“FOR Sama” won the top prize of best feature at the International Documentary Association’s (IDA) 2019 awards, which took place Saturday night at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

The film’s director-producer Waad Al-Kateab also received the Courage Under Fire Award. Meanwhile, “American Factory” helmers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert won the IDA’s first best director award.

Other high-profile projects that won IDA awards include HBO’s Michael Jackson doc “Leaving Neverland” (best multi-part documentary) and Netflix’s Beyonce concert film “Homecoming” (best music documentary).

Pare Lorentz Award winner “Honeyland” also won best cinematography.

Additional honorary awards were presented to Cinereach (Pioneer Award), “Knock Down the House” director Rachel Lears (Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award), Freida Lee Mock (Career Achievement Award), Leah Remini (Truth to Power Award) and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Amicus Award).

The IDA also announced a new global grant, underwritten by Netflix, which will in its first year provide a US$25,000 cash award and ongoing support to an emerging filmmaker from Brazil, Mexico, South Korea or India.(SD-Agencies)