The DGA Awards is our annual opportunity to celebrate outstanding directorial achievement and we welcome your entry. All Documentary entries that conform to the entry criteria will be placed on the DGA Awards Documentary Nomination Ballot.

Except as otherwise indicated, this Awards category is open to both DGA and non-DGA Documentary Directors. Please read the following eligibility criteria carefully.

You must agree to these rules at the bottom of the page in order to go to the Entry Form.

Feature Documentaries:

1. Documentary Feature Films that had a seven (7) day qualifying run in a United States-based commercial theater or traditional commercial theatrical release during the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 are eligible.


2. Documentaries that were exhibited theatrically and simultaneously released on video-on-demand (pay-per-view or streaming) on a national platform during the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 are also eligible.

Television Documentaries:

3. Documentaries that have been broadcast nationally on U.S. television during the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 are eligible.


4. Documentaries produced for streaming services are eligible, however, they must be covered under a DGA Agreement.


5. Documentaries that are only broadcast locally on television are not eligible.


6. A Director or Co-Directing team who have directed all episodes of a Television Documentary series may enter the full series. A Director or Co-Directing team who have not directed all episodes must submit only one episode.

All Documentary Entries:

7. The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards online entry form. A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of the entry form.


8. Entries are accepted only from the Director or Co-Directors of the documentary. An entry found to be submitted without the knowledge of the Director or Co-Directing team will be immediately disqualified.


9. Length:
   
   
   • Entries in this category must be 40 minutes or more in length.


10. International Submissions:
    
    
    • Foreign/International documentaries are eligible for submission provided they meet the entry criteria. Non English-language submissions must be subtitled in English.


11. Credit:
    
    
    • The Director or Co-Directing team must have exercised all traditional directorial functions in connection with original photography and/or narration and received an on-screen “Directed By” credit.
    
    
    • "A Film By" is not considered an eligible directorial credit.


12. Entry Link:
    
    
    • The Director must provide a secure, password protected HD link of the Documentary entry to be forwarded to the members of the Documentary Screening Committee. HD links that do not meet the following criteria will not be accepted.
      
      All submission links must:
    • Have start and end credits including the "DIRECTED BY" credit. "A Film By" is not considered an eligible directorial credit.
    
    
    • Go directly to the entry. The link should not allow viewers to access any other project or contain any additional information about the project.
    
    
    • Not require additional information to access the entry beyond a password. Viewers should not be asked to enter their email address or create an account.
    
    
    • Include at least 150 unique views or access codes.
    
    
    • Due to international jury participation, projects should not have geo-blocking enabled.
    
    
    • Remain active for the duration of Awards. Link views should not expire before Friday, February 7, 2025
    
    
    • A watermark may be included provided it does not obscure the entry.

Entry Deadline:

• All Documentary Entry Forms and HD link submissions must be received in the Awards office by 5:00 p.m. PT on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024.

Judging Process:

• All eligible Documentary entries will be viewed by a Documentary Screening Committee that votes by secret ballot. The five entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2024 DGA Documentary Director Nominees on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.


• The Documentary Screening Committee will then vote by secret ballot to select the winner of the 2024 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. The winner will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Should you have any questions, please contact Brandon Kyle Goco in the DGA Awards office at Awards@dga.org or (310) 289-2038.