Awards & Fellowships

Spirit Awards

The Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrate achievements in independent film and television, honoring unique voices and creative storytelling outside the major studio system. 

✦  Brittany Shyne’s Seeds nominated for TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD

From the AlumNest: ✦ Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor nominated for Best Documentary  ✦ Tamara Kotevska’s The Tale of Silyan nominated for Best Documentary

National Board of Review Awards 

The NBR Awards honor excellence in contemporary filmmaking, recognizing top films, directors, actors, and technical achievements. The awards gala is scheduled for Jan 13, 2026, in NYC. 

✦ Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ Cover-Up won Best Documentary

IDA Documentary Awards

The IDA Documentary Awards are an annual event to celebrate the best nonfiction films of the year. 

✦ Brittany Shyne won Best Director ✦ Petra Costa won Best Production (alongside producer Alessandra Orofino) and Best Writing  ✦ Sasha Wortzel won the Pare Lorentz Award 

European Film Awards  

The EFA celebrate the best in European cinema as presented by the European Film Academy. The winners will be announced on Jan 17, 2026. 

✦ Darya Bassel’s Songs of Slow Burning Earth was nominated for a European Film Award

SFFILM Artist Development Grant

This program supporting independent Bay Area-based filmmakers with cash and artist development services for films addressing social justice/disability stories. 

✦ Jane M. Wagner’s *holds you tight* received the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund

From the AlumNest: ✦ Inna Sahakyan’s Outliving Shakespeare also received the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund

The Film Stage 2025 Best Documentaries

The Film Stage is a prominent online publication covering independent and international cinema, offering news, reviews, interviews, and festival coverage. 

C&E-supported films included in the list:

✦ Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics ✦ Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni’s Cutting Through Rocks ✦ Milisuthando Bongela’s Milisuthando From the AlumNest: ✦ Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ Cover-Up ✦ Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor ✦ Tamara Kotevska’s The Tale of Silyan (Honorable Mention)

Doc Society Climate Story Fund

This global grant program supports independent filmmakers and storytellers to create diverse, compelling media that foster climate justice and inspire action. 

✦ Biljana Tutorov & Petar Glomazić’s To Hold a Mountain received support

Getting the Job Done

✦ Emmy nominee Tessa Thompson and her Viva Maude production company are executive producing Brittany Shyne’s Seeds.