The 46th annual News & Documentary Emmys are just around the corner, and this year, Sundance Institute–supported projects have gained impressive recognition. Six of these films are on the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences list. Among the standouts are King Coal and FRIDA, which lead the pack with three nominations each.
King Coal, Elaine McMillion’s exploration of the coal mining community in Central Appalachia, received nods in the Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary, Outstanding Writing — Documentary, and Outstanding Cinematography — Documentary categories, while Carla Gutiérrez’s FRIDA, a tribute to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, earned nominations for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Graphic Design, and Outstanding Music Composition.
Claiming two nominations for Outstanding Social Issues Documentary and Outstanding Direction — Documentary is Angela Patton and Natalie Rae’s Daughters, focusing on a group of girls who join their incarcerated fathers for a daddy-daughter dance.
Keep scrolling to see all the Sundance Institute–supported films nominated for 2025 News & Documentary Emmys, and join us as we root for these incredible projects with nods in multiple categories when winners are announced on June 26 at the Palladium Times Square in New York City.
Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary
King Coal — Documentary Film Program, 2023 Sundance Film Festival
Outstanding Writing — Documentary
King Coal
Outstanding Cinematography — Documentary
King Coal
Outstanding Direction — Documentary
FRIDA — 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Outstanding Graphic Design — Documentary
FRIDA
Outstanding Music Composition — Documentary
FRIDA

Outstanding Social Issue Documentary
Daughters — 2024 Sundance Film Festival, winner of Audience Award: U.S. Documentary and Festival Favorite Award.
Outstanding Direction – Documentary
Daughters

Best Documentary
Queendom — 2022 Producers Lab
Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary
The Body Politic — Documentary Film Program
Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary
Razing Liberty Square — 2021 Producers Lab