About the Grierson Awards

The Grierson Awards, also known at the British Documentary Awards, commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary filmmaker John Grierson (1898 – 1972), famous for Drifters and Night Mail and the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary.

Established in 1972, the Griersons are the biggest event in the UK documentary calendar. The awards recognise and celebrate documentaries from Britain and abroad that have made a significant contribution to the genre and that demonstrate quality, integrity, creativity, originality and overall excellence.

Grierson 2022: The British Documentary Awards

Entries to the 2022 awards will be accepted from 25 March 2022. The closing date for entries is 20 May 2022. Documentaries eligible for the awards must have been screened to a UK audience during the qualifying period 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2022.

The Grierson Awards ceremony will take place on the evening of 10 November 2022 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank, London. Bookings will open for the tickets to the ceremony at the beginning of September.

Ordering Awards Trophies and Certificates

Duplicates of the Grierson Award trophy may be purchased by winning programme makers and broadcasters at £280 each (+ VAT and P&P); duplicates of certificates for winning and nominated films may be purchased at £30 each (+ VAT). Download an order form.