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Meet the Nominees: Commercials

February 7, 2025

77th Annual DGA Awards

On February 6, DGA members heralded the best in commercials during the 2025 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event. Following opening remarks by DGA Director of Commercial Contracts Winona Wacker, National Vice President Laura Belsey introduced the nominated commercials and welcomed the audience saying, “This event is one of the highlights of the year for our members who work in commercials. It celebrates the best of your work and is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand from the Directors who created these amazing projects.”

Director Lauren Greenfield moderated the panel, featuring nominees Lance Acord (An American Love Story [Volkswagen]); Kim Gehrig (A Life in Sound [SiriusXM], Am I A Bad Person? [Nike], Find Your Friends [Apple]); and Eric Wareheim (Michael CeraVe [CeraVe]).

Their conversation covered topics including what kicked off each project and how they found the way to their vision, as well as other challenges they had to overcome to achieve their goals. They gave a glimpse into the dynamics with their directorial teams and dug into other aspects of their craft such as the amount of prep time they had for each spot. Their insightful back-and-forth shined a light on their creative process.

Nominees Tim Heidecker (Michael CeraVe [CeraVe]); Andreas Nilsson (Board Game [Hennessy], First Office Poo [Andrex], One More [Apple], Whizzer [Virgin Media]); and Ivan Zachariáš (Flock [Apple]) were unable to attend.

About the Panelists:

Lance Acord

An American Love Story, Volkswagen - Johannes Leonardo
Unit Production Manager: Caroline Kousidonis
First Assistant Directors: Thomas Smith, Peter Jackson
Second Assistant Directors: Carly Sturgeon, John Mattern
Second Second Assistant Directors: Matthew Kramer, Reed Baum

 

This is Acord’s fifth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2016 for Frankie’s Holiday (Apple) and Movie Night (Kohls); in 2012 for Jogger and Greatness (Nike), The Dog Strikes Back (Volkswagen), and Thread, (Levi’s); in 2011 for Paint the Town (NIKE Basketball), Sweetest Moment (NBA), The Chosen (NIKE) and The Force (VW Passat); and in 2003 for Cross Country Spirit (NIKE), Part Car, Part Religion (Mitsubishi) and Wake Up Call (Adidas). Acord has been a DGA member since 2000.

 
 

Kim Gehrig

A Life in Sound, SiriusXM - Uncommon
First Assistant Director: Kate Greenberg
Second Assistant Director: Rebecca Rogers

Am I A Bad Person?, Nike - Wieden+Kennedy
First Assistant Director: Guy Forgaard

Find Your Friends, Apple - Client Direct
First Assistant Director: Rod Smith
Second Assistant Director: John Nasraway
Second Second Assistant Director: Isaac Mejia
Additional Second Second Assistant Directors: Kendall Wilmot, Michael Dudley

This is Gehrig’s third DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2023 for Run This Town (Apple Music) and The Travelers (Expedia) and in 2022 for Run Baby Run (iPhone) and Accessibility (Apple). Gehrig has been a DGA member since 2018.

 

Eric Wareheim

Michael CeraVe, CeraVe - WPP Onefluence (Ogilvy)
First Assistant Directors: Matthew Smith, Kerstin Emhoff
Second Assistant Director: Kiersten Fehlig
Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew Hausmann

This is Wareheim’s first DGA Award nomination. His other directorial credits include episodes of Beef House, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories, Master of None, Tim & Eric’s Go Pro Show, Steve and Stephen and Tom Goes to the Mayor. Wareheim has been a DGA member since 2012.

 

Lauren Greenfield (moderator)
Greenfield’s directorial credits include the documentary features The Kingmaker, Generation Wealth and Thin. She was nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for her 2012 feature The Queen of Versailles; and earned another DGA Award nomination in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials category for her Always spot, #LikeAGirl. Greenfield has been a DGA member since 2009.

Pictures

photos by Quintin Lundy

View slideshow
L-R: Director Lauren Greenfield (moderator) and nominees Lance Acord (An American Love Story [Volkswagen]); Kim Gehrig (A Life in Sound [SiriusXM], Am I A Bad Person? [Nike], Find Your Friends [Apple]) and Eric Wareheim (Michael CeraVe [CeraVe]) were the panelists for the 2025 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event.
DGA Director of Commercial Contracts Winona Wacker welcomes the attendees to the 2025 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event.
National Vice President Laura Belsey introduces a screening of the nominated commercials.
Director Lauren Greenfield serves as the moderator for the panelists for the 2025 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event.
Director Lance Acord shares stories from the making of his Volkswagen spot, An American Love Story.
Director Kim Gehrig reveals some of the prep work that went into the making of her Apple spot, Find Your Friends.
Director Eric Wareheim explains what drew him and directing partner Tim Heidecker to their CeraVe spot, Michael CeraVe.
L-R: Nominee Lance Acord (An American Love Story [Volkswagen]); DGA National Vice President Laura Belsey; Director Lauren Greenfield (moderator) and Nominees Kim Gehrig (A Life in Sound [SiriusXM], Am I A Bad Person? [Nike], Find Your Friends [Apple]) and Eric Wareheim (Michael CeraVe [CeraVe]) pose for a photo during the 2025 Meet the Nominees: Commercials event.