Award-winning HBO original documentary Prime Minister and Secrets of the Penguins were among the major winners at the 47th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. This much-awaited Documentary Emmy Awards event was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. And this three-day event was filled with cinematic spectacle and star-studded moments, with several documentaries winning top awards. 

Here is a closer look at the winner who took home the highest honor at the event.

The HBO original documentary Prime Minister won Best Documentary at the Emmy Awards. Directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, the film focused on former Jacinda Ardern and explored her political rise as well as her private life. Previously, the documentary also won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

Another documentary that made a record at the event is Secrets of Penguins. Meanwhile, Nat Geo and Netflix, which won more than 5 awards at last Emmy event, tied for the most wins, with six each, followed by PBS with five. Several notable names were present at the event. Serena Davies, Stephanie Jenkins, Cynthia Lopez, Tiler Peck, Simon Schama, and Christina Ruffini attended as presenters. 

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Here are all the winners of the Documentary Emmy Awards, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Best Documentary — Prime Minister 

Outstanding Short Documentary — Projecting Protest 

Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary — Lost in the Jungle 

Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary — Prime Minister 

Outstanding Social Issue Documentary — The Ride Ahead 

Outstanding Investigative Documentary — Critical Incident: A Death at the Border 

Outstanding Historical Documentary — Simon Schama: The Holocaust, 80 Years On

Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary — Tiler Peck: Suspending Time 

Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary — The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice 

Outstanding Nature Documentary — Secrets of the Penguins

Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary — Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media 

Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary — The Strike — Independent Lens

Outstanding Writing: Documentary — Underdogs 

Outstanding Research: Documentary — Turning Point: The Vietnam War (Netflix)

Outstanding Direction: Documentary — 2000 Meters to Andriivka

Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary — Heart of the Emperors (Secrets of the Penguins) 

Outstanding Editing: Documentary — Cover-Up (Netflix)

Outstanding Graphic Design: Documentary — In Waves and War

Outstanding Music Composition: Documentary — Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey 

Outstanding Sound: Documentary — Underdogs 

Outstanding Lighting Direction: Documentary — Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders 

Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration/ Scenic Design: Documentary — Songs From the Hole 

Outstanding Promotional Announcement — Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember 

Outstanding Regional Documentary — Blue – The Life and Art of George Rodrigue

With major streaming platforms claiming multiple honors, both traditional networks and streamers continue to invest heavily in documentary storytelling. While the Prime Minister led the winners, other notable titles also highlighted global issues, history, and nature, earning recognition for excellence in writing and research. And this wide range of compelling real-life stories, spanning politics, nature, and science, is celebrated by this year’s Documentary Emmys 

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What do you think about the winners list? Let us know in the comments.