The 78th annual DGA Awards are underway in Los Angeles, honoring the year’s most outstanding directorial achievements in film and television. The ceremony is hosted by Oscar and Emmy-nominated comedian Kumail Nanjiani.
Quipped Nanjiani (who, unlike previous DGA Awards host Judd Apatow, allowed his monologue to be viewed by reporters in the press room): “Welcome to the DGA Awards. It’s like if a movie was just the credits!” And later: “I’d ask you to keep your speeches short, but I’ve seen your movies, I know it’s not going to happen!”
Throughout the night, the five DGA nominees in the top theatrical race — Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”), Guillermo del Toro (“Frankenstein”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”) and Chloe Zhao (“Hamnet”) — received their DGA medallions, presented by someone involved in the film’s production. (Leonardo DiCaprio, for example, presented the honor to Anderson, while Michael B. Jordan paid homage to Coogler.)
The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film has long been one of the most reliable predictors of the Academy Award for best director, which makes the ceremony one of the season’s most closely watched bellwethers for the Oscars race.
This year’s film nominees also mark a historic milestone for representation. It is only the second time in DGA history that a majority of nominees in the organization’s top category hail from underrepresented communities. The first occurred in 2017, when Guillermo del Toro won for “The Shape of Water,” alongside fellow nominees Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”), Jordan Peele (“Get Out”), Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”) and Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”).
Since its inception, the DGA has correctly predicted the Academy Award winner for best director in all but eight instances. The most recent divergence came in 2019, when Sam Mendes won the DGA Award for the war epic “1917” but lost the Oscar to Bong Joon Ho for the South Korean drama “Parasite,” which also captured best picture. Last year, Sean Baker won the DGA’s top honor for “Anora,” which went on to secure four Academy Awards, including best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best film editing.
When it comes to the broader best picture race, DGA history points to the vital importance of a nomination. Only two films — “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989) and “CODA” (2022) — have won the Academy Award for best picture without receiving a DGA nomination. Meanwhile, six films have claimed the top Oscar prize without earning an Academy Award nomination for directing: “Wings” (1927), “Grand Hotel” (1932), “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Argo” (2012), “Green Book” (2018) and “CODA.”
“Frankenstein” helmer Guillermo Del Toro is the only DGA nominee this year who failed to garner an Oscar nomination, with “Sentimental Value” director Joachim Trier earning the Academy slot instead.
Going into the night, Anderson’s action epic had amassed 35 critics and guild prizes for best picture, including a rare sweep of all four major critics prizes — National Board of Review, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics. Only four films in history have achieved that feat: “Schindler’s List” (1993), “L.A. Confidential” (1997), “The Social Network” (2010) and now, Anderson’s latest. Of those titles, only “Schindler’s List” went on to win the Oscar for best picture. However, in the directing race, Anderson has been equally dominant, with 32 wins to date, while Coogler trails with 19.
In TV, “The Pitt” and “The Bear” led individual series with two nominations each. And “Saturday Night Live” tops all franchises with three noms, via a trio of different “SNL50” entities: The specials “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” and “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” and the doc series “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.”
“The Pitt” won the top dramatic series prize, via helmer Amanda Marsalis for the episode “6:00 PM.” She even beat out “The Pitt” exec producer John Wells, also nominated.
“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” kicked off the evening’s wins, with director Liz Patrick landing the honors in the variety category. Later, “Dying for Sex” helmer Shannon Murphy won for limited or anthology series, and “Conan O’Brien Must Go’s” Mike Sweeney picked up the win for Reality/Quiz and Game.
In addition to competitive awards, the DGA presented two special service honors recognizing exemplary contributions to the guild and the industry. Associate director and stage manager David Charles received the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, honoring extraordinary service to both the profession and the DGA. Commercials first assistant director Gregory G. McCollum will receive the Frank Capra Achievement Award, given in recognition of notable career achievement and outstanding service to the guild.
“We could not be prouder to recognize the incredible work of this year’s nominees for their dedication to the art of filmmaking,” DGA president Christopher Nolan said in January when announcing the nominees. “On behalf of the entire Guild community, I extend my congratulations to these directors on this achievement, and we look forward to celebrating your work at the DGA Awards.”
Winners will be updated throughout the night. The full list of nominees and winners appears below.
Paul Thomas Anderson – Ryan Coogler – Chloe Zhao
Variety
Here are this year’s film nominees and winners:
DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Weiske
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares, Ian Stone
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti, Rafael Sanz-Jimenez
Additional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy, Chunning Chang, Kit Conners, Kasia Trojak, Tyler Young
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield, Kenneth Yu
First Assistant Director: Marvin Williams
Second Assistant Director: Amir R. Khan
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gregg Carr, Desiree Stevenson
Guillermo Del Toro, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale
First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
Second Assistant Director: Chad Belair
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Anthony Katagas, Joe Guest
First Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
Second Second Assistant Director: Kailyn Dabkowski
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Max Samu, Suk Yi Mar, Samson Jacobson
Location Manager: Matthew Kania, Ross Brodar
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
FIRST-TIME THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
WINNER: Charlie Polinger, “The Plague” (Independent Film Company)
Hasan Hadi, “The President’s Cake” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Harry Lighton, “Pillion” (A24)
Alex Russell, “Lurker” (Mubi)
Eva Victor, “Sorry, Baby” (A24)
DOCUMENTARY FILM
Mstyslav Chernov, “2000 Meters to Andriivka” (PBS)
Geeta Gandbhir, “The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix)
Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, “Cutting Through Rocks” (Assembly Releasing)
Elizabeth Lo, “Mistress Dispeller” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, “Cover-Up” (Netflix)
Here are this year’s TV nominees and winners:
DRAMATIC SERIES
WINNER: Amanda Marsalis, The Pitt, “6:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Michelle Lankwarden
First Assistant Director: Eric Tignini
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Zelman
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca Rogers, Chloe Huckins
Additional Second Assistant Director: Michelle Akeley
Liza Johnson, The Diplomat, “Amagansett” (Netflix)
Janus Metz, Andor, “Who Are You?” (Disney+)
Ben Stiller, Severance, “Cold Harbor” (Apple TV+)
John Wells, The Pitt, “7:00 A.M.” (HBO Max)
COMEDY SERIES
Lucia Aniello, Hacks, “A Slippery Slope” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Mark Rabinowitz
First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
Second Assistant Director: Kirisa Gavrin
Second Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann Rafdal
Additional Second Assistant Director: Amy Ergle
Janicza Bravo, The Bear, “Worms” (FX on Hulu)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson Bidner
First Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
Second Assistant Director: Olivia Dame
Second Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. Morales
Assistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, The Studio, “The Oner” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Shawn Dyrdahl
First Assistant Director: Donald Murphy
Second Assistant Director: Peter Dress
Christopher Storer, The Bear, “Bears” (FX on Hulu)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson Bidner
First Assistant Director: Duccio Fabbri
Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek, Olivia Dame
Second Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. Morales
Assistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas
Mike White, The White Lotus, “Denials” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman, Mark Kamine
First Assistant Director: Justin Ritson
Second Assistant Director: Joe Landry
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Aidan Sleeper
LIMITED & ANTHOLOGY SERIES
WINNER: Shannon Murphy, Dying for Sex, “It’s Not That Serious” (FX on Hulu)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Francesca M. Mannix
First Assistant Director: Julie A. Bloom
Second Assistant Director: Findlay Ward Zotter
Second Second Assistant Director: Kristin Dombroski, Laura E. Rizer
Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit, “The Black Rabbits” (Netflix)
Antonio Campos, The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy” (Netflix)
Lesli Linka Glatter, Zero Day, “Episode 6” (Netflix)
Ally Pankiw, Black Mirror, “Common People” (Netflix)
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION
Jesse Armstrong, “Mountainhead” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Jill Footlick
First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
Second Assistant Director: MarSchelle Walker
Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi
Stephen Chbosky, “Nonnas” (Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Pamela Hirsch, Kara Doherty
First Assistant Director: Chris Surgent
Second Assistant Director: Takahide Kawakami
Second Second Assistant Director: Cary Lee
Location Manager: Tatiana Forster
Scott Derrickson, “The Gorge” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Greg Goodman
First Assistant Director: Cliff Lanning
Second Assistant Director: Lee Tailor
Michael Morris, “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” (Peacock)
Kyle Newacheck, “Happy Gilmore 2” (Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Brittany Sugarman, David Bausch
First Assistant Director: David M. Bernstein
Second Assistant Director: Ryan Robert Howard
Second Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin Heins
Additional Second Assistant Director: Mia Bruno
Location Manager: Louis Zuppardi
Assistant Location Manager: Scott Ferlisi
VARIETY
WINNER: Liz Patrick, “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” (NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini, Dan Dome
Stage Manager: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Peter Epstein, Karen Tasch Weiss, Steve Bautista, Joey Despenzero, Frank Fernandez, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Cyndi Owgang, Elise Reaves, Niclana Tolmasoff, Leslie Williams
Yvonne De Mare, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Julia Roberts; Sam Smith” (CBS)
Andy Fisher, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “Stephen Colbert; Kumail Nanjiani; Reneé Rapp” (ABC)
Beth McCarthy-Miller, “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” (Peacock)
Paul Pennolino, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Public Media” (HBO Max)
SPORTS
Matthew Gangl, 2025 World Series – Game 7 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Fox Sports)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Larry Lancaster, Aaron Stojkov, Bryan Colucci
Stage Manager: Dominick Tringali, Dan Frank
Steve Milton, 2025 Masters Tournament – Augusta National Golf Club (CBS Sports)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Robert Matina, Chris Svendsen, Andy Freedman, Eric Spitzer, Ade Ellis, Tyler Jahn, Josh Weingardt, Brian Maher, Stuart Millstein, Katie Keane, Adam Cohen, Jack Kempner, George Wishart, Dan Obermuller
Stage Manager: Cory Fishman
Rich Russo, Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Fox Sports)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Rich Gross, Casey Garland
REALITY / QUIZ AND GAME
WINNER: Mike Sweeney, Conan O’Brien Must Go, “Austria” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Jason Chillemi
Lucinda M. Margolis, Jeopardy!, “Ep. 9341” (Syndicated)
Adam Sandler, The Price is Right, “10,000th Episode” (CBS)
DOCUMENTARY SERIES / NEWS
Marshall Curry, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room” (Peacock)
Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, “Part Two” (HBO Max)
Rebecca Miller, Mr. Scorsese, “All This Filming Isn’t Healthy” (Apple TV+)
Alexandra Stapleton, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, “Official Girl” (Netflix)
Matt Wolf, Pee-Wee as Himself, “Part 1” (HBO Max)
COMMERCIALS
WINNER: Kim Gehrig (Somesuch)
You Can’t Win. So Win. – Nike | Wieden+Kennedy
Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Peter Jackson, John Mattern
Second Assistant Director: Melina Greene
Second Second Assistant Director: Chelsea Meador
I’m Not Remarkable – Apple | Client Direct
First Assistant Director: Guy Forgaard
Second Assistant Director: Amanda Johnson
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Dudley, Clyde Broom
Miles Jay (Smuggler)
Spike Jonze (MJZ)
Andreas Nilsson (Biscuit Filmworks)
Steve Rogers (Biscuit Filmworks)