The Grierson Awards commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary maker John Grierson (1898 – 1972), famous for Drifters and Night Mail and the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary.

Established in 1972, the Grierson Awards recognise and celebrate documentaries that have made a significant contribution to the genre from Britain and abroad.

In 2007 The Grierson Trust, along with Sheffield Doc/Fest, introduced three new awards – the Green, Innovation and Youth Jury Awards – to be presented during the Sheffield documentary festival.