‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’ and ‘Totally Under Control’ Win Critics Choice Doc Awards

The winners of the 2020 Critics Choice Documentary Awards were unveiled Monday morning, with Dick Johnson is Dead taking the top prize of best documentary feature as well as best director for Kirsten Johnson.

The other film winning two awards is My Octopus Teacher, which won best cinematography and best science/nature documentary.

Mr. SOUL!, which scored five nominations, won best first documentary feature. Crip Camp, from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company, also scored five nominations but didn’t win any awards.

Dick Johnson is Dead, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, features the younger Johnson filming her aging father in a cross between a premature obituary and humorous love letter to her dad, who goes along with the joke.

“We couldn’t be more excited about being able to celebrate such a diverse group of films and filmmakers and subjects this year of all years, on the fifth occasion of the CCDAs, and with 2020 being what it is,” said Christopher Campbell, president of the Critics Choice Association documentary branch. “The world needs this variety of storytelling now more than ever, and all of these documentaries moved us in unique ways. We are proud that we could still support these films and share the best of the best with nonfiction fans. Our only regret is that we couldn’t do so while also honoring the talented artists and their incredible work in person.”

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year’s winners weren’t able to celebrate with an in-person ceremony, but they recorded acceptance videos, which are available here.

The nominees, announced in October, were determined by the Critics Choice Association’s documentary nominating committee. Winners were determined by all qualified CCA members. The awards recognize achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms.