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77th Annual DGA Awards Winners

February 08, 2025

Los Angeles - The winners of the Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in 2024 were announced tonight during the 77th Annual DGA Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. SEAN BAKER won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Anora.

Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony before an audience of more than 1,000 guests. Presenters included (in alphabetical order): Maude Apatow, Ike Barinholtz, Adrien Brody, Marie Cantin, Colman Domingo, Paul W. Downs, Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Justine Lupe, Mikey Madison, Kathleen McGill, Demi Moore, Christopher Nolan, Zoe Saldana, Timothy Simons, Sebastian Stan, Taylor Tomlinson, Jessica Williams, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh.

The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to acclaimed Director ANG LEE. Unit Production Manager (UPM) MARY RAE THEWLIS received the Robert B. Aldrich Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. UPM THOMAS J. WHELAN was the recipient of the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or UPM in recognition of notable career achievements in the industry and for outstanding service to the DGA.


Click the links below to view specific categories:


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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Theatrical Feature Film

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 is:

SEAN BAKER

Anora

(Neon)

Directorial Team:

  • 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 

This was Sean Baker’s first DGA Award nomination.


DGA Awards Medallion SmallMichael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
First-Time Theatrical Feature Film

The winner of the DGA's Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Theatrical Feature Film Director for 2024 is:

RAMELL ROSS

Nickel Boys

(Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)

Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Kenneth Yu
  • First Assistant Director: James Roque
  • Second Assistant Director: Jonathan M. Warren
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Thalia Skaleris
  • Additional Second Assistant Director: Zachery Scherer
  • Location Manager: Batou Chandler

This was Ramell Ross’s second DGA Award nomination. Ross was previously nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Award for Hale County This Morning, This Evening in 2018.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Dramatic Series

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2024 is:

FREDERICK E.O. TOYE

Shogun, “Crimson Sky”

(FX)

This was Frederick E.O. Toye’s first DGA Award nomination.


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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Comedy Series

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2024 is:

LUCIA ANIELLO

Hacks, “Bulletproof”

(Max)

  • Unit Production Manager: Chris R. Robinson
  • First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
  • Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann Rafdal
  • Additional Second Assistant Director: Chalis Romero

This was Lucia Aniello’s second DGA Award nomination. Aniello previously won in this category in 2021 for Hacks, “There Is No Line.”


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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Movies for Television and Limited Series

The winner the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2024 is:

STEVEN ZAILLIAN

Ripley

(Netflix)

  • Unit Production Managers: Clayton Townsend, Joe Guest (NY)
  • First Assistant Director: Peter Thorell
  • Second Assistant Directors: Justin Bischoff (NY), Nick Notte (NY)
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Melissa Morphet (NY)
  • Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi (NY)

This was Steven Zaillian’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2016 for The Night Of, “The Beach.”

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2024 is:

 

LIZ PATRICK

Saturday Night Live, “John Mulaney/Chappell Roan”

(NBC)

  • Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini
  • Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Tom Ucciferri

This was Liz Patrick’s third DGA Award nomination. Patrick previously won in this same category in 2023, along with Michael Mancini, for Saturday Night Live, “Pedro Pascal/Coldplay” and in 2022 for Saturday Night Live, “Host and Musical Guest Jack Harlow.”

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

The winner the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2024 is:

BETH McCARTHY-MILLER

The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady

(Netflix)

  • Associate Directors: Debbie Palacio, Marty Pasetta, Jr.
  • Stage Managers: Lynn Finkel, Steve Hollander, Greg Kasoff, Ran Lowe, Jennifer Marquet,
    Christopher McDonald, Tammy Raab, Jackie Stathis

This was Beth McCarthy-Miller’s fourteenth DGA Award nomination. McCarthy-Miller won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2017 for the Veep episode “Chicklet” and in 2013 for the 30 Rock episode “Hogcock!/Last Lunch.” She was also nominated that year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer and U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken and The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999. She was also nominated in 2019 and 2015 in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category for Bill Maher: Live from Oklahoma and Adele Live in New York City.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Reality Programs

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2024 is:

NEIL DeGROOT

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, “The Cliffs of Ireland”

(National Geographic Channel)

  • Associate Director: Jeff Simms

This was Neil DeGroot’s fifth DGA Award nomination. DeGroot was previously nominated in this category in 2018 for Better Late Than Never, “How Do You Say Roots in German?” and in 2014 for The Biggest Loser, “Episode 1613.” He previously won in this category in 2013 for 72 Hours, “The Lost Coast” and in 2011 for The Biggest Loser, “Episode 1115.”

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Children's Programs

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2024 is:

AMBER SEALEY

Out of My Mind

(Disney+)

This was Amber Sealey’s first DGA Award nomination.

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Commercials

The winner of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2024 is:

ANDREAS NILSSON

Biscuit Filmworks

Board Game, Hennessy - Wieden+Kennedy ‑ London

First Office Poo, Andrex - FCB ‑ London

One More, Apple - Client Direct

  • First Assistant Director: Scott Harris
  • Second Assistant Director: Ronald Misetich

Whizzer, Virgin Media - VCCP ‑ London

This was Andreas Nilsson’s third DGA Award nomination. Nilsson previously won in this category in 2015 for Emily’s Oz (Comcast) and Time Upon a Once (General Electric); and was nominated in this category in 2023 for R.I.P Leon (Apple iPhone), Action Mode (Apple iPhone 14), Choose Happy (Les Mills Fitness) and Wait’ll You See This (Snapchat).

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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Documentary

The winners of the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2024 is:

BRENDAN BELLOMO & SLAVA LEONTYEV

Porcelain War

(Picturehouse)

This was Brendan Bellomo’s first DGA Award Nomination.

This was Slava Leontyev’s first DGA Award Nomination.

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DGA Awards Medallion SmallLifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients

ANG LEE

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, which is given to a Director in recognition of distinguished achievement in feature film direction, is the Guild's highest honor and the recipient is selected by the present and past presidents of the Guild.


MARY RAE THEWLIS

Robert B. Aldrich Service Award

This award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.

 


THOMAS J. WHELAN

Frank Capra Achievement Award

This award is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.

 


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Pictures

2024 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film winner Sean Baker celebrates in the press room with National Executive Director Russell Hollander, DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter and presenter Christopher Nolan.
2024 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film winner Sean Baker with presenter Christopher Nolan.
DGA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ang Lee with presenter Michelle Yeoh.
Dramatic Series winner Frederick E.O. Toye with presenter Colman Domingo.
Comedy Series winner Lucia Aniello with presenters Maude Apatow and Taylor Tomlinson.
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming winner Liz Patrick with presenters Paul W. Downs and Ike Barinholtz.
Reality Programs award-winner Neil DeGroot with presenters Bowen Yang and Ayo Edebiri.
Children’s Programs winner Amber Sealey with presenters Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons.
Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film winner RaMell Ross and presenter Demi Moore.
Presenter Sebastian Stan with Documentary winners Slava Leontyev & Brendan Bellomo.
Robert B. Aldrich Service Award recipient Mary Rae Thewlis and presenter Kathleen McGill.
Frank Capra Achievement Award recipient Thomas Whelan and presenter Marie Cantin.

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