On February 8, the DGA presented its membership with a unique opportunity to celebrate the craft of directing during the 34th Annual Meet the Nominees: Theatrical Feature Film symposium. Following a welcome from President Lesli Linka Glatter, the 2024 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Award nominees — Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) — joined moderator Jeremy Kagan onstage in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater for an in-depth discussion about their work.
About the Panelists:
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 Jacques Audiard
Emilia Pérez
In addition to Emilia Pérez, Audiard’s other directorial credits include the feature films The Beat That My Heart Skipped, A Prophet, Rust and Bone, Dheepan, The Sisters Brothers and Paris, 13th District; and episodes of The Bureau.
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 Sean Baker
Anora
Unit Production Manager: Olivia Kavanaugh
First Assistant Director: Liza Mann
Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
Second Second Assistant Director: Steve Coleman
Location Manager: Ross Brodar
In addition to Anora, Baker’s other directorial credits include the feature films Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket and episodes of Warren the Ape. He has been a DGA member since 2010 and is a member of the Independent Directors Committee.
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 Edward Berger
Conclave
In addition to Conclave, Berger’s other directorial credits include the feature films All Quiet on the Western Front, All My Loving and Jack; the movie for television A Good Summer; and episodes of Your Honor and The Terror. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special in 2018 for Patrick Melrose. Berger has been a DGA member since 2019.
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 Brady Corbet
The Brutalist
In addition to The Brutalist, Corbet’s other directorial credits include the feature films The Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux. Corbet joined the DGA in 2018.
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 James Mangold
A Complete Unknown
Unit Production Manager: Michael Bederman
First Assistant Director: Douglas Torres
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Veronica Grant
Location Manager: Anthony Pisani
In addition to A Complete Unknown, Mangold’s other directorial credits include the feature films Heavy, Cop Land, Girl, Interrupted, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma, Logan and Ford v. Ferrari. Mangold joined the DGA in 1985.
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 Jeremy Kagan (moderator)
Kagan’s directorial credits include the features Shot, The Big Fix, The Chosen, The Journey of Natty Gann; the movies for television Roswell: The UFO Cover-Up and Katherine, The Making of an American Revolutionary; the television documentary Conspiracy: The Trial of The Chicago 8; and episodes of The Handler, Heroes and The West Wing. He was nominated for a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for Crown Heights. He is also the author of three volumes of Directors Close Up and the eTextbook Keys to Directing. A DGA member since 1972, Kagan initiated the DGA’s Meet the Nominees Theatrical Feature Film symposia and has served on the Western Directors Council and the DGA National Board and is the former chair of the DGA Special Projects Committee. In 2004, Kagan received the DGA Robert B. Aldrich Award for his service to the Guild. |
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Directed by: Tracey Smith Baumert
Director of Photography: Chad Wilson
Stage Manager: Redelia Shaw