UK trio 72 Films, Lightbox and Plimsoll Productions were the big winners for the documentary Emmy nominations, bagging 19 nods between them.
The documentary specialists led a strong UK contingent for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences-organised (NATAS) awards, which also included The Ink Factory, Box to Box Films, BBC Studios, Wingspan Productions and Ridley Scott Associates among others.
Fremantle-owned 72 Films took home nine nominations for Disney+/ National Geographic’s JFK: One Day in America (five noms) and Netflix’s World War II: From the Frontlines (four noms).
These included nods for both titles in the outstanding historical documentary and outstanding research: documentary categories.
Lightbox and Plimsoll both received five nominations apiece.
Lightbox received three nods for its HBO/Sky title David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, produced alongside Ripple Productions, including outstanding social issue documentary and outstanding music composition: documentary, while Nat Geo feature The Mission, made with Mile End Films, was honoured with two nominations including outstanding direction: documentary.
ITV Studios-owned Plimsoll was shortlisted for outstanding nature documentary and outstanding cinematography: documentary for Nat Geo series Incredible Animal Journeys, while its Apple TV+ original Big Beasts will compete against Incredible Animal Journeys in the outstanding sound: documentary field.
Other high-profile nominations for UK companies include Wingspan Productions’ The Battle to Beat Malaria, for PBS’ Nova strand, which is battling out in the outstanding science and technology documentary category, Box to Box Films’ Apple TV+ title Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn in the outstanding crime and justice documentary field and Apple TV+’s John Le Carré biopic The Pigeon Tunnel, co-produced by The Ink Factory, Ridley Scott Associates, Fourth Floor, Jago Films, Storyteller Productions and 127 Wall Productions.
The 45th annual documentary Emmys will take place on 26 September in New York.
In the news categories, the ceremony for which takes place on 25 September, Vice News picked up a nod for its film The Dangerous Rise of Andrew Tate (outstanding hard news feature story: long form), BBC World News took two nominations in the outstanding continuing news coverage: short form category for Israel – Gaza War and War in Ukraine: Hope, Death and Defiance.
“We are honoured to highlight the accomplishments and hard work of these exceptional journalists and documentarians,” said Adam Sharp, president and chief exec of NATAS.
“NATAS is proud to celebrate their dedication and creativity under increasing and ever-changing pressures.”
The full list of nominees can be found here.