26th Annual DGA Student Film Awards Winners
Best African American Student Filmmakers
East Region
- Award Winner: Natalie Jasmine Harris of New York University — Pure
- Jury Award: Tramaine Raphael Gray of University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Kindred Kings
West Region
- Award Winner: Allison A. Waite of University of Southern California — The Dope Years: The Story of Latasha Harlins
- Jury Award: Dagmawi Abebe of University of Southern California — The Ball Method
Best Asian American Student Filmmakers
East Region
- Award Winner: Karishma Dev Dube of New York University — Bittu
- Jury Award: Constance Tsang of Columbia University — Beau
West Region
- Award Winner: Olivia Hang Zhou of American Film Institute — Apart, Together
- Jury Award: Shuang Li of University of California, Berkeley — The Long Wait
Best Latino Student Filmmakers
East Region
- Award Winner: Esteban Garcia Vernaza of Columbia University — Silento
- Jury Award: Mariana Saffon of Columbia University — Entre tú y Milagros
West Region
- Award Winner: Felipe Vargas of University of Southern California — Milk Teeth
- Jury Award: Tiffany Kontoyiannis-Guillen of University of Southern California — Welcome Back
Best Women Student Filmmakers
East Region
- Award Winner: Shae Xu of Columbia University — Duet
- Jury Award: Alice Aguiar of Savannah College of Art and Design — Windchimes
West Region
- Award Winner: Kathryn Boyd-Batstone of University of Southern California — For Rosa
- Jury Prize: Star Victoria of University of Southern California — La Ruta
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the years. A number of past winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:
- Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II; Grown-ish; Rapture; The Land)
- Jon M. Chu (In the Heights; Now You See Me 2; Crazy Rich Asians; Home Before Dark)
- Ryan Coogler (Black Panther; Creed; Fruitvale Station)
- Nicole Kassell (Watchmen; Castlerock; Westworld; The Americans)
- Patricia Riggen (Surveillance; The 33; Miracles From Heaven; Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan)
- Sylvain White (The Rookie; Fargo; The Umbrella Academy; Amazing Stories)
The winners were chosen by blue ribbon panels. Eligible films were made in the 2019/2020 school year (September 2019 through August 2020), and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member – with students holding every major crew position. Dramas, comedies and documentaries are all eligible – animated and experimental films 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.