The Buzzies
The Buzzies celebrate excellence in science and factual storytelling, and recognize short-form, long-form and multiplatform science, history and natural history projects, as well as awarding projects for innovation and impact. The winners each received a signature award statue and a free registration to Congress '26.
Submissions are open until August 14, 2026!
This year’s categories include:
- Best Science
Awarded to an outstanding science documentary from any platform that brings scientific ideas, discoveries, and research to life through compelling storytelling, originality, and exceptional factual filmmaking. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best History
Recognizing excellence in history storytelling, this award celebrates documentaries from any platform that illuminate the past with depth, accuracy, creativity, and strong narrative craft. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Natural History & Environmental Storytelling
Honoring exceptional storytelling about the natural world, wildlife, or the environment, this award recognizes productions that combine powerful narratives with outstanding filmmaking. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer from any platform.
- Best Innovation in Factual - NEW
Celebrating bold and original approaches to factual storytelling, this award recognizes a one-of-a-kind production that demonstrates outstanding innovation in storytelling, production, technology, format or visual presentation. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Digital-First - NEW
Celebrating factual storytelling created for digital platforms, this award recognizes a one-off or series that premiered first on a digital platform and demonstrates innovation, audience engagement, and creative excellence. Open to projects longer than 15 minutes.
- Best Short Form
Awarded to an outstanding short-form factual production that delivers powerful storytelling, creativity, and impact in under 5 minutes. Open to one-offs or series.
- Best Direction
This award recognizes exceptional directorial vision, creativity, and leadership in bringing a factual story to life across any format.
- Best Cinematography
Recognizing outstanding visual storytelling, this award recognizes a DOP who skillfully captures real-life narratives with exceptional composition, lighting, and camera work. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Editing
Awarded for excellence in factual editing, this category recognizes exceptional skill in visual storytelling through pacing, structure and rhythm to create a compelling documentary experience that is both emotional and effectively communicates factual information.
- Best Host
Awarded to an exceptional factual host, presenter, or on-screen team whose presence, storytelling ability, and audience connection elevate a documentary or factual program.
- Green Impact of the Year
Recognizing meaningful environmental leadership within the industry, this award honors a media organization or production that has significantly reduced its environmental impact or positively influenced public awareness, attitudes, or policy around environmental issues. Open to a production, broadcaster, production company, producer association, or other media entity.
- Mentor of the Year - Free submissions
This award celebrates an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to mentoring and developing emerging talent within the science, history, or natural history media industries.
- Rising Star of the Year - Free submissions
Awarded to a producer or content-creator in the early stages of their career who has demonstrated outstanding promise, creativity, and achievement in science, history, natural history or other specialist-factual storytelling.
- Diversity Leadership Award - Free submissions
Recognizing individuals, teams, or organizations driving meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion within science, history, or wildlife production.
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Free submissions
This award honors an individual whose career has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to science, history, or natural history media.
The Buzzies Winners 2025
Best Science Program/Content (Long Format)
Sponsored by CICC
TITANIC: DIGITAL RESURRECTION
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Atlantic Studios
Best Natural History Program/Content (Long Format)
Sponsored by ORF
LIONS OF THE SKELETON COAST
Broadcaster/Platform: ORF Universum
Production Company: Into Nature Productions
Best History Program/Content (Long Format)
HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Lightbox and Proximity
Best Factual (Short Format)
LOYAL AMERICAN
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Society
Production Company: National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab
Best Documentary Cinematography (Long Format)
2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
Broadcaster/Platform: France TV
Production Company: Associated Press et Frontline
Filmed by Mstyslav Chernov
Best Host/Presenter in a Science/History or Wildlife Program/Content
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Host: David Attenborough
Best Writing
LOVE AND WAR
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films
Most Innovative Factual Program/Project of the Year
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Best Direction
Sponsored by NHK
LOST IN THE JUNGLE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films, Lightbox, Pacha Films, Señal Colombia, Demolition Films
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Juan Camilo Cruz
Best Editing
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Editing: Philippa Edwards
Diversity Leadership Award
GEORGE CSICSERY
Producer/director, Zala Films
Mentor of the Year
SUE DANDO
CBC Consultant
Rising Star of the Year
GREGOR CAVLOVIC
Writer/Director, Veritasium
Green Impact of the Year
Sponsored by Terra Mater Studios
HOW ONE COMPANY SECRETLY POISONED THE PLANET
Broadcaster/Platform: Veritasium YouTube Channel
Production Company: Veritasium / Electrify Video
Sloan Buzzies Award
Supported by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
KEVAN MACKAY
YouTuber, BobbyBroccoli
Lifetime Achievement Award in Factual Content
PETER ARENS
Head of History and Science, ZDF
2025 NOMINEES
Best Science Program/Content (Long Format)
Sponsored by CICC
17 PAGES
Broadcaster/Platform: Nebula
Production Company: Baltimore Scandal Production LLC
CRITICAL CONDITION: HEALTH IN BLACK AMERICA
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS/NOVA
Production Company: A NOVA Production by Firelight Films for GBH
FROZEN IN TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / PBS International
Production Company: Handful of Films
HOMO PLASTICUS, PLASTIC INSIDE US
Broadcaster/Platform: Arte
Production Company: Découpages
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Broadcaster/Platform: Discovery
Production Company: Arrow Media
TITANIC: DIGITAL RESURRECTION
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Atlantic Studios
Best Natural History Program/Content (Long Format)
Sponsored by ORF
THE SECRET LIVES OF ANIMALS
Broadcaster/Platform: Apple TV+
Production Company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit
SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Wildstar Films
LIONS OF THE SKELETON COAST
Broadcaster/Platform: ORF Universum
Production Company: Into Nature Productions
SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Talesmith
RACE FOR THE ARCTIC
Broadcaster/Platform: WDR (Germany), SRC (Canada)
Production Company: Magasin Général
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
MASHATU, LAND OF LEOPARDS
Broadcaster/Platform: France Télévisions
Production Company: ZED
THE LAST RHINOS: A NEW HOPE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Sixty-Six Media Inc.
Best History Program/Content (Long Format)
THE MANHATTAN PROJECT IN COLOUR
Broadcaster/Platform: Channel 4
Production Company: Woodcut Media
HIROSHIMA GROUND ZERO: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF 78 A-BOMB SURVIVORS
Broadcaster/Platform: NHK
Production Company: NHK
NUREMBERG: THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY
Broadcaster/Platform: Arte
Production Company: KM Prod
HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Lightbox and Proximity
THE GREAT TRIALS: KLAUS BARBIE
Broadcaster/Platform: France TV
Production Company: Dana Productions – Mediawan
TSUNAMI: THE WAVE THAT SHOOK THE WORLD
Broadcaster/Platform: ITV
Production Company: Arrow Media
Best Factual (Short Format)
OPERATION WOLF FOSTER
Broadcaster/Platform: Operation Wolf Foster
Production Company: Scientific American / Running Wild Media
WEATHERED
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS
Production Company: Balance Media
LOYAL AMERICAN
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Society
Production Company: National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab
INTERPLAY
Broadcaster/Platform: ammododocs.org / youtube.com/@ammododocs
Production Company: Ammodo
WHEN MACHINES PRESCRIBE
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS/NOVA
Production Company: A NOVA Production by BlueSpark Collaborative, LLC for GBH
THE DIGITAL DILEMMA
Broadcaster/Platform: ammododocs.org / youtube.com/@ammododocs
Production Company: Ammodo
Best Documentary Cinematography (Long Format)
13 HOURS TO SURVIVE EP 1 – TRAPPED AT LOW TIDE
Broadcaster/Platform: Love Nature
Production Company: Films a Cinq
Cinematography: Yannick Cherel, Sylvain Garassus, Yanick Gentil, Manuel Lefevre
2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
Broadcaster/Platform: France TV
Production Company: Associated Press et Frontline
Filmed by Mstyslav Chernov
FROZEN IN TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / PBS International
Production Company: Handful of Films
Director of Photography: Ryan Wilkes
LIMITLESS: LIVE BETTER NOW
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Nutopia
Director of Cinematography: Jib Operator, Steve Lidgerwood
LIONS OF THE SKELETON COAST
Broadcaster/Platform: ORF Universum
Production Company: Into Nature Productions
Cinematography: Lianne Steenkamp, Will Steenkamp
THE LAST RHINOS: A NEW HOPE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Sixty-Six Media Inc.
Director of Photography: Thorsten Thielow
Best Host/Presenter in a Science/History or Wildlife Program/Content
DR ANN'S SECRET LIVES
Broadcaster/Platform: ABC TV
Production Company: Catalyst, ABC TV
Host: Dr Ann Jones
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Host: David Attenborough
SUPERSKILLED WITH EVA ZU BECK
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: TBD
Host: Eva Zu Beck
THE KIMBERLEY
Broadcaster/Platform: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Love Nature, Arte France and PBS
Production Company: Wild Pacific Media
Host: Mark Coles Smith
THE SECRET GENIUS OF MODERN LIFE
Broadcaster/Platform: BBC, available on BBC iPlayer
Production Company: BBC Studios, The Science Unit
Host: Hannah Fry
TRAFFICKED: UNDERWORLDS WITH MARIANA VAN ZELLER
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Muck Media
Host: Mariana van Zeller
Best Writing
THE IDEA OF AUSTRALIA
Broadcaster/Platform: SBS
Production Company: Blackfella Films
SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Talesmith
LIONS OF THE SKELETON COAST
Broadcaster/Platform: ORF Universum
Production Company: Into Nature Productions
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
TROY: THE SCHLIEMANN LEGACY
Broadcaster/Platform: ZDF, Arte
Production Company: Impossible Factual
LOVE AND WAR
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films
Most Innovative Factual Program/Project of the Year
JOURNEYS OF BLACK MATHEMATICIANS: CREATING PATHWAYS
Broadcaster/Platform: APT, US Public Television
Production Company: Zala Films
TITANIC: DIGITAL RESURRECTION
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Atlantic Studios
THE LOST MUSIC OF AUSCHWITZ
Broadcaster/Platform: Sky Arts
Production Company: Windfall Films
SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Talesmith
UNDERSTANDING THE MARVELS OF MEDIEVAL TECHNOLOGY
Broadcaster/Platform: The Great Courses
Production Company: The Great Courses
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Best Direction
Sponsored by NHK
ANIMAL PRIDE
Broadcaster/Platform: CBC The Nature of Things
Production Company: Handful of Films
Director: Rio Mitchell
LOVE AND WAR
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
HUMAN – EPISODE 1
Broadcaster/Platform: BBC, available on BBC iPlayer
Production Company: BBC Studios, The Science Unit
Director: Naomi Austin
LOST IN THE JUNGLE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films, Lightbox, Pacha Films, Señal Colombia, Demolition Films
Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Juan Camilo Cruz
OCTOBER 7TH AND ITS AFTERMATH
Broadcaster/Platform: ZDF
Production Company: GTV DOCS
Director: Daniela Völker
HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Lightbox and Proximity
Director: Traci A. Curry
2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
Broadcaster/Platform: France TV
Production Company: Associated Press et Frontline
Director: Mstyslav Chernov
Best Editing
COPY + PASTE + STEAL
Broadcaster/Platform: CNA (Channel NewsAsia)
Production Company: The Moving Visuals Co.
Editing: Alviss Cheu
SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Talesmith
Editing: Stephen Moore
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Silverback Films, Open Planet Studios
Editing: Philippa Edwards
THE KIMBERLEY
Broadcaster/Platform: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Love Nature, Arte France and PBS
Production Company: Wild Pacific Media
Editing: Bobbi Hansel, Caspar Mazzotti, Jack Riley
LOVE AND WAR
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Little Monster Films
Editing: Keiko Deguchi, Hypatia Porter
JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Amblin Documentaries, Nedland Films
Editing: Jason Summers
2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA
Broadcaster/Platform: France TV
Production Company: Associated Press et Frontline
Editing: Michelle Mizner
The categories to be announced at Congress '25 are:
Green Impact of the Year, sponsored by Terra Mater Studios
Rising Star of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Diversity Leadership Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sloan Buzzies Award, sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The nomination information has been reviewed by the submitters for accuracy. If any further amendments are required, please reach out to awards@wcsfp.com