Best Documentary (BD)

Best Documentary (BD) is one of the founding categories of the Third Coast/RHDF Competition, now accepting work in any language between 10-75 minutes. There are three awards available in this category — Gold, Silver & Bronze — each of which will be honored with a cash prize, unique physical award, and public recognition around the world, including a public showcase of comments from the judges. We now offer a list of Third Coast Finalists in this category, announced alongside Award-winners. Learn more about all of our Competition Offerings, and share your input to help us expand them in the future.

Please note: The 2022-23 Call for Entries closed on March 10, 2023.

• Length: 10-75 minutes
• Publication: Must have been published between September 1, 2020 and March 10, 2023
• Format: One single audio file, .mp3 preferred by .wav accepted, no larger than 100 MB. All advertisements or sponsorship segments must be removed from the audio file — this includes previews for upcoming episodes of this or other programs.
• Language: There are no language requirements for this category. If you are entering work in a non-English language, you must provide a translated transcript.

As always, our entry rates were most affordable before our Early Deadline.. If you’re interested in learning more about rates for the 2022-23 Third Coast/RHDF Competition, check out our complete breakdown of sliding scale rates across all categories.

Note: As a Pilot Offering this year, we honored our Early Deadline rates through the Final Deadline for all non-English Language entries in any category.

Each year, our rates are shaped by our Collective Pricing philosophy, which distributes cost according to entrants’ access to resources.

• Audio file (mp3 preferred, wav also accepted) with all ads removed
• Total length of the entry (Minutes:Seconds)
• Full credits (host, producer, sound designer, editor, etc.)
• Description/summary of your entry (150 words or fewer preferred)
• Transcript (optional for English-language series, required for non-English)

How do I enter this category?

• If your entry meets the eligibility requirements above, you may select “Best Documentary” on the entry form. Your work will be considered for all three Awards in the Best Documentary category: Gold, Silver & Bronze, as well as being considered as a Third Coast Finalist in the Best Documentary category.

Can I enter other categories too?

• Yes. If you are entering the Best Documentary category, your entry is automatically considered for Directors’ Choice. It may also be eligible for Best New Artist, Impact, Best Documentary in a Non-English Language, or Best News Feature. It is not eligible for Best Documentary: Short or Best Serialized Story.

Can I enter a piece that includes fictional elements?

• The Third Coast/RHDF Competition is aimed to award the best works in nonfiction, and featuring documentary technique. (We know — a person could write a thesis on what that means.) If your nonfiction work contains elements of fiction, or plays along the fuzzy line of fact/fiction, we do encourage you to enter it. (Past winners have included several works that played with the boundaries of fiction and nonfiction, listen here to some examples from 2019!)