The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2023 honor the best of the documentary films that were released during the past year.

I’m a member of the Critics Choice Association’s Documentary Branch so I usually watch a good number of documentaries during the year. Instead of waiting until next week, I’ve decided to go ahead and announce the winners today.

I’m not awarding a winner in the categories of biographical or sports this year because it’s way too hard. The sports documentary awards are going to Sam Pollard regardless and I decided to split it up into the different sports. Technically speaking, my #1-8 ranked documentaries are all 5/5. Timeless Heroes is a late edition because it premiered on December 1 and screeners were not made available.

Best Documentaries of the Year

1. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
2. Bill Russell: Legend
3. The League
4. 100 Years of Warner Bros.
5. Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
6. Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford
7. Being Mary Tyler Moore
8. Fioretta
9. It Ain’t Over
10. The Saint of Second Chances
11. A Disturbance in the Force
12. Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
13. Judy Blume Forever

Documentary Feature: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Documentary Short (Previously Announced): Under G-d, Now and Then: The Last Beatles Song

Director: Davis Guggenheim: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Editing: Michael Harte, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Narration: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, Written and Performed by Michael J. Fox

Archival Documentary: The League

Comedy Documentary: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life

Sports Documentary: Please See Next Two Categories

Basketball Documentary: Bill Russell: Legend

Baseball Documentary: The League (Runner-ups: It Ain’t Over, The Saint of Second Chances)

Jewish Documentary: Fioretta (Runner-up: Israel Swings For Gold)

JFK Anniversary Documentary: JFK: One Day in America

World War II Era Documentary: Occupied City

Movie-Related Documentary: Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford (Runner-Up: A Disturbance in the Force)

Music Documentary: Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Special

Best Anniversary Remaster: Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

Unreleased Festival Movie of 2023 (Tie): Rather, Chasing Chasing Amy

Unreleased Festival Movie of 2022 That Really Needs A Distributor This Instant and More Eyeballs On It Because Antisemitism Is Way Too High Right Now: The Conspiracy

The rest of the The Solzy Awards for film will be announced in December.

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