Documentary Emmys Winners List: Nat Geo, Netflix Lead, MSNBC’s ‘The Sing Sing Chronicles’ Lands Top Prize and Bill Moyers Is Paid Tribute
Just hours after news that legendary news broadcaster Bill Moyers had died, the icon was paid tribute at Thursday night’s documentary portion of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The event, held at the Palladium Times Square in New York City, saw Nat Geo take home the most prizes with six, followed by Netflix with four.
Among the night’s big winners: MSNBC’s “The Sing Sing Chronicles” was named best documentary; Paramount+’s “We Will Dance Again” was named best current affairs documentary; and the important and groundbreaking doc “The Sixth” — which told the dramatic and true story of the terror that took place on January 6, 2021 — earned the Emmy in the politics and government doc category. That Emmy was extra sweet, as streamers were scared to show it despite its crucial message.
Comedian and filmmaker Negin Farsad hosted the evening, which also included a lifetime achievement award for documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and director Jon Else. Else’s award was presented by Carrie Lozano, president and CEO of ITVS.
In asking for a moment of silence for Moyers, Terry O’Reilly, chairman of NATAS, said, “While in college, Moyers joined the Senate offices of Senator Lyndon Johnson, and over the course of 12 years made his way with LBJ from the Senate to the White House — and from the role of an intern to the position of Presidential press secretary. He left the world of politics in 1967 and moved to media – initially to newspapers, where his paper won a pair of Pulitzer prizes. Then to television, at CBS and PBS. He was a correspondent, a producer, and editor and a documentarian, and managed to win more than 30 Emmy Awards, including the Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In an interview with my friend Don Shelby from Minnesota, he was asked about the move from presidential press secretary to journalist. And he observed that he was ‘a whole lot happer telling the truth than trying to hide it.'”
Presenters included Muta’Ali (“MoviePass, MovieCrash”), Joe Berlinger (“Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial”), Lisa Cortés (“The Space Race”), Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“The Grab”), and Barak Goodman (“Kissinger”).
News categories were honored on Wednesday, when CBS led with five wins in the news categories. Right behind CBS, scoring four wins apiece were ABC, CNN and Nat Geo.
“The talents of our journalistic and documentary communities have profoundly shaped our culture and nation,” said O’Reilly. “In the face of evolving societal landscapes, their unwavering dedication to truth and storytelling has illuminated critical issues, fostered crucial conversations, and empowered the public.”
Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS, added: “These honorees are leaders in bringing truth to our nation’s screens—through fearless journalism and powerful documentary storytelling. Their work sets the standard for excellence in the field. We are particularly proud to recognize the extraordinary career of Jon Else and our 2025 class of Gold & Silver Circle inductees.”
The Gold and Silver Circle recognizes professionals “who have made significant contributions to television for 50 and 25 years, respectively.” This year’s doc inductees in the Gold Circle included Michael Kirk (filmmaker, PBS Frontline and Kirk Documentary Group), Gordon Quinn (filmmaker, Kartemquin Films) and Marcia Smith (filmmaker, Firelight Media). Silver Circle doc inductees included Gemma Cubero del Barrio (producer, director and writer, PBS) and Aljernon Tunsil (editor, PBS and Firelight Films).
As part of a scheduling realignment at the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards moved to the summer, instead of its normal fall dates, this year.
The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards received more than 2200 submissions from the calendar year of 2024, and nominations were judged by a pool of more than 980 people from across the television and streaming/digital media news and documentary community.
Here are the winners across 24 doc categories:
Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary
** WINNER: We Will Dance Again
Paramount+
64 Days: The Insurrection Playbook
Goldcrest Films
Bread & Roses
Apple TV+
Print it Black (ABC News Live )
ABC
A Year of War: Israelis and Palestinians (Frontline)
PBS
Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary
** WINNER: The Sixth
A24
Battleground Texas
VICE News
The Body Politic (POV)
PBS [ITVS, Black Public Media, Corporation For Public Broadcasting, Rowhouse, LC | Rowhouse Collective]
Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid
CNN Worldwide
From Russia with Lev
MSNBC [Rakontur, UTAS, Surprise Inside, MSNBC Films]
The Riot Report (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, 42nd Parallel Films]
Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? (POV)
PBS
Outstanding Social Issue Documentary
** WINNER: Two American Families: 1991-2024 (Frontline)
PBS
Daughters
Netflix [Netflix, XTR, Object & Animal, Epoch Films, Park Pictures, OPC, World of HA, Simpson Street, Two One Five]
Death Without Mercy
Showtime
Name Me Lawand (POV)
PBS
One With the Whale (Independent Lens)
PBS
Outstanding Investigative Documentary
** WINNER: American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
Netflix
A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela (Frontline)
PBS [Armando.Info]
The Grab
Apple TV+ | Google Play | Prime Video | Vimeo | Vudu | YouTube
The Night Won’t End (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning (Frontline)
PBS
Outstanding Historical Documentary
** WINNER: Tsunami: Race Against Time
National Geographic
An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th
HBO | Max
Fly With Me (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, Sarah Colt Productions]
The Sixth
A24
Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War
Netflix
Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary
** WINNER: Madu
Disney +
As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial
Paramount+
Butterfly in the Sky
Netflix
Hollywood Black
MGM+
King Coal (POV)
PBS
Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary
WINNER: Hunt for the Oldest DNA (Nova)
PBS
Anand Varma: Hidden Wonders (Photographer)
National Geographic
Apollo 13: Survival
Netflix
The Space Race
National Geographic
What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates
Netflix
Outstanding Nature Documentary
** WINNER: Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die (Photographer)
National Geographic
Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster (Nature)
PBS
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
National Geographic
Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons (Nature)
PBS
Our Living World
Netflix
Patrick and the Whale (Nature)
PBS
Silverback (Nature)
PBS
Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary
** WINNER: Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy
Netflix
Bitconned
Netflix
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge
Hulu
The Hobby
Documentary+
Moviepass, Moviecrash
HBO | Max
Razing Liberty Square (Independent Lens)
PBS
Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary
** WINNER: The Truth vs. Alex Jones
HBO | Max
Cult Massacre: One Day In Jonestown
National Geographic
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter
Netflix
Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer
Hulu
Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, Madrona Productions]
Outstanding Short Documentary
** WINNER: The Dirty Business of Monkey Laundering (Bloomberg Investigates)
Bloomberg
Love To The Max
The New Yorker
Motorcycle Mary
ESPN
Swept
Human Rights Watch
Wings of Dust
Documentary+
Best Documentary
** WINNER: The Sing Sing Chronicles
MSNBC
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
Netflix
The Commandant’s Shadow
HBO | Max
The Grab
Apple TV+ | Google Play | Prime Video | Vimeo | Vudu | YouTube
Hollywood Black
MGM+
Mammals
BBC America | BBC+
Queendom
Galdanova Film
The Sixth
A24
The Truth vs. Alex Jones
HBO | Max
Join or Die
Netflix
King Coal (POV)
PBS
The Night Won’t End (Fault Lines)
Al Jazeera International USA
Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, Madrona Productions]
The Space Race
National Geographic
Outstanding Research – Documentary
** WINNER: The Grab
Center for Investigative Reporting Studios
The Bibi Files
Jolt.film
China, The U.S. and the Rise of Xi Jinping (Frontline)
PBS
Nazi Town, USA (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, Pangloss Films]
Our Oceans
Netflix
Outstanding Direction – Documentary
** WINNER: Frida — Carla Gutiérrez
Prime Video
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
National Geographic
Daughters
Netflix [XTR, Object & Animal, Epoch Films, Park Pictures, OPC, World of HA, Simpson Street, Two One Five]
Madu
Disney +
Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal (American Experience)
PBS [GBH, Madrona Productions]
Outstanding Cinematography – Documentary
** WINNER: Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough
Netflix [CBC, Sky, Humble Bee Films]
Earthsounds
Apple TV+
King Coal (POV)
PBS [Drexler Films, Cottage M, Fishbowl Films, Narrow Vision Endeavors, King Coal Productions LLC]
Lions of the Skeleton Coast (Nature)
PBS
Mammals
BBC America | BBC+
Our Living World
Netflix
Outstanding Editing – Documentary
** WINNER: Blink
National Geographic [MRC, EYESTEELFILM, National Geographic Documentary Films, Fishbowl Films, Motive]
Apollo 13: Survival
Netflix
Citizen Nation
PBS
Death Without Mercy
Showtime
We Will Dance Again
Paramount+
Outstanding Graphic Design – Documentary
** WINNER: Omnivore
Apple TV+
Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy
Netflix
Food, Inc. 2
Apple TV+ | Amazon Prime Video | Google Play
Frida
Prime Video
Join or Die
Netflix
Outstanding Music Composition – Documentary
** WINNER: Endurance
National Geographic
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
National Geographic
Dan Winters: Life is Once. Forever. (Photographer)
National Geographic
Frida
Prime Video
Mafia Spies
Paramount+
Outstanding Sound – Documentary
** WINNER: Earthsounds
Apple TV+
Apollo 13: Survival
Netflix
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
National Geographic
Mammals
BBC America | BBC+
Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough
Netflix [CBC, Sky, Humble Bee Films]
Outstanding Lighting Direction – Documentary
** WINNER: Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial
Netflix
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders
Netflix
American Seams (POV Shorts)
PBS
Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey
Netflix [RadicalMedia, Third Eye Motion Picture Company]
Separated
MSNBC
Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenic Design – Documentary
** WINNER: You’re Being Lied To About Voter Fraud. Here’s the Truth. (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
Apollo 13: Survival
Netflix
Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story
Prime Video
Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial
Netflix
Separated
MSNBC
This Is What a Nuclear Strike Would Feel Like (The New York Times Opinion)
The New York Times
Outstanding Promotional Announcement – Documentary
** WINNER: Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
National Geographic
Blink
National Geographic [MRC, EYESTEELFILM, National Geographic Documentary Films, Fishbowl Films, Motive]
Brats
ABC News Studios | Hulu
The Grab
Apple TV+ | Google Play | Prime Video | Vimeo | Vudu | YouTube
Patrice: The Movie
ABC News Studios | Hulu
Tsunami: Race Against Time
National Geographic
Outstanding Regional Documentary
** WINNER: The Holly
Rocky Mountain Public Media
Angels Too Soon
WTTW / PBS
Desde Cero: The Migrant Journey in Chicago
WMAQ
OKC Thunder (STEPS)
Oklahoma City Thunder
A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps
Rocky Mountain Public Media
