Outstanding Achievement in a Debut Feature Film 

From Barbara Kopple’s HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. to Frederick Wiseman’s TITICUT FOLLIES, some of the most lauded nonfiction films of all time have been crafted by debut filmmakers. Previous honorees include Jennifer Venditti’s BILLY THE KID (2008), Yung Chang’s UP THE YANGTZE (2009), Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher’s OCTOBER COUNTRY (2010) and Jeff Malmberg’s MARWENCOL (2011).