The awards for the 43rd Cinéma du réel were handed out on Sunday evening, 21 March 2021. Featuring prizes for Feature Documentary, Short Film, First Film, as well as the Young Jury Award, Library Jury Award,Cultural Intangible Heritage Jury Award, Audience Award, Studio Orlando Award (post-production), and Route One/Doc Award (development for recent graduate)
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- Cinéma du réel Grand Prize: The Inheritance (dir. Ephraim Asili) – USA
- La Scam International Award: Odoriko (dir. Yoichiro Okutani) – Japan, USA, France
- Institut Français – Louis Marcorelles Award: L’état Des Lieux Sera Dressé À Onze Heures En Présence De La Femme Du Poète (dir. Martin Verdet) – France
- Original Music Award: Rock Bottom Riser (dir. Fern Silva) – USA
- Loridan-Ivens / Cnap award (short film): Feast (dir. Tim Leyendekker) – Netherlands
- Special Mention: Dear Hacker (dir. Alice Lenay) – France
- Short Film Award: Random Patrol (dir. Yohan Guignard) – France
- Special Mention: Nightvision (dir. Clara Claus) – France
- Tënk Short Film Award: Un Mal Sous Son Bras (dir. Marie Ward) – France
- Cinéma du réel Young Jury Award: Les Prières De Delphine (dir. Rosine Mbakam) – Belgium, Cameroon
- Special Mention: Taming the Garden (dir. Salomé Jashi) – Switzerland, Germany, Georgia
- Library Award: Landscapes of Resistance (dir. Marta Popivoda) – France, Serbia, Germany
- Cultural Intangible Heritage Award: Odoriko (dir. Yoichiro Okutani) – Japan, USA, France
- “Première Fenêtre” Audience Award: Wadi Jhannam (La Vallée De L’enfer) (dir. Zoé Filloux) – France
- “Coup De Coeur” Studio Orlando: Ici Brazza (dir. Antoine Boutet) – France
- Route One / Doc Award: Morgane (dir. Charles Moreau-Boiteau) – France
