The Grierson Trust has announced two new categories as it opens for entries to the 2025 British Documentary Awards with a new true crime award and a new award for Best returning documentary.
The new Best Crime and Justice Documentary award is open to a single documentary, or an episode from a strand or series, which explores crime, justice, or the legal system. Judges will be looking for evidence of “quality, integrity, creativity, originality and overall excellence.” The award will also recognise ethical filmmaking standards evidenced by production teams, “in particular around ensuring rigorous duty of care practices for contributors, family members and friends of those featured in the documentary, and members of the production team.”
The new Best Returning Documentary Series award is open to returning series (in season two or beyond) of three or more episodes and with a single overall theme, planned by an individual or a team.
The closing date for entries is Wednesday 4 June. The 2025 awards ceremony takes place on 18th November at Roundhouse in Camden, London.
Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of the Grierson Trust said: “The best documentaries open minds and provide insights to a wide range of audiences. They can document injustice, and the role that people and systems can have in shaping the world around us, as well as showcasing the best of human endeavours in sport and the creative arts. Great documentaries can also entertain and bring us together as families and communities at a time when polarisation is increasing. We are evolving this year’s Grierson Awards and introducing new categories to reflect trends in genres and to recognise commercial and audience success over a longer period. As always, at the heart of the awards is a celebration of the incredible creativity and talent of documentary makers in the UK and around the world.”
All entries to the 2025 Grierson Awards must have had their first UK screening between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2025.
Jon Creamer
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