Weighty, heartstopping material dominates category

Richard Bedser & Ed Fields"Gettysburg"HistoryHighlight: "Unknown" Union soldier Amos Humiston becomes one of the most famous figures in the Civil War when his unidentifiable body is found with a photo of his family. His family finally learns his fate when the photo runs in a newspaper.Why they might win: Bedser and Fields make "Gettysburg" the story of individual soldiers by tracing their actual moves that lead them to the battle.Maybe not: Recent history is beautifully documented in "No Reservations." Anthony Bourdain"Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations"TravelHighlight: The usually unfazed Bourdain is unapologetically emotional about the tragedy that has befallen Haiti, and his conversations with Sean Penn revealed an uncertain future for the country.Why he might win: Bourdain's portrait of Haiti in crisis and the people who live there is both unflinching and deeply compassionate at the same time.Maybe not: No shortage of other nominees telling high-stakes stories.Josh Fox"Gasland"HBOHighlight: Fox captured a legendary moment, that still has people talking, when one homeowner opens a kitchen faucet and then lights the water on fire because it is so contaminated with gas.Why he might win: The stories of those who agree to have hydraulic fracturing are explored in an achingly personal manner, one that shows the real long-term impact on their lives.Maybe not: When Fox veers away from their stories and inserts himself too much into the narrative, the impact wanes.Stanley Nelson"Freedom Riders"PBSHighlight: Testimony from the Freedom Riders who journeyed across America to violate and change Jim Crow laws paints a harrowing portrait of a campaign that took place only 50 years ago.Why he might win: Nelson's film is both skilled journalism and a dramatic compelling narrative that tells a significant story with all the tension of a top-notch thriller.Maybe not: Nelson is going head to head with "Gettysburg," another historic heavyweight.Jon Wilkman"Moguls & Movie Stars -- The Birth of Hollywood"TCMHighlight: D.W. Griffith makes the controversial "The Birth of a Nation" and evokes charges of racism while expanding cinematic story-telling techniques in one troubling project.Why he might win: Wilkman masterfully grounds the beginnings of Hollywood in the personalities of those who created it.Maybe not: In a field full of historical and activist-oriented subject matter, this could seem like a lightweight.ROAD TO THE EMMYS: THE WRITER Showrunners don't run from non-writing dutiesDrama | Comedy | Movies & Miniseries | Nonfiction | Variety, music or comedy series Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com