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

Entry Criteria:

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


2. Eligibility:
   
   • The DGA Awards eligibility period runs from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
   
   
   • This award category is open to both DGA and non-DGA Theatrical Feature Film Directors.
   
   
   • A feature length film is defined as more than 40 minutes.
   
   
   • The film must be released in a paid admission commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles or New York during the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
   
   
   • The film must be theatrically exhibited for at least seven (7) consecutive days and be advertised and exploited during its Los Angeles or New York qualifying run in a manner customary with industry practice.
   
   
   • Feature Films that are exhibited theatrically and exhibited or distributed simultaneously ("day-and-date") on any other platforms are not eligible. Theatrical Feature Films exhibited or distributed on free television, a pay cable service, Internet, DVD or any other format or delivery system in the continental United States prior to theatrical release are not eligible.
   
   
   • Re-releases, animated films, and documentaries are not eligible.
   
   
   • International films that meet the above criteria are also eligible. Non English-language submissions must be subtitled in English.


3. Credit:
   • The Director or Co-Directors must have exercised all traditional Theatrical Feature Film directorial functions in connection with original photography and received an on-screen “Directed By” credit.

Entry Deadline:

• All Theatrical Feature Film Entry Forms must be received in the Awards office by 6:00 p.m. PT on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023.

Judging Process:

• All eligible Theatrical Feature Film entries will be placed on a nomination ballot that will be available online to the DGA membership for voting. The five entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2023 DGA Theatrical Feature Film Nominees on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The winner will be announced at the 76th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

FYC Outreach:

• The DGA permits "For Your Consideration" award screeners and invitations to screenings to be sent to DGA members. There is a database coordination fee associated with all Awards outreach. Please contact Ashley Alvarez at (310) 289-2036 or ashleya@dga.org for more information.

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