The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2020 honor the best of the documentary films that were released during the past year.

Last month, I voted in my second-ever Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards. Some of these awards do match how I voted during the CCDA. However, there were some instances in which my preferred documentary was not a nominee earlier this month.  In other instances, some of my categories were not a category up for voting during those awards.  With no further adieu, I present the the Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2020.

Before getting to the overall honors, I want to state that it’s been another great year for documentaries.  Sundance kicked off a solid film year with plenty of documentaries to fall in love with.  Obviously, the year did not go as scheduled.  There have been a few docs that have been close to my heart since I first watched them: All In: The Fight for Democracy, Disclosure: Trans Lives On Screen, and Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes.  There are no shortage of political documentaries this year.

Best Documentary Feature (Tie): All In: The Fight for Democracy, Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen

Best Documentary Series: Hillary

Best Director: Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés, All In: The Fight for Democracy

Best Cinematography (TIE):  Emily Topper, Miss Americana; Kirsten Johnson, Dick Johnson is Dead

Best Editing: Lindy Jankura, Alexis Johnson and Alex Keipper, Totally Under Control

Best Score: Marco Beltrami, Brandon Roberts and Buck Sanders, The Way I See It

Best Archival Documentary (TIE): Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes, Belushi

Historical/Biographical (TIE): Belushi, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

Music (Tie): Miss Americana, Laurel Canyon, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Almost Music: My Darling Vivian

Nature: Dolphin Reef

Political (TIE): All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Way I See It, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Totally Under Control, 537 Votes

Sports: Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes (Runner-up: Athlete A)

Best Documentary That Makes You Nostalgic For Browsing The Aisle Rather Than Spend A Hour Between A Gazillion Streaming Services Deciding What Too Watch: The Last Blockbuster

Best Non-Released Documentary: No Ordinary Man, REDACTED TITLE THAT REMAINS UNDER EMBARGO

Stay tuned for more of The Solzy Awards in late December!