The Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem is set to recognize three powerful nonfiction films with strong Oscar potential at its 6th annual Albie Awards, taking place on September 24 at Ginny’s Supper Club @ Red Rooster in New York City.
This year’s honorees include:
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ORWELL: 2+2=5 by Raoul Peck
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The Perfect Neighbor by Geeta Gandbhir
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Seeds by Brittany Shyne
“To date the Albies have been an early predictor of top contenders for the Academy Awards,” said Kazembe Balagun, executive director of the center. “This year’s films explore vital themes of truth, violence, and racial justice in an increasingly divided world.”
ORWELL: 2+2=5
Directed by Academy Award-nominee Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro), this documentary examines the life and legacy of George Orwell, using his writings to reflect on today’s political landscape. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and is set for a wide theatrical release this fall via Neon.
Time Magazine called the film “the boldest documentary anyone could make right now,” while The Hollywood Reporter praised it as “poignant and galvanizing.” With its Orwellian themes drawn from 1984, the film highlights the danger of media manipulation and government doublethink in totalitarian regimes.
The Perfect Neighbor
Winner of the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at Sundance 2025, this Netflix-bound documentary investigates the 2023 killing of Ajike Owens, a Black mother of four, by her white neighbor Susan Lorincz in Ocala, Florida.
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Using bodycam and dashcam footage, the film unveils a pattern of harassment and escalating tension in a community plagued by fear, bias, and “Stand Your Ground” gun laws.
RogerEbert.com described it as “one of the most buzzed-about documentaries” at Sundance, with director Geeta Gandbhir masterfully weaving a narrative that critiques how fear and prejudice are often weaponized under controversial legislation.
Seeds
Directed by Brittany Shyne, Seeds earned the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary at Sundance 2025 and has been honored at film festivals including San Francisco, Seattle, Provincetown, and RiverRun.
Shot in black and white, the film offers a poetic exploration of Black farmers in the South, documenting the decline of generational land ownership and its implications for cultural survival and resilience.
Variety described it as “a loving portrait of Black farmers, a mixture of celebration and lament,” reflecting on both the losses of the past and the promise of renewal through younger generations reclaiming the land.
About the Maysles Documentary Center
Founded by legendary documentarian Albert Maysles, the Maysles Documentary Center is a Harlem-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting documentary filmmaking for a more equitable world. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Maysles classic Grey Gardens.
“In today’s chaotic world,” added Balagun, “the Albies honor the role of documentary film in building community and shining a light on injustice.”
