47th Annual News & Documentary Emmys Reveals Doc Winners

“Prime Minister” from Madison Wells Studio took home the trophy for Best Documentary. Simon Schama received recognition for Outstanding Historical Documentary for “Simon Schama: The Holocaust, 80 Years On,” Tiler Peck accepted the trophy for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary for “Tiler Peck: Suspending Time” and National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Penguins” won Outstanding Nature Documentary. Sam Pollard, Emmy-winning documentarian and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to documentary filmmaking by American filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir. This year’s class of Documentary Gold and Silver Circle honorees includes Susan Lacy (“American Masters”), scholar Patricia Aufderheide, filmmaker R.J. Cutler, entertainment executive Sally Jo Fifer, cinematographer and director Vicente Franco Izquierdo, and filmmaker Renee Tajima-Peña.

The ceremony featured presenters from across the filmmaking community, including Serena Davies (National Geographic, NASA), Producer Stephanie Jenkins, Cynthia Lopez (CEO of New York Women in Film & Television), Tiler Peck (NYC Ballet, “Tiler Peck: Suspending Time”) and Simon Schama (“Simon Schama’s Story of Us”). Christina Ruffini (Bloomberg “This Weekend”) moderated special discussions with nominees about the challenges and evolution of documentary filmmaking throughout the ceremony.

“Throughout history, there have been those who have joined together to keep doors closed. To keep government and policymaking away from public view.” said President & CEO, Adam Sharp. “But then there are those who band together to open doors. Who ask tough questions and bring the public inside. Tonight we celebrate their tenacity and commitment.”

The Douglas W. Mummert Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing a career in the television industry who has made a positive impact through community service, was presented to Cameron Kirkegaard, a student at Grand Junction High School in Grand Junction, CO.

The 47th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards honor programming originally released in calendar year 2025, selected from more than 1,000 submissions and judged by a panel of over 800 peer professionals from across the news and documentary industry. The ceremony was streamed live on YouTube, with YouTube serving as the Presenting Sponsor. Viewers can watch on the NATAS YouTube channel at youtube.com/@theemmys. For a full list of winners, visit theemmys.tv. Programming can be streamed on Watch.TheEmmys.TV and through The Emmys® apps on iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, Roku, and Samsung Smart TV.

NATAS produced this year’s ceremony with Lara Gates and Adam Sharp serving as Executive Producers, and Christine Chin as Documentary Administration. The program was directed by John D’Incecco. Voting was tabulated by independent accounting firm Lutz & Carr, LLP.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy® Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime and Children’s & Family programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering.

NATAS membership is made up of National members joined by more than 18,000+ broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including its National Student Production Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships for aspiring filmmakers and broadcasters.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.theemmys.tv/