DGA SFA New

For three decades, the DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors have highlighted the work of dozens of student filmmakers who are underrepresented in the industry. Winners in each category will receive a $2,500 prize from the DGA.

Applications will open November 1, 2025 and close April 1, 2026.

Eligible films must be made between September 2024 and December 2025 and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Animated films, commercials, music videos, and webisodes are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (within the eligible submission period) graduate from a post secondary institution located in the United States. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position. Film submissions should be narrative or documentary shorts.

Click here for the application.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us at students@dga.org. 

CURRENT & PREVIOUS YEARS WINNERS

2024

30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards Winners

BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
 

East Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Mirta Desir of City University of New York (CUNY) – Brooklyn College — Jean & I
  • Jury Award: Ben Locke of Boston University — Taper
     

West Region

  • Grand Prize: Britt Williams of American Film Institute — Behold a Lady
  • Jury Award: Kira Powell of American Film Institute — Best Eyes

BEST ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
 

East Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Nadine (Misong) Jin of Columbia University — Juk
  • Jury Award: Lucas Manuel-Scheibe of New York University — Rope
     

West Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Robin Wang of University of Southern California — Neither Donkey Nor Horse
  • Jury Award: Grace Hanna of American Film Institute — Lola

BEST LATINO STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
 

East Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Almendra Kovac Akel of Ringling College of Art & Design — ROT
  • Jury Award: Marco Greco of University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Clocked-Out
     

West Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Juan Zuloaga Eslait of Chapman University — Before the Winter
  • Jury Award: Kimberly Caicedo of American Film Institute — Francis

BEST WOMEN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
 

East Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Ella McKenzie of University of Michigan — Nerd Association
  • Jury Award: Colleen Ryan of Savannah College of Art and Design — El Alma de la Sed
     

West Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Kateryna Kurganska of American Film Institute — Two Breaths
  • Jury Award: MC Plaschke of American Film Institute — We Met at Camp

BEST DOCUMENTARY STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
 

East Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Christine An of Boston University — Timeless Voices
  • Jury Award: Gabriel Ponte Fleary of Rochester Institute of Technology — Un Viaje de Fe (A Journey of Faith)
     

West Region
 

  • Grand Prize: Wubetu Shimelash of University of Southern California — Shepherd's Calling
  • Jury Award: Sarah Enriquez of Moorpark College — Inside: America's Teaching Zoo

Eligible films must be made between September 2024 and December 2025 and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Animated films, commercials, music videos, and webisodes are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (within the eligible submission period) graduate from a post secondary institution located in the United States. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position. Film submissions should be narrative or documentary shorts.
 

 
 

Pictures

View slideshow
30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards West Region winners and Jury Award Recipients pose for a photo with the presenters and members of the Student Film Awards Committee.
(L-R) DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Rebecca Rhine poses for a photo with DGA Student Film Awards Committee members Gil Cates Jr. (Chair), Associate Director Betty Petitt and Directors Abdul Malik Abbott, Henry Chan and A.P. Gonzalez after acknowledging the Guild’s appreciation for their service.
(L-R) West Region Jury Award Recipients: Asian American category Jury Award recipient Grace Hanna of American Film Institute (Lola), Documentary category Jury Award recipient Sarah Enriquez of Moorpark College (Inside: America’s Teaching Zoo),Women’s category Jury Award recipient MC Plaschke of American Film Institute (We Met at Camp), presenter and Student Film and Awards Master of Ceremonies LeVar Burton, Latino category Jury Award recipient Kimberly Caicedo of American Film Institute (Francis) and African American category Jury Award recipient Kira Powell of American Film Institute in the African American category (Best Eyes).
DGA Fifth Vice President, Millicent Shelton (presenter) with the West Region winner in the African American category, Britt Williams of American Film Institute for Behold a Lady.
Director Chris Tashima (presenter) with the West Region winner in the Asian American category, Robin Wang of University of Southern California for Neither Donkey nor Horse.
Director Aurora Guerrero (presenter) with the West Region winner in the Latino category, Juan Zuloaga Eslait of Chapman University for Before the Winter.
Director Shaz Bennett (presenter) with the West Region winner in the Women’s category, Kateryna Kurganska of University of Southern California for Two Breaths.
Director Matt Tyrnauer (presenter) with the West Region winner in the Documentary category, Wubetu Shimelash of University of Southern California for Shepherd’s Calling.
30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards East Region winners and Jury Award Recipients pose for a photo with the presenters and judges.
(L-R) Director Joan Stein Schimke (presenter) with the East Region Jury Award Recipients: African American category jury award-recipient Ben Locke of Boston University (Taper), Asian American category jury award-recipient Lucas Manuel-Scheibe of New York University (Rope), Documentary category jury award-recipient Gabriel Ponte Fleary of Rochester Institute of Technology (Un Viaje de Fe), Latino category jury award-recipient Marco Greco of University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Clocked-Out) and Women’s category jury award-recipient Colleen Ryan of Savannah College of Art and Design (El Alma de la Sed).
Director Li Lu (presenter) with the East Region winner in the African American category, Mirta Desir of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema – Brooklyn College/CUNY for Jean & I.
Director Li Lu (presenter) with the East Region winner in the Asian American category, Nadine Jin of Columbia University for Juk.
Director Eif Rivera (presenter) with the East Region Documentary category-winner, Christine An of Boston University for Timeless Voices.
SFA 2023
Director Eif Rivera (presenter) with Producer Alejandra Cintron Rivera who accepted on behalf of the East Region Latino category-winner, Almendra Kovac Akel of Ringling College of Art & Design for ROT.
Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Ellen Athena Catsikeas (presenter) with the East Region winner in the Women’s category, Ella McKenzie of University of Michigan for Nerd Association.

Contact

Applications Open for the 2026 DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors
DGA SFA New
The Awards highlight student filmmakers from marginalized communities.

DGA LAYOUT