The Grierson Trust Unveils 2025 British Doc Awards Longlist

The Grierson Trust has unveiled the longlist for the 2025 British Documentary Awards in association with All3Media, which spans 14 program categories.

The BBC tops this year’s longlist with 31 entries across its channels and BBC iPlayer, followed by Channel 4 with 17, Netflix with 16 and Sky Documentaries with ten.

Disney+ has five entries on the longlist, Prime Video has four, ITV has three. 5, Apple TV+, discovery+, National Geographic and Mubi have two each.

Two production companies have four entries on the longlist: Candour Productions and Rogan Productions. Candour’s Groomed: A National Scandal is listed in the best single documentary—domestic and best current affairs documentary categories, while The Essex Millionaire Murders is listed in the best crime and justice documentary section and Cause of Death is in the best returning documentary series category. Rogan Productions’ Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks and The Rise & Fall of Michelle Moe are longlisted in the best popular culture documentary category, and Rose Ayling-Ellis is in the longlist for best documentary presenter. Additionally, Rogan’s The Search for Nicola Bulley is in the best single documentary—domestic category.

Acme, Amos Pictures, Fee Fie Foe, Lightbox and Minnow Films have three entries each.

Two new categories were added this year to reflect some of the fastest-growing genres and recognize returning programs: best crime and justice documentary and best returning documentary series.

Twelve documentaries and series were longlisted in two categories: Apollo 13: Survival; Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park; Black Box Diaries‘ Flintoff; Four Kings; Groomed: A National Scandal; Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa; No Other Land; One to One: John & Yoko; Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks; Shoot To Kill: Terror On the Tube; and Small Town, Big Riot.

The longlist features a mix of known names and newcomers, including Poppy Jay (Young, British and Anti-Abortion), Rose Ayling-Ellis (Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks), Blindboy Boatclub (Blindboy: The Land of Slaves & Scholars), Stacey Dooley (Stacey Dooley: Rape on Trial), Bruce Parry (Tribe with Bruce Parry), Chris Packham (Inside Our Minds), Mobeen Azhar (Small Town, Big Riot), Louis Theroux (Louis Theroux: The Settlers) and Matt and Emma Willis (Swiped: The School that Banned Smartphones).

The best student documentary category includes four entries from the National Film and Television School, two entries from the University of Manchester and one entry each from University College London and the University of Westminster.

The 2025 awards ceremony will take place on November 18 at Roundhouse in Camden, London.

“At a time where many freelancers are struggling, this year’s Griersons longlist highlights the incredible creativity of so many talented documentary filmmakers,” said Lorraine Heggessey, chair of The Grierson Trust. “The breadth and quality of entries are as strong as ever. From powerful explorations of contemporary history to uplifting personal stories and beautifully filmed natural history, the films and series featured in this year’s longlist all demonstrate the power of factual filmmaking to inspire, educate and entertain.”