The Directors Guild of America honored the best of the past year in TV and Film during the DGA Awards ceremony held on Saturday night.

Like many of the other awards ceremonies this year, The 73rd Annual DGA Awards were presented virtually. To nobody’s surprise, Chloé Zhao won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Nomadland. The DGA Awards are one of the best predictors when it comes to who will take home the Academy Award for Best Director.

The Directors Guild of America was founded in 1936. In the 85 years since the founding, the guild has fought for both economic and creative rights of its members. They’ve protected the ability to financially benefit from the reuse of their work, established strong pension and health plans, and established jurisdiction in new technologies and
distribution platforms. Today, the guild represents more than 18,000 directors and members of directorial teams working across film, television, commercials, new media, and other audiovisual media.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures)

• Ms. Zhao’s Directorial Team:
  • Unit Production Manager: Mary Kerrigan
  • First Assistant Director: Mary Kerrigan

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR: Darius Marder, Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)

• Mr. Marder’s Directorial Team:
  • Unit Production Manager: Amy Greene

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES: Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland, “Prisoners of War (Showtime)

• Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
  • Unit Production Managers: Michael Klick, Philippa Naughten
  • First Assistant Director: Sunday Stevens
  • Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Yarden Levo

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES: Susanna Fogel, The Flight Attendant, “In Case of Emergency” (HBO Max)

• Ms. Fogel’s Directorial Team:
  • Unit Production Manager: Bonnie Muñoz
  • First Assistant Director: Derek Peterson
  • Second Assistant Director: Jacquie Dore
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
  • Location Manager: Chris Banks

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES: Scott Frank, The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)

• Mr. Frank’s Directorial Team:
  • First Assistant Director: Aldric La’auli Porter

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING: Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live, “Dave Chappelle; Foo Fighters” (NBC)

• Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
  • Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel-Mack
  • Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS: Thomas Schlamme, A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (HBO Max)

• Mr. Schlamme’s Directorial Team:
  • Unit Production Manager: Debra James
  • First Assistant Director: Shawn Pipkin-West
  • Second Assistant Director: Courtney Franklin
  • Second Second Assistant Directors: Ni’cole Pettis, Cathy Bond

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMS: Joseph Guidry, Full Bloom, “Petal to the Metal” (HBO Max)

• Mr. Guidry’s Directorial Team:
  • Associate Director: Sean Galvin
  • Lead Stage Manager: Jimmy Chriss
  • Stage Managers: Rachel Shimko, Kristianna Laroda, Richard Melendez

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: Amy Schatz, We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest (HBO)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMERCIALS: Melina Matsoukas (Prettybird), You Love Me, Beats by Dr. Dre – Translation

• First Assistant Director: Paul Norman
• Second Assistant Director: Don Johnson

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DOCUMENTARY: Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, The Truffle Hunters (Sony Pictures Classics)

HONORARY LIFE MEMBER & SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Renowned director and Past President Paris Barclay was the recipient of the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of leadership in the industry, contribution to the Guild and the profession of directing, and outstanding career achievement.

Betty Thomas received the Robert B. Aldrich Award recognizing extraordinary service to the Guild.

Brian E. Frankish received the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which 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.

Joyce Thomas received the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which is given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of service to the industry and to the Directors Guild of America.