Netflix scooped three of the top prizes at this year’s Grierson Awards.
Rogan Productions’ Grenfell: Uncovered was named best single documentary – domestic at last night’s ceremony, building on its previous win at the Bafta awards.
Judges declared the documentary “a vital and unflinching call for justice”.
Meanwhile, Passion Pictures’ two-parter See No Evil, which investigated the life and crimes of serial abuser John Smyth, took home the best documentary series prize.
“Delivered with simplicity and sensitivity, the series seamlessly weaved together archive, interviews and reconstruction to deliver a powerful, emotional story,” the judges stated.
Netflix also won the best single documentary – international category with the “courageous and innovative” The Perfect Neighbour, a co-production between Message Pictures, SO'B Productions and Park Pictures.
Elsewhere, Netflix’s Songs from the Hole, co-produced by the streamer with Cocomotion Pictures and Question Culture in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation, was named best arts and music documentary.
Other winners included:
Minnow Films “engrossing and historically significant” BBC2 doc History of the Blitz (best history documentary);
Rex TV’s “totally surprising, intimate and profound” BBC1 doc Miriam Margoyles Made Me Me (most entertaining documentary);
Double Act’s “deeply compassionate” Channel 4 series Virgin Island (best constructed and formatted documentary series);
Zandland’s “powerful and important” ITV film Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (best current affairs documentary);
HBO Films/Hit the Ground Running’s “intimate, impeccable, passionate investigative” Sky doc The Alabama Solution (best crime and justice documentary);
Curious Films “intelligent, assured and insightful” BBC doc Confessions of a Brain Surgeon (best science and natural history documentary).
The Grierson Trustees’ Award went to Dogwoof chief executive Anna Godas, who co-founded the UK-based documentary film company 22 years ago.
The award recognised Dogwoof’s role in backing a roster of documentaries that have collectively won seven Oscars, five Baftas and 20 Grierson awards.
Its catalogue includes 20 Days in Mariupol, Navalny, No Other Land, Free Solo, Apollo 11, Fire of Love, All That Breathes, The Act of Killing and Blackfish.
Judges described Godas as “the driving force in developing new routes to finance and market for independent documentary, connecting filmmakers with international buyers, distributors and production partners”.
For a full list of winners and judges' citations, click here
