IDA Documentary Awards Shortlists 2025: ‘You Can See Everything,’ ‘To Hold A Mountain’ Lead, but Major Contenders Snubbed

The International Documentary Association (IDA) has unveiled its shortlists for the 2025 Documentary Awards, spotlighting 16 feature documentaries and 10 short films that remain in contention for one of the documentary world’s most coveted honors. Among the features advancing are ‘You Can See Everything,’ ‘To Hold A Mountain,’ and ‘Nuisance Bear,’ while high-profile titles like ‘All That Breathes’ and ‘Fire of Love’ were conspicuously absent. The shortlists, decided by IDA’s blue-ribbon juries, are widely viewed as an early bellwether for the Academy Awards’ documentary categories, making the omissions as significant as the inclusions. For filmmakers, a spot on the IDA shortlist can translate into increased visibility, distribution deals, and awards momentum. The snubs will likely fuel debate among documentary insiders about the evolving tastes of juries and the competitive landscape heading into Oscar season. With the final nominations to be announced in the coming weeks, the IDA’s choices underscore a year of exceptional nonfiction storytelling where even celebrated works face tough odds.