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Sheila Nevins Biography

Birth Name:Sheila J. Nevins

Birth Place:Manhattan, New York, United States

Profession Producer, Director

Fast Facts

Honored by the Directors Guild of America in 2011 for her contributions to American culture through film and TV
Won the International Documentary Association's Career Achievement Award in 1998
Was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2000
Winner of a Peabody Award in 2006 for "Baghdad ER," and the Personal Award from the Peabody Awards in 1999․
Graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English and earned her master's degree in directing from Yale University
Started out as a documentary producer for the United States Information Agency before becoming the star of "Adventures in English," a series of videos on vocabulary
Quote: "I am a tyrant․ When I know the answer, I can be very bored, but when I don't, I can be very humble․ I know the answer more than I don't know the answer, but I'm a very good listener and a good audience․ I never think of anything but the audience․"
Quote: "If you listen to real people, the resonance and dialogue is way above anything that anyone could recreate․ The best stories are the real ones and the best people to tell them are the ones who experienced them․"
Quote: "I have a respect for people telling their own stories ․․․ They want to survive the onslaughts․ They have to make a living ․․․ Surviving in this complex, tossed-about universe is courageous, and how people do that is of great interest to me․"
Best known as the chief of HBO's documentary and family divisions and has produced hundreds of documentaries for the company

Awards

1992Silver Hugo-Best Documentary Feature: winner
1994CableACE-Educational or Instructional Special or Series: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: winner
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: winner
1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1997CableACE-Historical Documentary Special or Series: winner
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
1999Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Programs: winner
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2000IDA Award-Feature Documentaries: nominated
2000IDA Award-Feature Documentaries: nominated
2000Video Source Award-: nominated
2000Pare Lorentz Award-: nominated
2000Pare Lorentz Award-: nominated
2000Emmy-Special Classification for Outstanding News and Documentary Program Achievement - Programs: winner
2000Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Programs: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: winner
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2001Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
2001Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Programs: nominated
2001Emmy-Outstanding Informational or Cultural Programming - Programs: nominated
2001Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming with Limited Dramatization - Programs: winner
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special: nominated
2002Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2002Emmy-Outstanding Historical Documentary - Long Form: nominated
2002Emmy-Outstanding Cultural and Artistic Programming - Long Form: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality): nominated
2003Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
2003Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Special (Traditional): nominated
2004Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming - Long Form: nominated
2004Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming - Long Form: winner
2004Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming - Long Form: nominated
2004Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: winner
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming: winner
2005Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming: nominated
2005Emmy-Outstanding Cultural & Artistic Programming: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: winner
2005Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
2006Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2006Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2006Peabody Award-: winner
2006Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: winner
2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2007Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2007Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2007Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2007Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2007Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2007Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming: nominated
2007Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2007Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: winner
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: winner
2008Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2008Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Cultural Programming: nominated
2008Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: winner
2008Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: winner
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2009Video Source Award-: nominated
2009Video Source Award-: nominated
2009Video Source Award-: nominated
2009Video Source Award-: nominated
2009IDA Award-Limited Series: nominated
2009Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2009Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program: winner
2009Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: winner
2010IDA Award-Distinguished Short Documentary: nominated
2010IDA Award-Distinguished Short Documentary: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2010Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: winner
2010Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2011CINE Masters' Series Award-Professional News Division: winner
2011Humanitas Award-: nominated
2011IDA Award-Best Short: winner
2011IDA Award-Best Feature: nominated
2011IDA Award-Best Limited Series: nominated
2011Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2011Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2011Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2011Emmy-Outstanding Science and Technology Programming: winner
2011Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
2011Prism Award-Documentary Program - Mental Health: winner
2012IDA Award-Best Short: winner
2012IDA Award-Best Short: nominated
2012IDA Award-Best Short: nominated
2012IDA Award-Best Limited Series: nominated
2012Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story - Long Form: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Series: nominated
2013Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
2013IDA Award-Best Short: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Science and Technology Programming: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Science and Technology Programming: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting - Long Form: nominated
2013Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2013Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: winner
2013Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming: winner
2013Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2013Emmy-Best Documentary: winner
2013Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2013Edward R. Murrow Award-Edward R. Murrow Award: winner
2013PGA Award-Outstanding Children's Program: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: winner
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: winner
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: nominated
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: winner
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2014Daytime Emmy-Outstanding New Approaches - Original Daytime Program or Series: nominated
2014Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: winner
2014Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: winner
2014Television Academy Honors-The Television Academy Honors - Documentary: winner
2015Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2015Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Journalism - Long Form: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story - Long Form: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Cultural Programming: nominated
2015Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Cultural Programming: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Children's Program: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2016Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2016Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: winner
2016Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming: winner
2016Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2016Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2016Emmy-Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting - Long Form: nominated
2016Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2016Emmy-Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: winner
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: nominated
2017Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2017Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2017Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for Television: nominated
2017Emmy-Outstanding Historical Documentary: nominated
2017Emmy-Best Documentary: winner
2017Emmy-Outstanding Short Documentary: nominated
2017Emmy-Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: nominated
2018Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2018Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2018Cinema Eye Honors Award-Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Nonfiction Filmmaking: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Social Issue Documentary: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Documentary: winner
2018Emmy-Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Social Issue Documentary: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary: nominated
2018Emmy-Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: winner
2019Emmy-Outstanding Short Documentary: nominated
2019Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary: nominated
2019Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Documentary: nominated
2019Emmy-Best Documentary: winner
2020Primetime Emmy-Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: nominated
2021Emmy-Outstanding Investigative Documentary: nominated
2023Emmy-Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary: winner
2023Emmy-Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary: winner
2024Oscar-Best Documentary Short Film: nominated
2024Emmy-Outstanding Short Documentary: nominated
2024WIN Award-Film Director (Short): nominated
2025Emmy-Outstanding Social Issue Documentary: nominated