Some of the entertainment industry’s top filmmakers will go up against each other at the 76th Emmy Awards.
Oscar winner Ron Howard’s Jim Henson Idea Man earned eight Emmy nominations this morning, more than any other nonfiction contender in the race. The Disney+ film about the Muppets creator is nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, and Howard scored a nomination for directing the film. [Scroll for full list of Emmy documentary nominees]
Howard is far from the only prominent name to earn recognition in the documentary categories. Rob Reiner earned a nomination for directing Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, and his HBO documentary will go up against Jim Henson Idea Man in the Nonfiction Special category. Reiner and Brooks have been friends for over 50 years.
“That’s the best part of it for me,” Reiner told Deadline as he reacted to his Emmy nomination, “that somebody that I’ve been so close to since we met in high school, that I’m getting a chance to introduce him to a whole new audience. People my age, they know who he is and know how brilliant, what a genius he is. But now you’ve seen some younger people learn about him and that to me is the biggest thrill of this.”
Oscar winner Fisher Stevens will compete with Howard and Reiner in the outstanding director category for his Netflix series Beckham, about the English soccer star. Beckham is also nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, part of its haul of five nominations. Fisher told Deadline he didn’t realize Emmy nomination morning had arrived.
“It’s amazing, considering I completely forgot about the whole thing,” he said. “I think it’s better to forget and not have any expectations.”
David Beckham himself apparently didn’t need reminding it was Emmy nomination day.
“I got a very nice text from David,” Stevens said. “One of my first texts was from him, so I guess he was paying attention, and he [wrote], ‘Well deserved mate,’ and so happy for me and the team.”
The parade of Oscar winners in Emmy contention continues with Morgan Neville, director of Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In Two Pieces. He’s nominated for directing the film about the famed comedic actor, and the Apple TV+ two-parter is nominated opposite the Albert Brooks and Jim Henson docs for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
Martin himself is nominated for starring in Only Murders in the Building. The Hulu series earned a slew of nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
“I wrote to Steve this morning to tell him [about the nominations for the doc and the comedy series]. I don’t know if he had heard before, but I don’t think so. And he just wrote back and just said, ‘Yay!’” Neville said. “I think he cared a lot about the film and continues to talk about it… Steve, who’s somebody who never really thinks anybody cares about him or is always the most modest person — I think the kind of love he’s gotten through this project has been pretty meaningful.”
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Andrew Jarecki, who created a sensation with his 2015 Emmy-winning series The Jinx, returns to Emmy contention with the follow up to that true crime documentary about the late accused murderer Robert Durst. The Jinx Part Two, from HBO, earned three Emmy noms, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, and Jarecki scored a nomination in the doc writing categories for his work on the show.
“This was obviously such a labor, and it was a labor of love,” Jarecki told Deadline. Jarecki’s “journey” with Robert Durst began in 2005 when he began work on All Good Things, a fictionalized telling of Durst’s relationship with his first wife, Kathie, who disappeared and whose body has never been found.
“It’s definitely one of those things you look back on and think, if I knew it was going to be 20 years, would I have done what I did?” he pondered. “But [the Emmy nominations are] really encouraging because there’s so much craft that went into creating this series.”
Directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss return to the Emmy fold with Girls State, about high school-age young women who participate in an exercise in mock government. It’s a follow up of sorts to Boys State, the 2020 film that won the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
Girls State, from Apple TV+, earned nominations for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, cinematography and directing.
“It was hard to leap into making the film. I think we were worried about living up to expectations, our own and other people’s, finding a story that felt as meaningful, knowing that the times have changed, the political times have changed. Kids are different now,” Moss said. “But feeling really fortunate. I have to remind myself that the biggest risks we take are the ones that offer the greatest reward. To not play it safe.”
Girls State is one of the few documentaries nominated for Outstanding Special or Series category that doesn’t fall into the true crime or celebrity genre.
“If we’re making a film about representational democracy and women being underrepresented in that space, it’s nice to have the opportunity really to represent girls, too,” McBaine noted. So, this [Emmy recognition] had an extra special little win for me. So, yay!”
Emmy newcomer Bao Nguyen earned a nomination for directing The Greatest Night in Pop, the story of the making of the hit song “We Are the World” almost 40 years ago. The Netflix film was nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, recognizing the work of producers Lionel Richie (who was so instrumental in creating “We Are the World”), Larry Klein, Harriet Sternberg, Bruce Eskowitz, George Hencken, and Julia Nottingham.
“I’m on cloud nine. Can’t be happier for and more excited for our team and everyone who helped make this all happen,” Nguyen told Deadline. “I’m kind of speechless, actually.”
In the directing category, Nguyen goes up against Reiner, Howard, McBaine, Moss, Neville, and Fisher Stevens. Not bad company.
“I think just being in the presence of such other great directors — I’m looking at the list now — and to be in the same category, mentioned the same category, it’s really an honor,” Nguyen said. “I think I can finally tell my parents what I do for a living.”
Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams, who won an Emmy in January for The 1619 Project, secured an Emmy nomination today for Stamped From the Beginning, his Netflix film that examines the history of racism in this country. It’s based on the bestselling book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.
Stamped From the Beginning is nominated in the juried category of Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, alongside Beyond Utopia and Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.
“It’s especially meaningful to me to get nominated in the category of Exceptional Merit because Stamped From the Beginning was a really colossal effort,” Williams said. “A lot of people, Alisa Payne, the producer, David Teague, the writer, John Fisher and Francesca Sharper, the editors, Amani [K. Smith], the music supervisor, Nate [Wonder] and Roman [GianArthur], the composers, so many people really worked so hard to really create something that was really unique and different. And it’s hard to do that when you are tackling such an important and serious subject like racism in America.”
He added, “Obviously we had the incredible work of Dr. Kendi, but it’s a 540 page-plus book. The challenge from Netflix to me was it needs to be accessible. So, I love a good challenge and I was like, I’m going to create something that people can really – I said this many times, but it’s an oxymoron — it’s an entertaining ride through racism. The needle drop music, animation, the graphics, all of it really came together to create something really special and unique, and we all felt it.”
These are the nominations in the documentary categories:
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films and Castle Rock Entertainment
Rob Reiner, Produced by Michele Reiner, Produced by Matthew George, Produced by
Girls State • Apple TV+ • Concordia Studio presentation of a Mile End Films production in association with Apple
Amanda McBaine, Produced by
Jesse Moss, Produced by
Nicole Stott, Executive Producer Jonathan Silberberg, Executive Producer Davis Guggenheim, Executive Producer Laurene Powell Jobs, Executive Producer
The Greatest Night In Pop • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / An MRC Film / A Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment
Larry Klein, Producer
Harriet Sternberg, Producer
Lionel Richie, Producer
Bruce Eskowitz, Producer George Hencken, Producer Julia Nottingham, Produced by
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Brian Grazer, Produced by
Ron Howard, Produced by
Sara Bernstein, Produced by Margaret Bodde, Produced by Justin Wilkes, Produced by
Mark Monroe, Produced by Christopher St. John, Produced by
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In 2 Pieces • Apple TV+ • Apple Original Films presents an A24 / Tremolo Production
Morgan Neville, Producer
Meghan Walsh, Producer
Charlise Holmes, Producer
Caitrin Rogers, Executive Producer
Ben Cotner, Executive Producer
Emily Osborne, Executive Producer
Nicole Quintero Ochoa, Co-Executive Producer
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series
Beckham • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Studio 99 Production in association with Ventureland
John Battsek, Produced by
Nicola Howson, Produced by
Fisher Stevens, Produced by
Billie Shepherd, Produced by
David Gardner, Executive Producer Gary Neville, Executive Producer Jonathan Sides, Co-Executive Producer Craig South, Co-Executive Producer
The Jinx – Part Two • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a Hit The Ground Running Production
Charlotte Kaufman, Producer
Sam Neave, Producer
Andrew Jarecki, Executive Producer Zac Stuart-Pontier, Executive Producer Kyle Martin, Executive Producer
Nancy Abraham, Executive Producer Lisa Heller, Executive Producer
Sara Rodriguez, Executive Producer
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV • Investigation Discovery • Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction in association with Business Insider
Mary Robertson, Executive Producer
Emma Schwartz, Co-Executive Producer
Eli Holzman, Executive Producer
Aaron Saidman, Executive Producer Lisa Kalikow, Co-Executive Producer Nicholas Carlson, Executive Producer Kate Taylor, Executive Producer
Joel Stonington, Executive Producer Pamela E. Deutsch, Executive Producer
STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents in association with Concord Originals, Polygram Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, A Laylow Pictures production, A White Horse Pictures production
Jamila Wignot, Produced by
Kara Elverson, Produced by
Ezra Edelman, Executive Producer Caroline Waterlow, Executive Producer Nigel Sinclair, Executive Producer Nicholas Ferrall, Executive Producer Michele Smith, Executive Producer Sophia Dilley, Executive Producer David Blackman, Executive Producer Tina Nguyen, Executive Producer
Telemarketers • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a production of Elara Pictures and All Facts in association with Rough House Pictures
Claire Read, Produced by
Adam Bhala Lough, Executive Producer
Sam Lipman-Stern, Executive Producer Benny Safdie, Executive Producer
Dani Bernfeld, Executive Producer
Josh Safdie, Executive Producer
Danny McBride, Executive Producer Nancy Abraham, Executive Producer Lisa Heller, Executive Producer
Tina Nguyen, Executive Producer
Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking
Beyond Utopia (Independent Lens) • PBS • Ideal Partners in association with 19340 Productions, XRM Media, the Random Good Foundation and the Human Rights Foundation
Jana Edelbaum, Producer
Rachel Cohen, Producer
Sue Mi Terry, Producer Lois Vossen, Producer
Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project • HBO | Max • Confluential Films and Rada Studio in association with JustFilms | Ford Foundation in association with Bertha Doc Society
Joe Brewster, Produced by
Michèle Stephenson, Produced by
Tommy Oliver, Produced by
Stamped From The Beginning • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / A One Story Up production
Alisa Payne, Producer
Roger Ross Williams, Producer
David Teague, Producer
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Executive Producer Geoff Martz, Executive Producer
Mara Brock Akil, Executive Producer Susie Fitzgerald, Executive Producer
Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films and Castle Rock Entertainment
Rob Reiner, Directed by
Beckham • What Makes David Run • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Studio 99 Production in association with Ventureland
Fisher Stevens, Directed by
Girls State • Apple TV+ • Concordia Studio presentation of a Mile End Films production in association with Apple
Amanda McBaine, Directed by Jesse Moss, Directed by
The Greatest Night In Pop • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / An MRC Film / A Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment
Bao Nguyen, Directed by
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Ron Howard, Directed by
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In 2 Pieces • Apple TV+ • Apple Original Films presents an A24 / Tremolo Production
Morgan Neville, Directed by
Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program
Conan O’Brien Must Go • Ireland • HBO | Max • Max in association with Conaco
Jessie Gaskell, Written by Conan O’Brien, Written by Matt O’Brien, Written by Mike Sweeney, Written by
How To With John Wilson • How To Watch The Game • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Blow Out Productions, Johnsmovies and Atlantic Pictures
John Wilson, Written by
Michael Koman, Written by
Allie Viti, Written by
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Mark Monroe, Written by
The Jinx – Part Two • Chapter 7: Why Are You Still Here? • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a Hit The Ground Running Production
Andrew Jarecki, Written by
Sam Neave, Written by
Zac Stuart-Pontier, Written by
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy • Scotland: My Mother’s Country • Apple TV+ • Twofour in association with Apple
Alan Connor, Written by David Reilly, Written by Christine Rose, Written by
Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program
Beckham • The Kick • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Studio 99 Production in association with Ventureland
Tim Cragg, Director of Photography
Girls State • Apple TV+ • Concordia Studio presentation of a MilePEangdeF8ilms production in association with Apple
Girls State • Apple TV+ • Concordia Studio presentation of a Mile End Films production in association with Apple
Laura Hudock, Director of Photography
Laela Kilbourn, Director of Photography
Daniel Carter, Director of Photography
Erynn Patrick Lamont, Director of Photography Keri Oberly, Director of Photography
Thorsten Thielow, Director of Photography Martina Radwan, Director of Photography
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Igor Martinovic, Director of Photography Vanja Cernjul, Director of Photography
Our Planet II • Chapter 1: World On The Move • Netflix • Silverback Films for Netflix
Brad Bestelink, Cinematography by Kyle McBurnie, Cinematography by
Planet Earth III • Extremes • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC
Luke Nelson, Director of Photography
John Shier, Director of Photography
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films and Castle Rock Entertainment
Bob Joyce, Editor
Beckham • Golden Balls • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Studio 99 Production in association with Ventureland
Michael Harte, Editor
Paul Carlin, Additional Editor Chris King, Additional Editor
Escaping Twin Flames • Up In Flames • Netflix • Good Caper Content for Netflix
Martin Biehn, Lead Editor Kevin Hibbard, Editor Troy Takaki, ACE, Editor Mimi Wilcox, Editor
Inbal B. Lessner, ACE, Editor
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Sierra Neal, Editor
Paul Crowder, ACE, Editor
The Jinx – Part Two • Chapter 9: Saving My Tears Until It’s Official • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents a Hit The Ground Running Production
Richard Hankin, Supervising Editor
Charles Olivier, Editor
Lance Edmands, Additional Editor Sam Neave, Additional Editor Camilla Hayman, Additional Editor David Tillman, Additional Editor
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV • Hidden In Plain Sight • PInagves1t8igation Discovery • Maxine Productions and Sony
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV • Hidden In Plain Sight • Investigation Discovery • Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction in association with Business Insider
Daphne Gómez-Mena, Editor
Jane Jo, ACE, Editor
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In 2 Pieces • Then • Apple TV+ • Apple Original Films presents an A24 / Tremolo Production
Alan Lowe, Editor
Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films and Castle Rock Entertainment
Marc Shaiman, Composer
Beckham • Seeing Red • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Studio 99 Production in association with Ventureland
Anže Rozman, Composer Camilo Forero, Composer
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
David Fleming, Composer
Planet Earth III • Extremes • BBC America • A BBC Studios NatuPralgHe i2s8tory Unit Production co-produced with BBC America,
Planet Earth III • Extremes • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC
Jacob Shea, Composer
Sara Barone, Composer
Hans Zimmer, Composer
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents an Altitude Film Entertainment Production in association with Berlanti/Schechter Films and Dog Star Films
Laura Karpman, Composer
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program
The Greatest Night In Pop • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary / An MRC Film / A Dorothy St Pictures Production in association with Makemake Entertainment
Richard Gallagher, Dialogue Editor
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Daniel Timmons, Supervising Sound Editor Jeremy S. Bloom, Sound Designer
Ian Cymore, Dialogue Editor
Ryan Rubin, Music Editor
Planet Earth III • Freshwater • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC
Jonny Crew, Sound Editor
Tim Owens, Sound Editor
Ellie Bowler, Foley Editor Paul Ackerman, Foley Artist
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In 2 Pieces • Apple TV+ • Apple Original Films presents an A24 / Tremolo Production
Bob Edwards, Supervising Sound Editor Kim B. Christensen, Sound Effects Editor Joel Raabe, Sound Effects Editor
Welcome To Wrexham • Goals • FX • Boardwalk Pictures
Shaun Cromwell, Dialogue Editor William Harp, Dialogue Editor Jon Schell, Sound Effects Editor Sean Gray, Sound Effects Editor
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Program
The Beach Boys • Disney+ • Walt Disney Pictures Page 55
The Beach Boys • Disney+ • Walt Disney Pictures
Gary A. Rizzo, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer John Rampey, Production Mixer
Sabi Tulok, Production Mixer
Dennis Hamlin, Production Mixer
Jim Henson Idea Man • Disney+ • Imagine Documentaries Productions, Disney Branded Television
Tony Volante, Re-Recording Mixer Michael Jones, Production Mixer
Planet Earth III • Deserts And Grasslands • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC
Graham Wild, Re-Recording Mixer
Oliver Baldwin, Re-Recording Mixer
Olga Reed, Re-Recording Mixer
STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. • Chapter Two: Soul Man • HBO | Max • HBO Documentary Films presents in association with Concord Originals, Polygram Entertainment, Warner Music Entertainment, A Laylow Pictures production, A White Horse Pictures production
Tony Volante, Re-Recording Mixer
Andre Artis, Production Mixer
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary In 2 Pieces • Apple TV+ • Apple Original Films presents an A24 / Tremolo Production
Pete Horner, Re-Recording Mixer Dennis Hamlin, Production Mixer Barry London, Production Mixer Emily Strong, Production Mixer
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special
Conan O’Brien Must Go • HBO | Max • Max in association with Conaco
Jason Chillemi, Producer
Sarah Federowicz, Producer
Jessie Gaskell, Producer
Matt O’Brien, Producer
Mike Sweeney, Producer
Conan O’Brien, Executive Producer / Host Jeff Ross, Executive Producer
Aaron Bleyaert, Supervising Producer Jordan Schlansky, Supervising Producer Njål Lambrechts, Line Producer
Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates Jr. • PBS • WETA Washington D.C., McGee Media, Inkwell Media, Kunhardt Films
Kevin Burke, Producer
Matthew Cesario, Producer
John F. Wilson, Executive Producer
Dyllan McGee, Executive Producer
Henry Louis Gates Jr., Executive Producer Sabin Streeter, Senior Producer
Natalia Warchol, Series Producer
Deborah C Porfido, Supervising Producer Robert L. Yacyshyn, Line Producer
Peter Kunhardt, Executive Producer
How To With John Wilson • HBO | Max • HBO in association with Blow Out Productions, Johnsmovies and Atlantic Pictures
Shirel Kozak, Produced by
Nathan Fielder, Executive Producer John Wilson, Executive Producer/Host Michael Koman, Executive Producer Clark Reinking, Executive Producer
My Next Guest With David Letterman And John Mulaney • Netflix • Jax Media and Worldwide Pants, Inc. for Netflix
Tommy Alter, Producer
Tom Keaney, Executive Producer
Mary Barclay, Executive Producer
Michael Steed, Executive Producer
Séamus Murphy-Mitchell, Executive Producer Justin Wilkes, Executive Producer
Jake Fuller, Executive Producer
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy • Apple TV+ • Twofour in association with Apple
Claire Kunzel, Producer
Eugene Levy, Host/Executive Producer David Brindley, Executive Producer Nic Patten, Executive Producer
Sara Brailsford, Executive Producer Alex Menzies, Executive Producer Stephen Pain, Series Producer
Tracey Smyth, Senior Producer
Outstanding Narrator
Planet Earth III • Human • BBC America • A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC
Sir David Attenborough, Narrator
Queens • African Queens • National Geographic • Wildstar Films
Angela Bassett, Narrator
Life On Our Planet • Chapter 1: The Rules Of Life • Netflix • A Netflix Documentary Series / A Silverback Films Production in association with Amblin Television
Morgan Freeman, Narrator
Secrets Of The Octopus • Masterminds • National Geographic • Sealight Pictures, Wildstar Films and Earthship Productions
Paul Rudd, Narrator
Lost Women Of Highway 20 • Vanished • Investigation Discovery • Orit Entertainment and October Films
Octavia Spencer, Narrator
