The Oscar and BAFTA-winning Ukrainian feature, 20 Days in Mariupol, has garnered significant attention at the prestigious British Grierson Awards. The film, directed by Mstyslav Chernov, delves into the filmmaker’s experiences in the besieged city at the onset of the Ukraine War. This powerful documentary has been nominated for Best Current Affairs Documentary and Best Cinema Documentary, showcasing its impact on viewers and critics alike.
Competing against other compelling projects, such as Wham!, Boris Johnson, and Ronnie O’Sullivan, 20 Days in Mariupol has proven itself as a standout in the documentary genre. While it was initially submitted as the Ukrainian entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, it ultimately received a nomination in the Best Documentary Feature Film category. This recognition solidifies its position among esteemed documentaries like Bobi Wine: The People’s President, which also received nominations at the Grierson Awards.
Apart from 20 Days in Mariupol, several other projects have secured multiple nominations at the British Grierson Awards. Netflix’s Wham!, Channel 4’s The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson, and Prime Video’s Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything are among the noteworthy contenders. The prevalence of sports documentaries, exemplified by Ronnie O’Sullivan’s feature, reflects the current trend in documentary filmmaking.
While most projects received one or two nominations, Channel 4’s Me and the Voice in My Head stands out with three nominations, including one for Best Presenter. The documentary series category is dominated by Channel 4, featuring compelling titles like To Catch a Copper and Evacuation. Other notable mentions include Netflix’s American Nightmare, BBC’s Cold Case Investigators: Solving Britain’s Sex Crimes, and a range of entries from different streaming platforms and networks.
The nominations for the 2021 British Grierson Awards underscore the diverse and impactful storytelling prevalent in the documentary genre. With leading networks like the BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, and others receiving multiple nods, the industry continues to showcase new talent and address pressing societal issues. Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of The Grierson Trust, emphasized the importance of documentaries in uncovering unseen perspectives and connecting with audiences on a deeper level.
As the awards ceremony approaches, anticipation grows for the announcement of the winners on November 6. The event, set to take place at the Roundhouse in Camden, London, signifies a new chapter for the British Grierson Awards. Despite challenges and controversies in the past, this year’s awards highlight the resilience and creativity of the documentary industry in producing high-quality content that resonates with viewers worldwide.
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