Awards & Fellowships

Cinema Eye Honors

The Cinema Eye Honors recognize artistic excellence and craft in nonfiction and documentary film and series. Awards will be held on January 8, 2026.  ✦ Brittany Shyne’s Seeds received five nominations: Nonfiction filmmaking, Direction, Cinematography, Sound Design, and Debut Feature. ✦ Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics received two nominations: Audience Choice Prize and Production.

From the AlumNest 

✦ Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor received two nominations: Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking and Direction. Also, Geeta’s The Devil is Busy was included in the Shorts List films. ✦ Laura Poitra’s Cover-Up received four nominations: Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking, Direction, Editing, and Unforgettable Honorees. ✦ Amber Fares’ Coexistance My Ass! received two nominations: Audience Choice Prize and Unforgettable Honorees. ✦ Tamara Kotevska’s The Tale of Silyan received a nomination for Audience Choice Prize. 

IDA Documentary Awards

The IDA Documentary Awards are an annual event to celebrate the best nonfiction films of the year. Awards will be held on December 5, 2025. 

✦ Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics received four nominations: Best Feature Documentary, Best Director, Best Production, and Best Writing.  ✦ Brittany Shyne’s Seeds received three nominations: Best Feature Documentary, Best Director, and Best Production.  ✦ Olha Zhurba’s Songs of Slow Burning Earth received two nominations: Best Feature Documentary and Best Director. ✦ Sasha Wortzel’s River of Grass received a nomination for Best Writing.  From the AlumNest

✦ Tamara Kotevska’s The Tale of Silyan received two nominations: Best Feature Documentary and Best Director. ✦ Isabel Castro’s Selena y Los Dinos received a nomination for Best Music Documentary.  

Academy Gold Fellowship for Women 

The Academy Gold Fellowship for Women is a one-year program by the AMPAS that supports emerging women filmmakers through mentorship, networking, and career advancement opportunities. 

 ✦ This year’s recipients are AlumNest filmmakers Marlén Viñayo and Alina Simone.

Morelia International Film Festival’s Impulso Morelia

Impulso Morelia is a works-in-progress forum and program within the Morelia International Film Festival that showcases Mexican feature films in the post-production stage. It connects filmmakers with industry experts to receive feedback and support for their projects, helping to secure distribution and finishing funds. ✦ Dano Garcia’s #Mickey won three post-production awards for post-production workflow design, online conforming, and delivery package; one week of 5.1 sound mixing; and $375,000 MXN. 

Festivals & Screenings 

Visions Du Réel festival

Visions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held annually in Nyon, Switzerland. The 2026 edition will run April 17—26.

✦ Milton Guillen, Katy Lena Ndiaye, and Nishtha Jain will be on the selection committee for the 2026 festival.

Australian International Documentary Conference 

Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) is Australia's premier industry gathering for documentary screen content. AIDC will be held March 2–5, 2026.

✦ Rita Baghdadi will be a featured speaker. This program of sessions, speakers, screenings, and initiatives will spotlight the work of those adapting to the changing media landscape and call on the community to come together to protect the sector’s long-term health.

IN THEATERS

✦ Catch Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni's Cutting Through Rocks on its multi-city screening tour: — NYC: Film Forum, now through Dec 5 — LA: Laemmle Theatres, Dec 5 — SF: Roxie Theater, Dec 7–8, and Smith Rafael Center, Dec 8