Archive · 7 Dec 2025
IDA Awards Honor Documentaries, Boosting Oscar Hopes
The IDA Documentary Awards happened today in Los Angeles.
The Tale of Silyan won Best Feature Documentary, which is a big deal because it might help the film win an Oscar.
Other winners include Apocalypse in the Tropics, which won Best Production and Best Writing, and Brittany Shyne, who won Best Director for her film Seeds.
The awards are important because they often predict which films will be successful at the Academy Awards.
Many different categories were awarded, including Best Short Documentary, Best Cinematography, and Best Music Documentary.
The winners were chosen by IDA members and committees of documentary professionals from around the world.
The Tale of Silyan won Best Feature Documentary at the 41st Annual IDA Documentary Awards, boosting its Oscar chances.
Apocalypse in the Tropics won Best Production and Best Writing, highlighting its examination of Christian nationalism in Brazil.
Brittany Shyne won Best Director for Seeds, a film about Black farmers in the American South.
Jean Dakar won Best Cinematography for The Tale of Silyan, capturing stunning images of white storks and their habitats.
The IDA Awards presented honorary awards, including the Career Achievement Award to Julie Goldman and the Pioneer Award to Impact Partners.
- Who
- The International Documentary Association (IDA) and various documentary filmmakers and producers
- What
- The 41st Annual IDA Documentary Awards ceremony
- When
- Today (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Los Angeles
- Why
- To honor outstanding achievements in documentary filmmaking and boost the Oscar chances of winning films
- Best Feature Documentary
- The Tale of Silyan
- Best Short Documentary
- Looking for a Donkey
- Best Director
- Brittany Shyne for Seeds
- Best Cinematography
- Jean Dakar for The Tale of Silyan
- Best Editing
- Alex Megaro, Ian Bell for WTO/99
- Best Production
- Apocalypse in the Tropics
- Best Writing
- Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino, Nels Bangerter, David Barker, Tina Baz for Apocalypse in the Tropics
- Best Music Documentary
- One to One: John & Yoko
- Career Achievement Award
- Julie Goldman
- Pioneer Award
- Impact Partners