A documentary about Dame Jacinda Ardern has been nominated for two Emmy Awards. Photo / Jeff Spicer, Getty Images
A documentary about Dame Jacinda Ardern has been nominated for two Emmy Awards. Photo / Jeff Spicer, Getty Images
Clarke Gayford says he is “bewildered and baffled” by news a documentary he co-produced about wife Dame Jacinda Ardern has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Nominations for the 2026 News and Documentary Emmy Awards have been announced and Prime Minister is in the running for Best Documentary, and OutstandingPolitics and Government Documentary.
The documentary follows the political and private life of Ardern during her five-year tenure as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister.
Lindsay Utz, Jacinda Ardern and Michelle Walshe attend the Prime Minister Premiere during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Photo /Getty Images
In a social media video filmed on a Gisborne beach, Gayford said the news was “incredible”.
“Arguably, that period of our lives was some of the toughest. It was awful in places, and for one reason or another, I decided to pick up a camera and film parts of it.
“And now the result of that downstream is today finding out that we’ve been nominated for not one but two Emmy awards for the film.”
In the best documentary category, Prime Minister is competing against Black Snow, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, Life After, Love + War, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Turning Point: The Vietnam War and Union.
Directed by Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe, Prime Minister premiered in January 2025 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. The film was produced by Cass Avery, Leon Kirkbeck, Clarke Gayford, Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane and Katie Peck.
Distribution company Rialto said the film had earned $417,000 in its first week, including previews.
In a statement, Documentary Emmys head Christine Chin said, “This year’s documentary nominees represent an extraordinary range of storytelling, from deeply personal narratives to sweeping historical examinations.
“These films challenge perspectives, elevate underrepresented voices, and demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to inform, engage, and inspire audiences worldwide.”
The 47th Documentary Emmys will be awarded in New York on May 28.
In January 2023, Ardern announced she would resign as Labour leader and prime minister, leaving Parliament ahead of the general election.
In February, The Guardian reported that Ardern and her family had moved to Sydney, Australia. Ardern’s office confirmed to the outlet that the family is “basing themselves out of Australia – they have work there, and it brings the added bonus of more time back home in New Zealand”.
