Considered to be the Oscars of the documentary world and now in their 41st year, The Grierson Awards, in association with Sky Atlantic and Coutts, celebrate the best in documentary film-making and winning a Grierson carries prestige and allure for factual film-makers from across the globe. The films on the Radio Times Reader’s Choice Award shortlist were chosen by a jury of industry experts, film-makers, channel commissioners, genre experts and representatives of Radio Times, and include some of the most talked-about documentaries of the last year.
The six documentaries shortlisted for the Radio Times Reader’s Choice Award are:
* Our War (BBC Three)
* 7/7: One Day In London (BBC Two)
* The Secret History of Our Streets (BBC Two)
* Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile (ITV)
* Lifers (C4)
* Inside Claridge’s (BBC Two)
David Butcher, Radio Times Deputy Television Editor, said: “Documentary makers are reaching the parts of British life other media can’t, or don’t, reach. As the factual genre flourishes, its tentacles reach into previously shuttered rooms. The films on the Radio Times Reader’s Choice shortlist demonstrate the upsurge of quality documentaries. Each takes an inspired idea and executes it with skill and sympathy. But some films do all that and for whatever reason never connect with viewers: these ones did, leaving their mark on the culture. Take a moment to decide which resonated most with you – and please, give it your vote.”
Voting for the Radio Times Reader’s Choice Award is open now and every vote will go into a draw to win one of three pairs of tickets to attend the awards ceremony on Monday 4 November at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the South Bank in London. Votes can be made by post, with an entry form in this week’s Radio Times, or online at RadioTimes.com/grierson where there are also clips of all the shortlisted programmes. Voting closes on Friday 25 October 2013.
Chairman of The Grierson Trust, Dawn Airey said “The Grierson Awards are the highest accolade a documentary maker can receive, considered the Oscars of the documentary world. To win such a prize as voted for by the viewers who engaged with and enjoyed the films will be the icing on the cake, garnering the film-maker with the praise of his peers and public alike. But it's going to be a tough choice for viewers. This shortlist represents some of the best documentary films of the year and choosing between such a range of films if going to be a tough call! I wish them all good luck."
The winners of Grierson 2013: The 41st British Documentary Awards will be announced in a star-studded ceremony on 4th November.
