Documentaries often dive into intricate, controversial or emotional subjects, capturing fascinating human stories. The goal of a documentary is not simply to keep people informed about certain stories or subjects, but often, they are used to challenge the viewer's thoughts on a vast array of topics. Social justice, environmental crises, personal journeys, historical events and emotional issues are just some of the many themes that a documentary can explore, and they can be used to do anything from making political statements to making a personal impact on the viewers.
These films may have roots in journalism or record keeping, but they are by no means restricted to simple accounts of past events. Often, directors will use artistic license to bring the stories to life and try to show how they are still very relevant today.
The Emmys are awards that are given to television series for artistic and technical merit. They have been around since 1949, and events are held each year to reward top television programs and series for their excellence. There are Emmy awards for Primetime, Daytime, Sports, Children's and Family, Engineering, International, Students, Regional, and Humanitarian and Public Services programs, as well as Documentaries and News.
Another aim of the Emmy Awards is to congratulate the creators of TV films and series with awards, as well as to draw attention to those programs that meet the standards of excellence. That means the not-so-popular TV shows and series will have an opportunity to be introduced to larger audiences. Documentaries are not perceived as well as comedy programs, sports, or blockbuster series; thus, the Emmys may serve as a good way for these programs to take their place in the spotlight.
The Emmys are a well-respected platform that receives a lot of mainstream attention. There are numerous designated categories for documentaries and every year, the panels watch countless films and series to find the gems that meet the Emmys' high standards for recognition.
Not only do they expand viewership on these documentaries, but they also encourage film production companies to invest in more documentaries and make more award-worthy productions for viewers to enjoy. These do not only include US films but international documentaries, fiction and nonfiction works, and stories from throughout human history.
After Tiller, a documentary film by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson won Emmys in 2013. The documentary touched on one of the most sensitive and taboo subjects in the US.
The film dives into the subject of abortions in the US and was named after George Tiller, a prominent physician and abortion provider who was murdered in 2009. The film highlights the four doctors who provided abortions in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters openly, after the assassination of Dr George Tiller. The film was critically acclaimed by Variety, Rotten Tomatoes and The New York Times, highlighting the bravery of the filmmakers to highlight a topic that was still very controversial in the US.
There is certainly heavy political rhetoric behind After Tiller, but the film goes beyond this, focusing on the deeply human stories through which it drew inspiration. It challenges the viewers with complex emotional and ethical questions, opening avenues for people to ponder and discuss. Of course, it is still one of the most polarising debates around the world and not a light topic for viewers.
After Tiller is one of the many world-class documentaries that have been brought to the spotlight by the Emmys. Another is the film "13th" by Ava DuVernay, which explores the issue of mass incarceration in the US. Released in 2016, the film begins with then- US President Barack Obama stating that the US has 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's prisoners. Truthful sentiment, the film draws parallels between slavery in the US and the penal system of nowadays, highlighting how the system fails to rehabilitate problematic individuals and needs urgent reform.
The Cave, a Syrian-Danish documentary directed by Feras Fayyad, won critical acclaim at the Emmys in 2020. The film is centred around the Syrian revolution and is based on a doctor at a makeshift hospital called "The Cave". It captures the real stories and experiences Syrians went through in one of the most brutal civil wars that saw over 6.5 million people displaced. The Cave went on to win the People's Choice Award for Documentaries at the Toronto International Film Festival and won The Cinema for Peace Award in 2019. It was also nominated at the 92 Academy Awards in the category for Best Documentary Feature.
Another example of a quality Emmy-winning documentary is Free Solo, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. The US film is about rock climber Alex Honnold and his quest to climb El Capitan without the use of any equipment. The documentary celebrates his extensive mental and physical preparation to achieve the spectacular "free solo climb" and follows his story. Free Solo won numerous awards around the world, including the Oscars for Best Documentary Feature and 7 Emmys in 2019. Made from a budget of just $2 million, the film went on to gross nearly $30 million at the box office.
These are just a few films that capture the essence of struggle, ethical dilemmas and extraordinary human stories.
The Emmys are one of the best avenues on which bidding filmmakers or film watchers can get thoughtful and impacting movies. The awards program keeps raising the bar in finding such gems. It brings light to a wide array of topics to help inspire and shed light on systematic injustices or human dilemmas. They prove that cinema has the power to drive understanding, spark dialogue, and inspire transf