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 recognises extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. UPM Thomas J. Whalen 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.
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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film
SEAN BAKER
Anora
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
Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film
RAMELL ROSS
Nickel Boys
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
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
FREDERICK E.O. TOYE
Shogun, “Crimson Sky”
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
LUCIA ANIELLO
Hacks, “Bulletproof”
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
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
STEVEN ZAILLIAN
Ripley
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)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
LIZ PATRICK
Saturday Night Live, “John Mulaney/Chappell Roan”
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Tom Ucciferri
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials
BETH McCARTHY-MILLER
The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady
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
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs
NEIL DeGROOT
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, “The Cliffs of Ireland”
Associate Director: Jeff Simms
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs
AMBER SEALEY
Out of My Mind
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials
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
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
BRENDAN BELLOMO & SLAVA LEONTYEV
Porcelain War
Lifetime 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 honour 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.
