January 6, 2020
Los Angeles – The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series; Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming; Reality Programs; Children’s Programs; Commercials; and Documentary for 2019.
The winners will be announced at the 72nd Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.
Nomination announcements for the Comedy Series, Dramatic Series and Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials categories will be announced on Friday, January 10 due to a re-vote related to a newly implemented electronic entry submissions process.
Nomination announcements for the Theatrical Feature Film and First-Time Feature Film will be announced on Tuesday, January 7.
Click the links below to view specific categories:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Movies for Television and Limited Series
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
AVA DuVERNAY
When They See Us
(Netflix)
Ms. DuVernay’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: John P. Fedynich, Amy Kaufman
- First Assistant Director: H.H. Cooper
- Second Assistant Director: Jamiyl Campbell
- Second Second Assistant Director: Amrita Kundu
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Kyler Griffin
- Location Manager: Charlynne J. Hopson
VINCE GILLIGAN
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
(Netflix)
Mr. Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Robin Le Chanu, Charles Newirth
- First Assistant Director: John Wildermuth
- Second Assistant Director: Katy Galow
- Second Second Assistant Director: Nathan E. Davis
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Melissa Bosco‑Laude, Chad Goyette
THOMAS KAIL
Fosse/Verdon, “Nowadays”
(FX Networks)
Mr. Kail’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
- First Assistant Director: Deanna Leslie Kelly
- Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
- Assistant Unit Production Manager: Kip Davis Meyers
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
- Location Manager: Ryan Smith
JOHAN RENCK
Chernobyl
(HBO)
MINKIE SPIRO
Fosse/Verdon, “All I Care About Is Love”
(FX Networks)
Ms. Spiro’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
- First Assistant Director: Marcos González Palma
- Second Assistant Director: Steven Lafferty
- Assistant Unit Production Manager: Kip Davis Meyers
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
- Location Manager: Ryan Smith
JESSICA YU
Fosse/Verdon, “Glory”
(FX Networks)
Ms. Yu’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
- First Assistant Director: Deanna Leslie Kelly
- Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
- Assistant Unit Production Manager: Kip Davis Meyers
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
- Location Manager: Ryan Smith
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “1730”
(HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
- Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian Anderson
NORA S. GERARD
CBS Sunday Morning, “40th Anniversary”
(CBS)
Ms. Gerard’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Jessica Frank, Kate D’Arcy Coleman, Patricia Long Finnegan, Jyll Phillips-Friedman, Catherine Liberatore Kay
- Stage Managers: Mark Dicso, Brian McGuire
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “A. Ocasio-Cortez; Incubus”
(CBS)
Mr. Hoskinson’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “E. Murphy; Lizzo”
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel-Mack
- Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
PAUL PENNOLINO, CHRISTOPHER WERNER
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “SLAPP Suits”
(HBO)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney, Tom Ucciferri
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Reality Programs
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
HISHAM ABED
Queer Eye, “Black Girl Magic”
(Netflix)
JASON COHEN
Encore!, “Annie”
(Disney+)
Mr. Cohen’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Daniel Shultz
JON FAVREAU
The Chef Show, “Hog Island”
(Netflix)
Mr. Favreau’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Annie Johnson
ASHLEY S. GORMAN
First Responders Live, “103”
(FOX)
Mr. Gorman’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Don Frillici, Dara DiGerolamo, Ryan Neary, Leslie Vincent
- Stage Manager: Roy Friedland
PATRICK McMANUS
American Ninja Warrior, “1116 Las Vegas National Finals Night 4”
(NBC)
Mr. McManus’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: David Massey, Sean Galvin
- Stage Managers: Joseph R. Osborne, Wolfgang Delgado
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Children's Programs
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
DEAN ISRAELITE
Are You Afraid of the Dark?, “Part One: Submitted for Your Approval”
(Nickelodeon)
Mr. Israelite’s Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Pete Whyte
JACK JAMESON
Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Special
(HBO Documentary Films)
Mr. Jameson’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yori Tondrowski, Ken Diego
- Stage Managers: Frank Campagna, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Shawn Havens, Theresa Anderson
LUKE MATHENY
Ghostwriter, “Ghost in Wonderland, Part 1”
(Apple TV+)
AMY SCHATZ
Song of Parkland
(HBO Documentary Films)
BARRY SONNENFELD
A Series of Unfortunate Events, “Penultimate Peril: Part 1”
(Netflix)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Commercials
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
FREDRIK BOND
(MJZ)
Lighter Than Air, HP Elite Dragonfly – Media Monks
- Unit Production Manager: Line Postmyr
- First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Take it Lightly, Coca-Cola Light – Ingo
Nap, iPhone - Apple
- Unit Production Manager: Line Postmyr
- First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
- Second Assistant Director: Heather Anderson
SPIKE JONZE
(MJZ)
Dream It, Squarespace – Squarespace
- First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
The New Normal, Medmen – Mekanism
- First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
- Second Assistant Directors: David Marnell, Jeff Tavani
MARK MOLLOY
(SMUGGLER)
Underdogs, Apple – Apple
RIDLEY SCOTT
(RSA Films)
The Seven Worlds, Hennessy X.O. – DDB Paris
DOUGAL WILSON
(Furlined)
Train, AT&T – BBDO NY
- First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
- Second Assistant Director: Aaron Fitzgerald
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Documentary
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2019 are (in alphabetical order):
STEVEN BOGNAR and JULIA REICHERT
American Factory
(Netflix)
FERAS FAYYAD
The Cave
(National Geographic Documentary Films)
ALEX HOLMES
Maiden
(Sony Pictures Classics)
LJUBOMIR STEFANOV & TAMARA KOTEVSKA
Honeyland
(Neon)
NANFU WANG and JIALING ZHANG
One Child Nation
(Amazon Studios)
For a complete list of nominations in all categories, please visit the Awards section.
The Theatrical Feature Film and First-Time Feature Film nominees for the 72nd Annual DGA Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. The winners in all categories will be announced at the 72nd Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.
To download a press credential application, please visit the Awards section.