The DGA Awards celebrates outstanding directorial achievement and we welcome your entry. Here are the Awards guidelines and entry form for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs. You must agree to these rules at the bottom of the page in order to go to the Entry Form.

Entry Criteria:

1. Director Eligibility:
   
   
   • Entry submissions must be covered under a DGA Agreement and directed by a DGA member with a Deal Memorandum on file.
   
   
   • Entries are accepted only from the Director of the program. An entry found to be submitted without the Director’s knowledge will be immediately disqualified.


2. Program Eligibility:
   
   
   • Only Reality Programs that have originally aired on television or streaming services during the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 are eligible.
   
   
   • Reality Programs are nonfiction series or specials. The inclusion of any reality content requires that the entry be placed in the Reality Programs category. Programs featuring dramatic or variety performances are not eligible.
   
   
   • Programs exhibited theatrically prior to television or streaming are not eligible. Programs that are only broadcast locally (even if available on the Internet) are not eligible.


3. Length:
   
   
   • Entries must have a minimum broadcast format length of approximately one half hour.


4. Credit:
   
   
   • The Director must have exercised all traditional directorial functions in connection with original photography and received an on-screen "Directed By" credit.


5. Entry Requirements:
   
   • The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards entry form. A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of the entry form.


6. Entry Link:
   
   
   • The Director must provide a secure, password protected HD link of the Reality entry to be forwarded to the members of the Reality Programs Nomination and Blue Ribbon Panel. 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.
   
   
   • Go directly to the episode. The link should not allow viewers to access any other project or episode, 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 50 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 entries must be received in the Awards office by 5:00 p.m. PT on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024. No entries will be accepted after the deadline

Judging Process:

• Reality Programs entries will be viewed by a Nomination Panel which votes by secret ballot. The five entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2024 DGA Reality Programs Nominees on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.


• These five will then be viewed by a Blue Ribbon Panel that will, by secret ballot, select the winner of the 2024 DGA Reality Programs Award. The winner will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards 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.