EXCLUSIVE: The inaugural Henry Awards for Public Curiosity Documentary has named its 15 semifinalists, with the winner set to obtain $100,000.
The brand new prize, created by the Documentary Movie within the Public Curiosity Initiative on the Harvard Kennedy Faculty’s Shorenstein Heart on Media, Politics and Public Coverage, acknowledges “nonfiction movies that advance public understanding of the crucial problems with our time whereas demonstrating excellent cinematic achievement,” in response to a launch. “Guided by the hallmarks of moral apply, rigorous investigation, and brave storytelling, the Henry Awards are meant to honor and encourage a documentary filmmaking apply grounded in its important function to a thriving society and centered on the general public good.”
‘4 Daughters’
Kino Lorber
Among the many 15 semifinalists introduced Tuesday are the Oscar nominated documentary 4 Daughters, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, and the Oscar-shortlisted documentaries Queendom, directed by Agniia Galdanova, and Hollywoodgate, directed by Ibrahim Nash’at. Scroll for the complete listing of semifinalists.
Candidates for the Henry Awards have been nominated by a world committee of consultants from all over the world “who see, help, and champion up to date nonfiction work,” per the discharge. “The Nominations Committee consists of competition programmers, students, basis leaders, journalists, and movie critics. Nominations have been accepted for feature-length documentary movies from all over the world which have been launched for at the least a 12 months and have exhibited a notable impression on audiences.”
Monetary help for the Henry Awards Program is offered by Linda and John Henry. This system is run by the Shorenstein Heart on Media, Politics and Public Coverage at Harvard College’s Kennedy Faculty of Authorities.
In an announcement, Shorenstein Heart Director Nancy Gibbs commented, “We live by way of historic shifts in the place, how, and from whom folks get the knowledge that shapes their understanding of the world. At such a second, when ‘fact’ is commonly diminished to a cage match between reality and religion, documentary movie serves as a significant witness to the general public curiosity. The Henry Awards intention to raise and have fun movies that play a crucial function in an info ecosystem that serves as a basis for a free society.”
Documentary Movie within the Public Curiosity Initiative
Sara Archambault, director of the Documentary Movie within the Public Curiosity Initiative on the Shorenstein Heart, led the crew that designed the awards. “At a time when main studios and streaming platforms are prioritizing documentary as leisure or commerce, the Henry Awards search to champion the important work of documentaries that elevate public understanding,” Archambault stated. “Anchored by core values like moral apply, investigative excellence, and creative integrity, this award seeks to highlight movies and movie groups dedicated to contributing to the frequent good by way of their craft.”
Beginning with the 2025 Henry Awards, a grand prize of $100,000 can be awarded yearly; 4 finalists may also obtain money prizes. The grand prize winner and finalists, to be decided by a jury of movie business professionals and journalists, can be introduced in April.”
These are the 15 semifinalists for the 2025 Henry Awards:
ANHELL69 | Director: Theo Montoya; Producers: Bianca Oana, David Hurst, Juan P. Castrillón, Theo Montoya | Colombia, Romania, France, Germany
ANOTHER BODY | Administrators: Sophie Compton & Reuben Hamlyn; Producers: Elizabeth Woodward, Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn | United States, United Kingdom
COCONUT HEAD GENERATION | Director: Alain Kassanda; Producers: Emilie Guitard, Alain Kassanda | France, Nigeria
FOUR DAUGHTERS | Director: Kaouther Ben Hania; Producers: Nadim Cheikhrouha with Habib Attia, Thanassis Karathanos, Martin Hampel | Tunisia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia
HOLLYWOODGATE | Director: Ibrahim Nash’at; Producers: Talal Derki, Odessa Rae, Shane Boris | Germany, United States
IF WE BURN | Administrators: James Leong & Lynn Lee; Producers: James Leong, Lynn Lee | Hong Kong
KOKOMO CITY | Director: D. Smith; Producers: D. Smith, Harris Doran, Invoice Butler | United States
MILISUTHANDO | Director: Milisuthando Bongela; Producers: Marion Isaacs, Milisuthando Bongela | South Africa, Colombia
Q | Director: Jude Chehab; Producers: Jude Chehab, Fahd Ahmed | United States, Lebanon
QUEENDOM | Director: Agniia Galdanova; Producers: Igor Myakotin, Agniia Galdanova | France, United States
THE STROLL | Administrators: Kristen Lovell & Zackary Drucker; Producer: Matt Wolf | United States
THREE PROMISES | Director: Yousef Srouji; Producer: Marielle Olentine | Palestine, United States
WHILE WE WATCHED | Director: Vinay Shukla; Producers: Vinay Shukla, Luke W Moody, Khushboo Ranka | India, United Kingdom
YOUR FAT FRIEND | Director: Jeanie Finlay; Producer: Jeanie Finlay | United Kingdom, United States
YOUTH (SPRING) | Director: Wang Bing; Producers: Sonia Buchman, Mao Hui, Nicolas R. De La Mothe, Vincent Wang | France, Luxemburg, Netherlands
