DGA Student Film Awards

 


For more than two decades, the DGA Student Film Awards have spotlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers. Winners of the DGA Student Film Awards in each category will receive a $2,500 prize from the DGA.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.


CURRENT & PREVIOUS YEARS WINNERS

30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards Winners


BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:

East Region

  • Grand Prize: Mirta Desir of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema – Brooklyn College/CUNY — 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 in the 2023/2024 school year (September 2023 through August 2024) and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Animated films, experimental films, commercials, music videos and webisodes are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (one-year) graduate from, an accredited post-secondary institution located in the United States and selected by the DGA. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position.