Jay D. Roth to Receive DGA Presidents Award

January 9, 2017

Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced that National Executive Director Jay D. Roth will be the recipient of the DGA Presidents Award at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2017. The award, which is given for leadership and extraordinary efforts in enhancing the welfare and image of the Guild and the industry, is bestowed only by a unanimous vote of the sitting and former DGA Presidents.

Roth, the DGA’s National Executive Director for the past 22 years, is only the fourth recipient of the DGA Presidents Award, first given in 1998 to former DGA President George Sidney, and then in 2001 and 2005 to former Presidents Robert Wise and Gil Cates.

“The Presidents Award has only been previously given to the most exceptional leaders of the DGA. Sidney, Wise and Cates were remarkable presidents who left a lasting impact on the Guild. And in Jay Roth, we have a kindred spirit whose brilliant mind and incredible accomplishments, including our groundbreaking recent negotiations, have forged a deep footprint – a legacy which has advanced both this Guild and our industry,” said Barclay.

“I’m honored by this recognition from our current and past Presidents,” said Roth. “We’ve served alongside one another to carry into the future the vision upon which this Guild was founded: protecting and advancing the creative and economic rights of directors. I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished together.”

The award will be presented at the 69th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. 

• Nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film will be announced on Thursday, January 12, 2017.  Nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials, and Documentary will be announced on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. 
• BMW is the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of the 69th Annual DGA Awards. 

Past recipients of the DGA Presidents Award: