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.
***
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
***
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
***
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)
***
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
***
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)
***
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
***
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
***
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
***
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+)
***
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
***
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)
***
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