“You Can See Everything” started its journey to the Oscars and won 5 Critics Choice Awards last night in New York.
At a swanky dinner at the Edison Ballrom, Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s three hour mockumentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes — now serving an 11 year sentence for fraud — was the talk of the show
“YCSE” picked up Best Documentary and Best Director plus three more awards.
Oppenheim was there to receive the awards. There was no explanation for Fielder’s absence. There was a lot of debate among attending filmmakers about whether or not “YCSE” is even a documentary, but its box office numbers were admired widely.
Alex Gibney’s highly praised “Musk” — also high on the Oscar buzz list — won Best Biographical Documentary. Gibney joked about the irony of winning the award since the subject detested the movie.
“Once Upon a Time in Harlem” too three awards.
Ron Howard received a Special merit Award for his long resume of important documentaries apart from his box office hits. Howard got a huge standing ovation. Legendary Jim Henson filmmaker Frank Oz presented the the award.
Oscar winning actress Octavia Spencer accepted an award with her producing partners for “Lost Women of Alaska” for Best True Crime Documentary (it was a tie with “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare.”
Jehane Noujaim received the Pennebaker Award, named for the late pioneer DA Pennebaker, presented by his wife, filmmaker Chris Hegedus, for her brave documentaries covering the middle East.
The event was live streamed and you can watch it below. The Critics Choice feature film awards take place January 3rd on the E! channel and USA Networks.
Television host and producer Ross Mathews hosted the event. Presenters and attendees included Joe Berlinger, Jimmy Chin, Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building), Liz Garbus, Chris Hegedus, Ron Howard, Troy Iwata (The Daily Show), Rachel Keller (Cupertino), Aimé Donna Kelly (Law & Order: SVU), Ross McElwee, Ross Mathews, Jehane Noujaim, Lance Oppenheim, Frank Oz, Octavia Spencer, Mark Tallman (Your Friends & Neighbors), and Chai Vasarhelyi, among others.
WINNERS OF THE 11th
ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST DIRECTOR
Nathan Fielder & Lance Oppenheim – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
David Greaves – Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
David Bolen – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST EDITING
Adam Locke-Norton – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST NARRATION
The History of Concrete (Magnolia Pictures)
Written and Performed by John Wilson
BEST SCORE
Ari Balouzian – You Can See Everything (A24)
BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (Neon)
BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
NAZA (Neon)
BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Musk (Bleecker Street)
BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Once Upon a Time in Harlem (Neon)
BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Nuisance Bear (Mubi)
BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Everest: The Other Side (National Geographic Documentary Films)
BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY (TIE)
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare (Netflix)
Lost Women of Alaska (Investigation Discovery)
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
The Baddest Speechwriter of All (Netflix)
BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Lion (National Geographic)
BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN)
