Grierson 2012 British Documentary Awards – winners

The Grierson Trust held its ceremony tonight for the 40th anniversary edition of the Grierson British Documentary Awards at Empire Leicester Square. The ceremony was hosted by artist Grayson Perry.

The winner for Best Cinema Documentary Award was Bobby Fischer Against the World, Liz Garbus' fascinating portrait of the brilliant but troubled chess champion. It had been up against Dreams of a Life by Carol Morley, Knuckle by Ian Palmer and Project Nim by James Marsh.

The Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – International award went to Hell and Back Again by Danfung Dennis while Charlie Russell took Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – Domestic for Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die. The Bengali Detective by Phil Cox was named Most Entertaining Documentary.

Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald was presented with the Grierson Trustees’ Award.

The Grierson British Documentary Awards are named in honour of John Grierson who was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker and is considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film.

Nominations for the Grierson 2012: British Documentary Awards


Complete list of winners for the Grierson 2012: British Documentary Awards

Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – Domestic
Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die – by Charlie Russell for Keo North; first shown: BBC Two

Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme – International
Hell and Back Again – by Danfung Dennis for Roast Beef Productions; first shown: More 4

Best Arts Documentary
Culture Show: Jeremy Deller Special – by Jack Cocker for BBC Scotland; first shown: BBC Two

Best Historical Documentary
The Love of Books: A Sarajevo Story – by Sam Hobkinson for Oxford Film and Television; first shown: BBC Four

Best Science Documentary
After Life: The Strange Science of Decay – by Fred Hepburn, Dani Carlaw for BBC Scotland; first shown: BBC Four

Most Entertaining Documentary
The Bengali Detective – by Phil Cox for Native Voice Films; first shown: Cambridge Film Festival

Best Documentary Series
Protecting Our Children – by Sacha Mirzoeff, Emma Burman for BBC Productions; first shown: BBC Two

Best Cinema Documentary
Bobby Fischer Against the World – Liz Garbus for Moxie Firecracker Films; first shown: General theatrical release

Best Newcomer Documentary
Gypsy Blood – Leo Maguire for ClearStory; first shown: Channel 4

Best Student Documentary
The Betrayal – by Karen Winther for National Film & Television School; first shown: BFI Southbank, London

Grierson Trustees’ Award
Kevin Macdonald