Other winners include 20,000 Days on Earth.

Virunga

Oscar-nominated Virunga was one of the top winners at this year’s Grierson Awards, taking home Best Cinema Documentary.

The film, which was also nominated for a BAFTA at the beginning of this year, covers the fight between business interests, rebel groups, and rangers over the Congolese home of the world’s only remaining mountain gorillas.

Elsewhere at the awards, Grayson Perry received Documentary Presenter of the Year for his Channel 4 show, Who Are You?

Repeating its success from last year, Channel 4 won a total of five awards out of the 12 available, including Best Documentary Series and Best Entertaining Documentary.

As previously reported, Kim Longinotto was presented with the Grierson Trustees’ Award for achievement in the world of factual film.

Lorraine Heggessey, Chairman of the Grierson Trust said about the winners: “Once again our winning films demonstrate the vibrant, exciting and innovative ways in which the UK documentary industry is the world leader. From the provocative to the heart-warming, the funny to the simply astonishing, our award winners deserve the accolade and recognition a Grierson bestows upon them.”

Prior to Virunga’s Oscar nomination, ScreenDaily interviewed the director about the making of the film.

Full list of winners:

Evolutions Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme — Domestic        

The Paedophile Hunter, Dan Reed for Amos Pictures

Shell Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme — International

Citizenfour, Laura Poitras for Praxis Films

The Open University Best Documentary on Current Affairs    

Our War: Goodbye Afghanistan, Rowan Deacon for BBC

Televisual Best Arts Documentary

20,000 Days on Earth, Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard for Corniche Pictures, BFI, Film4 & Pulse Films

ITN Source Best Historical Documentary

Our World War: The First Day, Bruce Goodison for BBC

Satusfaction Best Science or Natural History Documentary   

Curing Cancer, Brian Woods for True Vision Productions

Nyman Libson Paul Best Entertaining Documentary    

Gogglebox - Episode 6, Tania Alexander for Studio Lambert

Envy Best Documentary Series    

The Romanians are Coming, James Bluemel for KEO films

Bertha DocHouse Best Cinema Documentary     

Virunga, Orlando von Einsiedel for Grain Media & Violet Films

Channel Four Best Newcomer Documentary      

The Lost Gold of the Highlands (Garnet’s Gold), Ed Perkins for Red Box Films & Passion Pictures

Sky Atlantic Best Student Documentary 

The Wolf, The Ship and the Little Green Bag, Kathryn MacCorgarry Gray for University of Westminster

Clockwork Capital Documentary Presenter of the Year 

Grayson Perry for Who Are You?, Neil Crombie for Swan Films