The Cinema Eye Honors are awards recognizing excellence in nonfiction or documentary filmmaking and include awards for the disciplines of directing, producing, cinematography and editing. The awards are presented each January in New York and have been held since 2011 at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. Cinema Eye was created to celebrate artistic craft in nonfiction filmmaking, addressing a perceived imbalance in the field where awards were given for social impact or importance of topic rather than artistic excellence.
History Nominations for the awards are determined by voting of top film festival documentary programmers and winners are voted on by an invited membership of more than 800 documentary film experts. Cinema Eye also presents an Audience Choice Prize where voting is open to the public and the Heterodox Award.
The first Cinema Eye Honors were presented at the IFC Center in New York City on March 18, 2008.
Winners Through the Years
Winners in 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) - Dir. Jason Kohn; Prods. Joey Frank, Jared Goldman, Jason Kohn Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Taxi to the Dark Side - Alex Gibney Outstanding Achievement in Production - Ghosts of Cité Soleil - Seth Kanegis, Tomas Radoor, Mikael Rieks Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) - Heloísa Passos Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) - Doug Abel, Jenny Golden, Andy Grieve Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Chicago 10 - Animation by Curious Pictures Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Billy the Kid - Jennifer Venditti Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature Film - The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun - Dir. Pernille Rose Grønkjær; Prod. Sigrid Dyekjær Audience Choice Prize - The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Dir. Seth Gordon
Winners in 2009 Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - Man on Wire - Dir. James Marsh, Prod. Simon Chinn Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Waltz with Bashir - Ari Folman Outstanding Achievement in Production - Man on Wire - Simon Chinn Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Encounters at the End of the World - Peter Zeitlinger Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Man on Wire - Jinx Godfrey Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Waltz with Bashir - Yoni Goodman, David Polonsky Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition - Waltz with Bashir - Max Richter Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Up the Yangtze - Dir. Yung Chang Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature Film - Waltz with Bashir - Dir. Ari Folman; Prod. Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner, Yael Nahlieli, Roman Paul Honored Shorts - Breadmakers, City of Cranes, Kids + money, One Day, The Tailor Audience Choice Prize - Up the Yangtze - Dir. Yung Chang
Winners in 2010 Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - The Cove - Dir. Louie Psihoyos; Prod. Paula DuPré Pesman, Fisher Stevens Outstanding Achievement in Direction - The Beaches of Agnès - Agnès Varda Outstanding Achievement in Production - The Cove - Paula DuPré Pesman, Fisher Stevens Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - The Cove - Brook Aitken Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Burma VJ - Janus Billeskov-Jansen, Thomas Papapetros Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation Food, Inc. - Bigstar RiP!: A Remix Manifesto - Francis Hanneman, Darren Pasemko, Kent Hugo, Omar Majeed, Brett Gaylor, Open Source Cinema Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - October Country - Danny Grody, Donal Mosher, Michael Palmieri, Ted Savarese, Kenric Taylor Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - October Country - Dir. Michael Palmieri, Donal Mosher Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature Film - Burma VJ - Dir. Anders Østergaard; Prod. Lise Lense-Møller Spotlight Award - Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo - Dir. Jessica Oreck Audience Choice Prize - The September Issue - Dir. R. J. Cutler 2010 Cinema Eye Honors Legacy Award - Sherman's March - Dir. Ross McElwee
Winners in 2011 Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - Exit Through the Gift Shop - Dir. Banksy; Prod. Jaimie D’Cruz Outstanding Achievement in Direction - The Oath - Laura Poitras Outstanding Achievement in Production - Last Train Home - Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Last Train Home - Lixin Fan Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Exit Through the Gift Shop - Chris King, Tom Fulford Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Gasland - Juan Cardarelli, Alex Tyson Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy - Norbert Möslang Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Marwencol - Dir. Jeff Malmberg Outstanding Achievement in an International Feature Film - Last Train Home - Dir. Lixin Fan; Prod. Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross Spotlight Award - The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceauşescu - Dir. Andrei Ujică Audience Choice Prize - Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work - Dir. Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg Heterodox Award - Putty Hill - Dir. Matt Porterfield Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking - The Poodle Trainer - Dir. Vance Malone 2011 Legacy Award - Grey Gardens - Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Ellen Hovde, Muffie Meyer and Susan Froemke
Winners in 2012
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - The Interrupters - Dir. Steve James; Prod. Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz Outstanding Achievement in Direction - The Interrupters - Steve James Outstanding Achievement in Production - Pina - Gian-Piero Ringel, Wim Wenders Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Hell and Back Again - Danfung Dennis Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Senna - Gregers Sall, Chris King Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Tabloid - Rob Feng, Jeremy Landman Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - Tabloid - John Kusiak Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - The Arbor - Dir. Clio Barnard Spotlight Award - El Lugar Más Pequeño (The Tiniest Place) - Dir. Tatiana Huezo Sanchez Audience Choice Prize - Buck - Dir. Cindy Meehl Heterodox Award - Beginners - Dir. Mike Mills Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking - Diary - Tim Hetherington Hell Yeah Prize - Paradise Lost Trilogy - Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky 2012 Legacy Award - Titicut Follies - Frederick Wiseman
Winners in 2013
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - 5 Broken Cameras - Dir. Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi; Prod. Christine Camdessus, Serge Gordey, Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Detropia - Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady Outstanding Achievement in Production - The Imposter - Dimitri Doganis Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Chasing Ice - Jeff Orlowski Outstanding Achievement in Editing - How to Survive a Plague - T. Woody Richman and Tyler H. Walk Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Searching for Sugar Man - Oskar Gullstrand and Arvid Steen Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - Detropia - Dial.81 Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Only The Young - Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims Spotlight Award - Argentinian Lesson - Wojciech Staroń Audience Choice Prize - Bully - Lee Hirsch Heterodox Award - Museum Hours - Jem Cohen Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking - Good Bye Mandima (Kwa Heri Mandima) - Robert-Jan Lacombe 2013 Legacy Award - The War Room - Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker
Winners in 2014
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - The Act of Killing - Dir. Joshua Oppenheimer; Prod. Signe Byrge Sørensen Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Stories We Tell - Sarah Polley Outstanding Achievement in Production - The Act of Killing - Signe Byrge Sørensen Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Leviathan - Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Let the Fire Burn - Nels Bangerter Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Cutie and the Boxer - Noriko Shinohara and Art Jail Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - Cutie and the Boxer - Yasuaki Shimizu Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Cutie and the Boxer - Zachary Heinzerling Spotlight Award - "The Last Station" - Cristian Soto and Catalina Vergara Audience Choice Prize - Sound City - Dave Grohl Heterodox Award - "Post Tenebras Lux" - Carlos Reygadas Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking - A Story for Modlins - Sergio Oksman Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Films Made for Television - The Crash Reel - Dir. Lucy Walker; Prod. Julian Cautherley and Lucy Walker 2014 Legacy Award - Harlan County, USA - Barbara Kopple Hell Yeah Prize - Gasland - Josh Fox
Winners in 2015
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - Citizenfour - Dir. Laura Poitras; Prod. Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Citizenfour - Laura Poitras Outstanding Achievement in Production - Citizenfour - Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography 20,000 Days on Earth - Erik Wilson Virunga - Franklin Dow and Orlando von Einsiedel Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Citizenfour - Mathilde Bonnefoy Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Jodorowsky's Dune - Syd Garon and Particle Fever - MK12 Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - 20,000 Days on Earth - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - Finding Vivian Maier - John Maloof and Charlie Siskel Spotlight Award - 1971 - Johanna Hamilton Heterodox Award - Boyhood - Richard Linklater Audience Choice - Keep On Keepin' On - Alan Hicks Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking - The Lion's Mouth Opens - Lucy Walker Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Films Made for Television - The Price of Gold - Dir. Nanette Burstein; Prod. Libby Geist 2015 Legacy Award - Paris is Burning - Jennie Livingston
Winners in 2016
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - The Look of Silence - Dir. Joshua Oppenheimer; Prod. Signe Byrge Sørensen Outstanding Achievement in Direction - The Look of Silence - Joshua Oppenheimer Outstanding Achievement in Production - The Look of Silence - Signe Byrge Sørensen Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Cartel Land - Matthew Heineman and Matt Porwoll Meru - Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Amy - Chris King Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Animation - Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck - Stefan Nadelman and Hisko Hulsing Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score - The Heart of a Dog - Laurie Anderson Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film - The Wolfpack - Crystal Moselle Spotlight Award - Toto and His Sisters - Alexandre Nanău Heterodox Award - Taxi - Jafar Panahi Audience Choice - Meru - Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking Buffalo Juggalos - Scott Cummings Hotel 22 - Elizabeth Lo Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Films Made for Television - Private Violence - Dir. Cynthia Hill; Prod. Cynthia Hill 2016 Legacy Award - American Movie - Chris Smith
Winners in 2017
Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking - Cameraperson - Dir. Kirsten Johnson; Prod. Kirsten Johnson and Marilyn Ness Outstanding Achievement in Direction - OJ: Made in America - Ezra Edelman Outstanding Achievement in Production - OJ: Made in America - Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Cameraperson - Kirsten Johnson Outstanding Achievement in Editing - Cameraperson - Nels Bangerter