A controversial documentary picked up the prize for best documentary at the 42nd Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards on September 29 in Los Angeles.

“Advocate” depicts the work of Israeli human rights lawyer Lea Tsemel, who has represented Palestinian prisoners for 50 years, including prisoners indicted for fatal terror attacks.

Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Phillippe Bellaiche for PBS, the documentary premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and won prizes at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Krakow Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, and Docaviv Festival in Tel Aviv.

“Advocate” was shortlisted for a 2019 Academy Award, and was nominated the following September for an Ophir, Israel’s version of the Academy Awards.

It was nominated for two 2021 Emmys: Best Documentary and Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary.