Students from Newcastle and Manchester Universities are among the nominees at this year’s 50th anniversary edition of the British Documentary Awards.
The awards are presented by the Grierson Trust in association with All3Media, and will be presented at a star-studded ceremony at London’s South Bank hosted by Rosie Jones and AJ Odudu.
Representing Newcastle Uni, Luke Suddes, Katharine Beavers, Dalene Low and Harrison So’s Ordinary Life chronicles the childhoods of a mother and uncle growing up in hardship.
From Manchester Uni, Jami L Bennett’s Ten by Ten examines themes of food, home, identity, and celebrity after her sister accidentally became famous thanks to the American-style diner she opened in South Korea.
They young filmmakers are joined by 10 broadcasters on the list of nominees – the BBC leads the pack with 25 nominations in total, while Netflix and Channel Four manage seven and six. Sky, National Geographic, ITV, iTunes with Prime Video, Disney+, Apple+ and Prime Video all also feature.
There is also a dash of celebrity among the nominations. This year’s Best Presenter shortlist is made up of five names making their documentary presenter debuts. Ellie Simmonds for Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?; Jamie MacDonald and Jamie O’Leary for Blind Ambition; Joe Lycett for Joe Lycett Vs the Oil Giant, and Sathnam Sangera for Empire State of Mind.
Griersons’ awards were established in 1972 and are the biggest event in the UK documentary calendar.
