisansanee – The Rescue
BEST EDITING
Joshua L. Pearson – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
BEST SCORE
Daniel Pemberton – The Rescue
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
BEST HISTORICAL OR BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Val
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
The Crime of the Century
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Becoming Cousteau
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
The Alpinist
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
The Queen of Basketball
BEST NARRATION
Val
