Longtime documentarian Frederick Wiseman was on a roll. First celebrated this week as a NYPL Literary Lion, he was then honored with the Critics’ Choice Documentary Lifetime Achievement Award redubbed for the late D. A. Pennebaker. With this renaming, Chris Hegedus, Pennebaker’s film and life partner for 43 years presented the statue to Frederick Wiseman noting his achievement in avoiding the usual devices such as voiceovers and talking heads, just turning his lens on a subject. And Wiseman especially admired Pennebaker: “He had fun making movies, and so do I.”

No one seemed to be having more fun at BRIC than pint-sized sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the subject of this year’s documentary, Ask Dr. Ruth. “I’m presenting shorts,” she announced proudly. “Even if that is because I’m short, just remember, size does not matter.”

With fewer smiles, and feeling the gravity of this political moment, Michael Moore, in presenting The Landmark Award to Michael Apted for his “Up” series, reminded this roomful of premier documentary filmmakers to ask themselves: “What will be said about our documentary filmmakers this year and next?

Despite the fact that presenters included comedians Aasif Mandvi and Jim Gaffigan, the sobering mood continued with other presenters including Rose McCowan who said she just wanted to embolden young women to stand up in this MeToo moment. She presented the award for Best Director to Peter Jackson for his We Shall Not Grow Old.

Apollo 11 was the big winner of the evening, awarded for Best Documentary of the Year, Best Science/ Nature Doc, Best Archival and more. Other winning films include American Factory, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Honeyland, Biggest Little Farm, Maiden for Best Sports Documentary, and Western Stars for Bruce Springsteen’s narration. No, the Boss did not make it to Brooklyn for this great night lauding the art of non-fiction films.