It was a regular orgy of Emmy nominations last week (and by last we mean like a week and a half ago - blame it on the rain) as both the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (presenters of the Primetime Emmy Awards that give out statuettes to "Mad Men" and "30 Rock") and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (which give the Daytime Emmys, the Sports Emmys as well as the News and Documentary Emmys) announced this year's nominees.
We tend to value the Primetime Emmy a bit more than those presented by NATAS (maybe that's cause we won one of the latter, maybe it's because NATAS is honoring films that were at festivals or in theaters two and three years ago, maybe it's because the nominees often seem to make no particular sense), but we have to at least a little love to NATAS for giving so many prizes that honor the craft of nonfiction filmmaking (they've even got the word "craft" in the title of the awards), even if they don't have one for directing (but we digress).
P.O.V., the outstanding PBS series focusing on independent documentaries, led this year's news and documentary nominees with a record 10 nominations spread across nine different films. Only James Moll's INHERITANCE, which first popped up on our radar at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2006 (no, that's not a typo), received more than one nomination. P.O.V. was second only to CBS' venerable newsmagazine "60 Minutes", which received 15 nominations.
HBO received 9 nominations for its Documentary Films unit, including three for 2008 Oscar winner TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, which HBO picked up after Discovery Channel declined to air it (in what many viewed as a political move for the Silver Spring-based conglomerate). Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern's THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK was also nominated for three awards, but the king of this year's N&D Emmy jungle is GORILLA MURDERS, nominated for four awards. Both GORILLA and DEVIL came to your TV via the National Geographic Channel.
Meanwhile, over at the Primetime Emmys, HBO scored again, as Marina Zenovich's ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED was nominated in five categories - including Directing, Writing, Editing and Outstanding Nonfiction Special - and will be one of the only true nonfiction features showing up for the Creative Arts Emmys, as most of its competition are reality television and reality compeition titles. While in a normal year, POLANSKI would be considered a frontrunner for "Outstanding Nonfiction Special", it will have tough competition from another Hollywood subject - NBC's FARRAH'S STORY.
Select nominees for both sets of awards after the jump. One nomination outside of nonfiction categories worth noting is a nod for SPELLBOUND director Jeffrey Blitz for Outstanding Achievement in Directing of a Comedy Series for an episode of "The Office".
61st Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Nonfiction Special
THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT: MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE (Parts 1 & 2) • HBO
Executive Producers - Sheila Nevins, Maria Shriver
Series Producer - John Hoffman
Produced by Susan Froemke
FARRAH'S STORY • NBC
Executive Producers - Alexandra Gleysteen, Craig Nevius, Farrah Fawcett
Producers - Robert Dean, Alana Stewart
MICHAEL J. FOX: ADVENTURES OF AN INCURABLE OPTIMIST • ABC
Executive Producers - Michael J. Fox, Nelle Fortenberry, Rudy Bednar
102 MINUTES THAT CHANGED AMERICA • HISTORY
Executive Producers - Greg Jacobs, Jon Siskel,Susan Werbe
Producer - Nicole Rittenmeyer
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED • HBO
Executive Producers - Steven Soderbergh, Randy Wooten
Producers - Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Lila Yacoub, Marina Zenovich
Outstanding Nonfiction Series
American Experience • PBS
Executive Producer - Mark Samels, Nick Fraser,
Series Producer - Susan Bellows
Producer - David Grubin
American Masters • PBS • Thirteen/WNET American Masters
Executive Producer - Susan Lacy
Series Producer - Prudence Glass
Supervising Producer - Julie Sacks
Producer - Judy Kinberg
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations • Travel Channel
Executive Producer - Myleeta Aga, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia
Producer - Paul Cabana
Biography • BIO
Executive Producer - Gary Cohen, Peter Tarshis
Produced by Eliza Kurtz
Deadliest Catch • Discovery Channel
Executive Producer - Thom Beers, Jeff Conroy, Paul Gasek, Tracy Rudolph, Matt Renner
Supervising Producer - Ethan Prochnik
This American Life • Showtime
This American Life Producing Team
Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking
THE MEMORY LOSS TAPES • HBO
Executive Producers - Sheila Nevins, Maria Shriver
Series Producer - John Hoffman
Produced by Shari Cookson and Nick Doob
SECTION 60: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY • HBO
Executive Producer - Sheila Nevins
Supervising Producer - Jacqueline Glover
Produced by Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill
Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program
Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver • HBO
Executive Producers - Sheila Nevins, Maria Shriver
Supervising Producer - Veronica Brady
Produced by Eamon Harrington & John Watkin
Series Producer - John Hoffman
Nick News With Linda Ellerbee Coming Home: When Parents Return from War • Nickelodeon •
Executive Producers - Linda Ellerbee, Rolfe Tessem
Supervising Producer - Wally Berger
Produced by Mark Lyons & Martin Toub
Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming
The Amazing Race • Don't Let A Cheese Hit Me • CBS
Bertram van Munster, Director
Project Runway • Finale (Part 1) • Bravo
Paul Starkman, Director
Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired • HBO
Marina Zenovich, Director
This American Life • John Smith
Christopher Wilcha, Director
Adam Beckman, Director
Top Chef • The Last Supper • Bravo
Steve Hrynewicz, Director
Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming
American Experience • The Trials Of J. Robert Oppenheimer • PBS
David Grubin, Writer
American Masters • Jerome Robbins: Something To Dance About • PBS
Amanda Vaill, Writer
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America • When I'm Bad, I'm Better—The Groundbreakers • PBS
Michael Kantor & Laurence Maslon, Writers
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! • New Age Medicine • Showtime
Penn Jillette, Teller, Star Price, Rich Nathanson, Michael Goudeau, David Wechter, Cliff Schoenberg, Sheryl Zohn, Writers
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED • HBO
Joe Bini, P.G. Morgan, Marina Zenovich, Writers
Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations • Laos
Todd Liebler, Zach Zamboni, Camera
Deadliest Catch • Stay Focused Or Die • Discovery Channel
Cinematography Team
Expedition Africa • Episode 101 • HISTORY
Cinematography Team
This American Life • John Smith • Showtime
Adam Beckman, Director of Photography
Whale Wars • Nothing's Ideal • Animal Planet
Robert G. Case, Director of Photography
Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations • Laos • Travel Channel
Jesse Fisher, Editor
Deadliest Catch • Stay Focused Or Die • Discovery Channel
Kelly Coskran, Supervising Editor
Josh Earl, Editor
102 MINUTES THAT CHANGED AMERICA • HISTORY
Seth Skundrick, Editor
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED • HBO
Joe Bini, Edited By
This American Life • John Smith • Showtime
Joe Beshenkovsky, Editor
Outstanding Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)
The Amazing Race • Don't Let A Cheese Hit Me • CBS
Eric Goldfarb, Julian Gomez, Andrew Kozar, Paul Nielsen, Jacob Parsons, Sound Editors
Rick Livingstone, Music Editor
American Masters • Glass: A Portrait Of Philip In Twelve Parts • PBS
Stephen R. Smith, Sound Supervisor
Peter Smith, Dialogue Editor/Music Editor
Tom Heuzenroeder, Adrian Medhurst, Sound Effects Editors
CHINA'S UNNATURAL DISASTER: THE TEARS OF SICHUAN PROVINCE • HBO
Branka Mrkic-Tana, Sound Editor
102 MINUTES THAT CHANGED AMERICA • HISTORY
Seth Skundrick, Sound Designer
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED • HBO
D.D. Stenehjem, Sound Editor
Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming
The Amazing Race • Don't Let A Cheese Hit Me • CBS
Jim Ursulak, Lead Audio
Jerry Chabane, Audio
Dean Gaveau, C.A.S., Audio
Troy Smith, Re-Recording Mixer
American Idol • 801/02 • FOX
Brian Riordan, Adrian Ordonez, Re-Recording Mixers
Deadliest Catch • Stay Focused Or Die • Discovery Channel
Bob Bronow, Re-Recording Mixer
102 MINUTES THAT CHANGED AMERICA • HISTORY
Damon Trotta, Re-Recording Mixer
Survivor • The Poison Apple Needs To Go • CBS
Robert Mackay, Audio Supervisor
Terry Meehan, Christopher Kelly, Audio Mixers
Terrance Dwyer, Re-Recording Mixer
The 30th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards - Selected Nominees
BEST DOCUMENTARY
NANKING • Cinemax
Producer/Director - Bill Guttentag
Producers - Michael Jacobs, Ted Leonsis
Co‑Producer - Violet Du Feng
Director - Dan Sturman
CHINA'S STOLEN CHILDREN • HBO
Executive Producers - Sheila Nevins, Kevin Sutcliffe
Supervising Producers - Nancy Abraham, Mark Roberts
Producers - Kate Blewett, Brian Woods
Director - Jezza Neumann
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE • HBO
Executive Producers - Don Glascoff, Robert Johnson, Sidney Blumenthal, Jedd Wider, Todd Wider
Producer/Director - Alex Gibney
Producers - Eva Orner, Susannah Shipman
Co‑Producers - Blair Foster, Sloane Klevin, Marty Fisher
GORILLA MURDERS • National Geographic Channel
Executive Producers - Jonathan Halperin, Kathleen Cromley
Senior Producer - Robert Zakin
Series Producer - Max Salomon
Producer/Director - Michael Davie
Producer - Jaime Bernanke
THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK • National Geographic Channel
Producers - Gretchen Wallace, Jane Wells
Directors - Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg
INHERITANCE • P.O.V.
Executive Producers - Simon Kilmurry, Chris Malachowsky, Ryan Malachowsky
Producer/Director - James Moll
Producer - Christopher Pavlick
OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM‑‑LONG FORM
Frontline - RULES OF ENGAGEMENT • PBS
Executive Producer - David Fanning
Senior Producer - Raney Aronson‑Rath
Producer/Director - Arun Rath
Co‑Producer - Amy Rubin
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE • HBO
Executive Producers - Don Glascoff, Robert Johnson, Sidney Blumenthal, Jedd Wider, Todd Wider
Producer/Director - Alex Gibney
Producers - Eva Orner, Susannah Shipman
Co‑Producers - Blair Foster, Sloane Klevin, Marty Fisher
ILLICIT: THE DARK TRADE • PBS
Executive Producer - John Bredar
Co‑Executive Producer - Moises Naim
Producer/Director - Helen Fitzwilliam
GORILLA MURDERS • National Geographic Channel
Executive Producers - Jonathan Halperin, Kathleen Cromley
Senior Producer - Robert Zakin
Series Producer - Max Salomon
Producer/Director - Michael Davie
Producer - Jaime Bernanke
THE BALLAD OF ESEQUIEL HERNANDEZ • P.O.V.
Director - Kieran Fitzgerald
Producer - Brendan Fitzgerald
Co-Producer - Shane Slattery-Quintanilla
Executive Producers - Peter Gilbert, Simon Kilmurry
OUTSTANDING INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMING ‑ LONG FORM
Frontline - GROWING UP ONLINE • PBS
Executive Producer - David Fanning
Producer/Directors - Rachael Dretzin, John Maggio
RESOLVED • HBO
Executive Producers - Sarah Clark, Mark H. Iola, Lisa Kraus, Peter Kraus, Sheila Nevins, Marc R. Stanley, Wendy H. Stanley, Andy Waters, Liz Waters
Senior Producer - Nancy Abraham
Producer/Director - Greg Whiteley
THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO • HBO
Executive Producers - Diana Barrett, Sheila Nevins
Supervising Producer - Nancy Abraham
Producer/Director - Lisa F. Jackson
HARD ROAD HOME • Independent Lens
Executive Producer - Sally Jo Fifer
Producer - Selina Lewis Davidson
Director - Macky Alston
A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL • NOVA
Executive Producer / Producer - Steve Engel
Senior Executive Producer - Paula Apsell
Senior Series Producer - Melanie Wallace
Producer/Director - Mary Olive Smith
Co‑Producer - Allison Shigo
Director - Amy Bucher
IN THE FAMILY • P.O.V.
Director/Producer - Joanna Rudnick
Producer - Gordon Quinn
Co‑Producer - Beth Iams Wellman
Executive Producers - Gordon Quinn, Sally Jo Fifer, Simon Kilmurry
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: WRITING
Bill Moyers Journal - Essays ‑ Gilded Age, It Was Oil, Memorial Day • PBS
Writers - Bill Moyers, Michael Winship
THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO • HBO
Writer - Lisa F. Jackson
WITNESS TO JONESTOWN • MSNBC
Writer - Stephen Stept
TAKE ONE STEP: THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER • PBS
Writer - Linda Garmon
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: CINEMATOGRAPHY
Frontline - THE WAR BRIEFING • PBS
Cameraman - Timothy Grucza
Koppel on Discovery - The People's Republic of Capitalism • Discovery Channel
Director of Photography - Robert Goldsborough
Additional Cameramen - Dennis Boni, Mitch Farkas
GORILLA MURDERS • National Geographic Channel
Cinematographer - Erin Harvey
Wildlife Cinematography - Robert Poole
UP THE YANGTZE • P.O.V.
Director of Photography - Wang Shi Qing
OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN A CRAFT: EDITING
THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK • National Geographic Channel
Editor - Joey Grossfield
RESOLVED • HBO
Editors - Brad Barber, Tom Runquist, Greg Whiteley
GORILLA MURDERS • National Geographic Channel
Editors - Christine Jameson‑Henry, Max Salomon, Salvatore Vecchio
SOLDIERS OF CONSCIENCE • P.O.V.
Editors - Gary Weimberg , Josh Peterson
Wild China - Shangri-La • Travel Channel
Editors - Andy Netley, Steve Olive
For a full list of this year's News and Documentary Emmy nominees, go here.
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