‘The Square,’ Morgan Spurlock’s ‘Inside Man’ Top IDA Doc Awards

Jehane Noujaim’s The Square and Morgan Spurlock‘s The Inside Man were among the top winners at the IDA Documentary Awards in Los Angeles on Friday night.

The Square, which follows a group of Egyptian activists, won the best feature award at the 29th annual event held at the Directors Guild. The film became the first major acquisition for Netflix’s original documentary initiative when it was acquired in early November. It was also recently named to the Oscar doc shortlist.

Spurlock’s The Inside Man won for best limited series. The CNN original series, which bowed last spring, included examinations of migrant farm workers, union workers, gun owners, elder care and medical marijuana industries. The series was renewed for a second season in October.

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The best continuing series award went to the PBS series Independent Lens, which is now in its 12th season. The weekly series features original documentary films made by some of the best independent filmmakers working today.

The best short award went to Josh Izenberg‘s Slomo, which follows a neurologist-turned-rollerblader named Dr. John Kitchin.

During the ceremony, which was hosted by comedian and actor Paul Provenza, Alex Gibney, Laura Poitras and Geralyn Dreyfous were honored.

Gibney received the 2013 Career Achievement Award. The prolific filmmaker’s latest works profiled two controversial figures — cyclist Lance Armstrong in The Armstrong Lie and media figure Julian Assange in We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks. 

Dreyfous was presented with the Amicus Award. Her executive producing and producing credits include the Academy Award-winning Born Into Brothels (2004), the Academy Award-nominated The Invisible War (2012), the Emmy-nominated The Day My God Died (2003) as well as 2013’s The Square and The Crash Reel.

Poitras, who broke the story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, received IDA’s Courage Under Fire Award, in recognition of “conspicuous bravery in the pursuit of truth.”

Below is the complete list of IDA Documentary Awards winners:
 
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Alex Gibney

IDA AMICUS AWARD
Geralyn Dreyfous

COURAGE UNDER FIRE AWARD
Laura Poitras

BEST FEATURE AWARD
The Square
Director: Jehane Noujaim
Producer: Karim Amer
Executive Producers: Geralyn Dreyfous, Mike Lerner, Sarah Johnson, Jodie Evans, Lekha Singh, Gavin Dougan, Dan Catullo III, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del Deo,
Khalil Noujaim, Alexandra Johnes, Jeff Skoll
Noujaim Films, Netflix Originals

BEST SHORT AWARD
Slomo
Director: Josh Izenberg
Producer: Amanda Micheli
Executive Producer: Neil Izenberg
Big Young Films, Runaway Films

BEST LIMITED SERIES AWARD
Inside Man
Producers: Kristen Vaurio, Lisa Kalikow, Shannon Gibson, Suzanne Hillinger, Lara Benario
Writers: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock
Executive Producers: Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, Morgan Spurlock
CNN

BEST CONTINUING SERIES AWARD
Independent Lens
Producer: Lois Vossen
Executive Producers: Sally Jo Fifer
Independent Television Service (ITVS) in association with PBS

DAVID L. WOLPER STUDENT DOCUMENTARY AWARD
My Sister Sarah
Director/Producer: Elizabeth Chatelain
University of Texas at Austin

HUMANITAS DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Blood Brother
Director: Steve Hoover
Producer: Danny Yourd
Writers: Steve Hoover, Phinehas Hodges, Tyson VanSkiver
Executive Producers: Steve Hoover, Michael Killen, Kathy Dziubek, Jim Kreitzburg, Leigh Blake, John Carlin
Independent Television Service (ITVS)

PARE LORENTZ AWARD
A Place at the Table
Directors/Producers: Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson
Producers: Julie Goldman, Ryan Harrington
Magnolia Pictures

ABCNEWS VIDEOSOURCE AWARD
The Trials of Muhammad Ali
Director: Bill Siegel
Producers: Bill Siegel, Rachel Pikelny
Executive Producers: Justine Nagan, Gordon Quinn, Leon Gast, Kat White; Sally Jo Fifer (for ITVS)
Independent Television Service (ITVS), Kartemquin Films, Kino Lorber

CREATIVE RECOGNITION AWARD WINNERS
 
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Pablo’s Winter
Cinematographer: Julian Schwanitz
Director: Chico Pereira

BEST EDITING
Let the Fire Burn
Editor: Nels Bangerter
Director: Jason Osder

BEST MUSIC
Narco Cultura
Original Music By: Jeremy Turner
Director: Shaul Schwartz

BEST WRITING
How to Make Money Selling Drugs
Writer/Director: Matthew Cooke