This annual prize recognizes documentary films that combine originality and creativity with firsthand experience in examining central issues of contemporary life and culture. In keeping with the mission of Duke's Center for Documentary Studies (CDS), the award was created to honor and support documentary artists whose works are potential catalysts for education and change.
The award goes to filmmakers who best connect the power of the documentary tradition with community life, who best lead viewers to understand and reflect on themselves and the world portrayed. Award winners are selected from among films in competition at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, held each spring in Durham, North Carolina.
The 2025 CDS Filmmaker Award is $5,000.
Recipients
- 2025: Amber Fares, “Coexistence, My Ass!”
- 2024: Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, “Sugarcane”
- 2021: Jessica Beshir, “Faya Dayi”
- 2020: Garrett Bradley, "Time"
- 2019: Sahra Mani, "A Thousand Girls Like Me"
- 2018: Talal Derki, "Of Fathers and Sons"
- 2017: Yance Ford, "Strong Island"
- 2016: Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami, "Sonita"
- 2015: Nomi Talisman and Dee Hibbert-Jones, "Last Day of Freedom"
- 2014: Darius Clarke Monroe, "Evolution of a Criminal"
- 2013: Kalyanee Mam, "A River Changes Course"
- 2012: Fernand Melgar, "Special Fight"
- 2011: Peter D. Richardson, "How to Die in Oregon"
- 2010: Robin Hessman, "My Perestroika"
- 2009: Anders Østergaard, "BURMA VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country"
- 2008: Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers, "Lioness"
- 2007: Kaoru Ikeya, "The Ants"
- 2006: Zach Niles and Banker White, "The Refugee All Stars"
- 2005: Susan Stern, "The Self-Made Man"
- 2004: Jehane Noujaim, "Control Room"
- 2003: Linda Goode Bryant and Laura Poitras, "Flag Wars"
- 2002: Whitney Dow and Marco Williams, "Two Towns of Jasper"
- 2001: Heddy Honigmann, "Crazy"