Oscar-Nominated, Lerner has been making films since 1988 for BBC, Channel 4, BFI, HBO, PBS, Discovery Channel. He has won a number of industry awards including, Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary Feature 2012,  6 Sundance Awards (Grand Jury, Special Jury, Best Director, Audience, Cinematography) , EMMY Award for Best Documentary, 2 Grierson Awards for Best Documentary, Prix Italia, 2 Royal Television Society Award Nominations and 2 IDA Award Nominations, Cinema Eye Award, Independent Spirit Award, Gotham Independent Film Award, Winner Best Documentary Moscow Film Festival.