DOC NYC: Celebrated Annual Awards Focus on Documentary Films

Little Richard, John Lecarré, a Kurdish carpenter, an Afghani women’s soccer team, a Ugandan opposition leader, Daniel Radcliff’s Harry Potter stunt double, North Korean escapees, a group of Estonian women, and a lone, elderly Norwegian man will all be appearing in downtown Manhattan during the month of November.

They’re all subjects of features and shorts showcased this month at DOC NYC, the 14th edition of what is now America’s largest documentary film festival.

The Corporate Presence/Prestige Custom Awards is proud once again to be providing awards for the event, whose honorees have included iconic filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Michael Moore, and Sam Pollard, but also less familiar, emerging talents like Tanaz Eshaghian, Ceclia Aldarondo, and Steven Bognar.

Awards Providing a Preview of Oscar Winners

DOC NYC has also become a reliable indicator (and driving force) for eventual Oscar recognition. Last year 12 of the 15 films named to the Academy Award Documentary Feature Shortlist had previously been screened at the festival.

2022 reflected the festival’s longstanding influence in the industry. In fact, in 10 of the last 11 years, DOC NYC has screened documentary features that went on to win an Oscar.

Heading into 2023, an astounding 49 of the last 55 Academy Award-nominated documentary features were first presented at the festival. Those Oscar winners include “O.J.: Made in America”, “Navalny”, “20 Feet From Stardom”, “Searching for Sugar Man”, and “Icarus”.

Recognizing Diversity and Breadth

The 2023 festival, which runs between November 8th-16th, will feature a total of 129 films. As in previous years, they will be noteworthy for the diversity of their subjects, their perspectives, their locales, and of the filmmakers themselves.

Among the subjects of films this year will be Ukrainian journalists covering the brtual Russian assault of Mariupol, Lakota Indigenous Tribe members pressing historical claims against the U.S. government, a group of Hindu men dedicated to protecting cows, a neurologist grappling with his own Alzheimer’s symptoms, and transgender Black sex workers coming to terms with discrimination and violence.

The DOC NYC Experience

But the cachet of DOC NYC goes beyond taking in new works. Its appeal has been described as “not only about seeing new films before everybody else does. It’s more about entering the conversation between actors, filmmakers, and film fans.”

The festival offers not only screenings but panel discussions, industry roundtables, case studies, live pitches, with Q & A opportunities with filmmakers.

As invaluable as that in-person experience can be, online screenings will also be available through November 26th.

Providing The DOC NYC Awards

The Corporate Presence/Prestige Custom Awards is honored to continue its association with DOC NYC. Along with the National Football League Commissioner’s Awards, and ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards, the festival is another prestigious event for which we provide custom awards.