77th Annual DGA Awards Winners

February 8, 2025 – Los Angeles – The winners of the Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in 2024 were announced tonight during the 77th Annual DGA Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. SEAN BAKER won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Anora.

Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony before an audience of more than 1,000 guests. Presenters included (in alphabetical order): Maude Apatow, Ike Barinholtz, Adrien Brody, Marie Cantin, Colman Domingo, Paul W. Downs, Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Justine Lupe, Mikey Madison, Kathleen McGill, Demi Moore, Christopher Nolan, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Simons, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Tomlinson, Jessica Williams, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh.

The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to acclaimed Director ANG LEE. Unit Production Manager (UPM) MARY RAE THEWLIS received the Robert B. Aldrich Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. UPM THOMAS J. WHALEN was the recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or UPM in recognition of notable career achievements in the industry and for outstanding service to the DGA.

 

NOTE FOR BROADCAST:      Highlights package is available at this link.

 

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THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 is:

SEAN BAKER

Anora

(Neon)

Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Olivia Kavanaugh
  • First Assistant Director: Liza Mann
  • Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Steve Coleman
  • Location Manager: Ross Brodar

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MICHAEL APTED FIRST-TIME THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Theatrical Feature Film Director for 2024 is:

RAMELL ROSS

Nickel Boys

(Orion Pictures /Amazon MGM Studios)

Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Kenneth Yu
  • First Assistant Director: James Roque
  • Second Assistant Director: Jonathan M. Warren
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Thalia Skaleris
  • Additional Second Assistant Director: Zachery Scherer
  • Location Manager: Batou Chandler

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DRAMATIC SERIES

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2024 is:

FREDERICK E.O. TOYE

Shōgun, “Crimson Sky”

(FX)

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COMEDY SERIES

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2024 is:

LUCIA ANIELLO

Hacks, “Bulletproof”

(Max)

Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Chris R. Robinson
  • First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
  • Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann
  • Additional Second Assistant Director: Chalis Romero

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MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2024 is:

STEVEN ZAILLIAN

Ripley

(Netflix)

Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: Clayton Townsend, Joe Guest (New York)
  • First Assistant Director: Peter Thorell
  • Second Assistant Directors: Justin Bischoff (New York), Nick Notte (New York)
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Melissa Morphet (New York)
  • Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi (New York)

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VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2024 is:

 

LIZ PATRICK

Saturday Night Live, “John Mulaney / Chappell Roan”

(NBC)

Directorial Team:

  • Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini
  • Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Tom Ucciferri

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VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS

The winner for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2024 is:

BETH McCARTHY‑MILLER

The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady (Netflix)

Directorial Team:

  • Associate Directors: Debbie Palacio, Marty Pasetta Jr.
  • Stage Managers: Lynn Finkel, Steve Hollander, Greg Kasoff, Ran Lowe, Jennifer Marquet, Christopher McDonald, Tammy Raab, Jackie Stathis

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REALITY PROGRAMS

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2024 is:

NEIL DeGROOT

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, “The Cliffs of Ireland”

(National Geographic)

Directorial Team:

          Associate Director: Jeff Simms

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CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2024 is:

AMBER SEALEY

Out of My Mind

(Disney+)

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COMMERCIALS

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2024 is:

ANDREAS NILSSON

(Biscuit Filmworks)

Board Game, Hennessy ‑ Wieden+Kennedy ‑ London

First Office Poo, Andrex ‑ FCB ‑ London

One More, Apple ‑ Client Direct

          First Assistant Director: Scott Harris

          Second Assistant Director: Ronald Misetich

Whizzer, Virgin Media ‑ VCCP ‑ London

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DOCUMENTARY

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2024 is:

BRENDAN BELLOMO & SLAVA LEONTYEV

Porcelain War

(Picturehouse)

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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT & SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

ANG LEE

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, which is given to a Director in recognition of distinguished achievement in direction, is the Guild’s highest honor and the recipient is selected by the present and past presidents of the Guild.

MARY RAE THEWLIS

Robert B. Aldrich Award

This award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to the Directors Guild of America and to its membership.

THOMAS WHALEN

Frank Capra Achievement Award

This award is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America