The Kerala State Film Award for Best Documentary winners:
| Year | Documentary | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Vallathol | P. Bhaskaran | |
| 1979 | Koodiyattam | P. M. Aziss | |
| 1980 | Visala Cochi | VR GOPINATH | |
| 1981 | Homage to Trees | P. A. Iqball | |
| 1982 | Krishnanattam. Story of A Revolution | Adoor Gopalakrishnan VR GOPINATH | |
| 1983 | Rivers of Kerala | Mathew Paul | James Paul |
| 1984 | Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair. Manninte Makkal_ | Mathew Paul. _VR GOPINATH | James Paul |
| 1985 | Brown Landscape | Aravindan | N. Madhavan Pillai |
| 1986 | The Catch | Aravindan | |
| 1987 | Basheer the Man | M. A. Rahman | Kannam Kulam Abdulla |
| 1988 | Panchavathyam | Mathew Paul | Doordharshan, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 1989 | Kala Mandalam Krishnan Kutty Pothuval | K. R. Mohan | |
| 1990 | Mohiniyattam | Sivan | |
| 1991 | Mulberriyum Pattunoolum | P. P. Govindan | K S F D C |
| 1992 | Noottandinte Sakshi | Salam Karasseri | Sasibooshan |
| 1993 | Thekku (Teak) | Majid Gulisthan | K S F D C |
| 1994 | Visudhavanangal | K. R. Mohanan | K S F D C |
| 1995 | Pakarnnattam | M. R. Rajan, C. S. Venkiteswaran | P. G. Mohanan |
| 1996 | Silent Screams (A Village Chronicle) | O. K. Johny | Jose Sebastian |
| 1997 | Ayyankali - Mizhavu | R. S. Madhu - K. R. Subhash | P. Sasidharan - P. D. Raphel |
| 1998 | Premji-Ithihasathinte Sparsam | M. R. Rajan | P. Appukkuttan, Secretary, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Thrissur |
| 1999 | Kalamandalam Gopi | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Films Division |
| 2000 | Palathulliperuvallom | K. Mohankumar | K. Sivaprasad |
| 2001 | Kanavumalayilekku | M. G. Sasi | Tomy Mathew |
| 2002 | Jeevanakalayude Pulluvageetham | M. Venukumar | L. Sivanandan |
| 2003 | Nishadam | Madhu Eravankara | Magic Lantern |
| 2004 | Kovilan Ente Achachan | M. A. Rahman | |
| 2005 | |||
| 2006 | Minukku | M.R.Rajan | Devadasan Kizhapat |
| 2007 | Before the Brush Dropped | Vinod Mankara | |
| 2008 | No award | ||
| 2009 | Ezhuthatha Kathukal | Vinod Mankara | |
| 2010 | Making of a Maestro - A documentary on Kalamandalam Gopi | Meena Das Narayan | K Narayan Nedungadi |