Critics Choice Documentary Awards: Amazon’s ‘Good Night Oppy’ Tops Winners List

The 7th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards unveiled its winners in a gala event that was live-streamed from New York City. It was Amazon Studios’ Good Night Oppy that was the biggest winner of the night taking home five trophies including the top accolade of the night — winning Gold for Best Documentary Feature.

Good Night Oppy also made Ryan White a winner for Best Director, Best Score went to Blake Neely, Best Narration (written by Helen Kearns and Ryan White, performed by Angela Bassett) and Best Science/Nature Documentary.

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards recognize the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of qualified Critics Choice Association (CCA) members. 

Christopher Campbell, Co-President of the Critics Choice Association’s Documentary Branch said, “Tonight was a whole new Doc Awards – hosting the ceremony in a new, bigger venue in Manhattan and streaming it live for the first time. We are thrilled to continue the celebration of so many groundbreaking and thought-provoking films while highlighting the works of so many brilliant filmmakers.”

Hosted by Wyatt Cenac, the star-studded event featured presenters and attendees including Rob McElhenney, Idina Menzel, Jeremy Sisto, Paul Shaffer, Brett Morgen, Kathy Ireland, Reginald Hudlin, Richard Kind, Reginald Hudlin, Soledad O’Brien, Tonya Lewis Lee, Tamara Tunie, Ryan White, Erich Bergen, Andrew Jarecki, Shoshana Bean and Willie Colón, among others.

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards 2022 Winners List

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Gold: Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Silver: Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)
Bronze: Navalny (HBO Max/CNN Films/Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST DIRECTOR
Ryan White – Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)

BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
David Siev – Bad Axe (IFC Films)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Cinematography Team – Our Great National Parks (Netflix)

BEST EDITING
Brett Morgen – Moonage Daydream (Neon/HBO Documentary Films)

BEST SCORE
Blake Neely – Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)

BEST NARRATION
Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Written by Helen Kearns, Ryan White
Performed by Angela Bassett

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Fire of Love (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Descendant (Netflix)

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Sidney (Apple TV+)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
Navalny (HBO Max/CNN Films/Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY (TIE)
Citizen Ashe (HBO Max/CNN Films)
Welcome to Wrexham (FX)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Nuisance Bear (The New Yorker Studios)

BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)

BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN)