Directors Guild of America Awards


The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. The first DGA Award was an "Honorary Life Member" award issued in 1938 to D. W. Griffith. The statues are made by New York firm, Society Awards.

Winners – Motion Picture

Lifetime Achievement Award

1953: Cecil B. DeMille1954: John Ford1955: No award1956: Henry King1957: King Vidor1958: No award1959: Frank Capra1960: George Stevens1961: Frank Borzage1962–1965: No award1966: William Wyler1967: No award1968: Alfred Hitchcock1969: No award1970: Fred Zinnemann1971–1972: No award1973: William A. Wellman and David Lean1974–1980: No award1981: George Cukor1982: Rouben Mamoulian1983: John Huston1984: Orson Welles1985: Billy Wilder1986: Joseph L. Mankiewicz1987: Elia Kazan1988: Robert Wise1989: No award1990: Ingmar Bergman1991: No award1992: Akira Kurosawa1993: Sidney Lumet1994: Robert Altman1995: James Ivory1996: Woody Allen1997: Stanley Kubrick1998: Francis Ford Coppola1999: No award2000: Steven Spielberg2001: No award2002: Martin Scorsese2003: No award2004: Mike Nichols2005: No award2006: Clint Eastwood2007–2009: No award2010: Norman Jewison2011: Alice Guy-Blaché2012: Miloš Forman2013–2015: No award2016: Ridley Scott2017–2020: No award2021: Spike Lee2022–2023: No award2024: Ang Lee

Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film

1948: Joseph L. MankiewiczA Letter to Three Wives ¿1949: Robert RossenAll the King's Men ¿ '**1950: Joseph L. MankiewiczAll About Eve †' **1951: George StevensA Place in the Sun 1952: John FordThe Quiet Man 1953: Fred ZinnemannFrom Here to Eternity '**1954: Elia KazanOn the Waterfront †' **1955: Delbert MannMarty '**1956: George StevensGiant †'1957: David LeanThe Bridge on the River Kwai '**1958: Vincente MinnelliGigi †' **1959: William WylerBen-Hur '**1960: Billy WilderThe Apartment †' **1961: Robert WiseWest Side Story '**1962: David LeanLawrence of Arabia †' **1963: Tony RichardsonTom Jones '**1964: George CukorMy Fair Lady †' **1965: Robert WiseThe Sound of Music '**1966: Fred ZinnemannA Man for All Seasons †' **1967: Mike NicholsThe Graduate 1968: Anthony HarveyThe Lion in Winter 1969: John SchlesingerMidnight Cowboy '**1970: Franklin SchaffnerPatton †' **1971: William FriedkinThe French Connection '**1972: Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather ‡' **1973: George Roy HillThe Sting '**1974: Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather Part II †' **1975: Miloš FormanOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest '**1976: John G. AvildsenRocky †' **1977: Woody AllenAnnie Hall '**1978: Michael CiminoThe Deer Hunter †' **1979: Robert BentonKramer vs. Kramer '**1980: Robert RedfordOrdinary People †' **1981: Warren BeattyReds 1982: Richard AttenboroughGandhi '**1983: James L. BrooksTerms of Endearment †' **1984: Miloš FormanAmadeus '**1985: Steven SpielbergThe Color Purple §'1986: Oliver StonePlatoon '**1987: Bernardo BertolucciThe Last Emperor †' **1988: Barry LevinsonRain Man '**1989: Oliver StoneBorn on the Fourth of July †'1990: Kevin CostnerDances with Wolves '**1991: Jonathan DemmeThe Silence of the Lambs †' **1992: Clint EastwoodUnforgiven '**1993: Steven SpielbergSchindler's List †' **1994: Robert ZemeckisForrest Gump '**1995: Ron HowardApollo 13 §'1996: Anthony MinghellaThe English Patient '**1997: James CameronTitanic †' **1998: Steven SpielbergSaving Private Ryan 1999: Sam MendesAmerican Beauty '**2000: Ang LeeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ‡'2001: Ron HowardA Beautiful Mind '**2002: Rob MarshallChicago ‡' **2003: Peter JacksonThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King '**2004: Clint EastwoodMillion Dollar Baby †' **2005: Ang LeeBrokeback Mountain 2006: Martin ScorseseThe Departed '**2007: Joel and Ethan CoenNo Country for Old Men †' **2008: Danny BoyleSlumdog Millionaire '**2009: Kathryn BigelowThe Hurt Locker †' **2010: Tom HooperThe King's Speech '**2011: Michel HazanaviciusThe Artist †' **2012: Ben AffleckArgo § '**2013: Alfonso CuarónGravity †'2014: Alejandro G. IñárrituBirdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) '**2015: Alejandro G. IñárrituThe Revenant †'2016: Damien ChazelleLa La Land 2017: Guillermo del ToroThe Shape of Water '**2018: Alfonso CuarónRoma †'2019: Sam Mendes1917 2020: Chloe ZhaoNomadland '**2021: Jane CampionThe Power of the Dog †'2022: The DanielsEverything Everywhere All at Once '**2023: Christopher NolanOppenheimer †' **2024: Sean Baker - Anora '**
  1. †' – Director won the Academy Award.
  2. – Director did not win the Academy Award.
  3. § – Director was not nominated for Academy Award that year.
  4. ** – Film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
  5. ¿ – Originally, the DGA used a non-calendar year for its award. Both films competed in the 22nd Academy Awards for 1949, and both directors were nominated for Best Director; Mankiewicz won. All the King's Men won Best Picture; Rossen's DGA was not awarded until after the Oscars.

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary

1991: Barbara KoppleAmerican Dream1992: Joe Berlinger and Bruce SinofskyBrother's Keeper1993: Barbara KoppleFallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson1994: Steve JamesHoop Dreams1995: Terry ZwigoffCrumb1996: Al PacinoLooking for Richard1997: Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell – Riding the Rails1998: Jerry Blumenthal, Peter Gilbert, and Gordon QuinnVietnam, Long Time Coming1999: Nanette Burstein and Brett MorgenOn the Ropes2000: Chuck BravermanHigh School Boot Camp2001: Chris Hegedus and Jehane NoujaimStartup.com2002: Tasha Oldham – The Smith Family2003: Nathaniel KahnMy Architect2004: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni – The Story of the Weeping Camel2005: Werner HerzogGrizzly Man2006: Arūnas MatelisBefore Flying Back to Earth2007: Asger Leth – Ghosts of Cité Soleil2008: Ari FolmanWaltz with Bashir2009: Louie PsihoyosThe Cove2010: Charles FergusonInside Job2011: James MarshProject Nim2012: Malik BendjelloulSearching for Sugar Man2013: Jehane NoujaimThe Square2014: Laura PoitrasCitizenfour2015: Matthew HeinemanCartel Land2016: Ezra EdelmanO.J.: Made in America2017: Matthew HeinemanCity of Ghosts2018: Tim WardleThree Identical Strangers2019: Steven Bognar and Julia ReichertAmerican Factory2020: Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw — The Truffle Hunters2021: Stanley Nelson Jr.Attica2022: Sara DosaFire of Love2023: Mstyslav Chernov20 Days in Mariupol2024: Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev – ''Porcelain War''

Outstanding Achievement in First-Time Feature Film

2015: Alex GarlandEx Machina2016: Garth DavisLion2017: Jordan PeeleGet Out2018: Bo BurnhamEighth Grade2019: Alma Har'elHoney Boy2020: Darius MarderSound of Metal2021: Maggie GyllenhaalThe Lost Daughter2022: Charlotte WellsAftersun2023: Celine SongPast Lives2024: RaMell Ross – ''Nickel Boys''

Winners – Television

Lifetime Achievement Award

2014: James Burrows and Robert Butler2015: Joe Pytka2018: Don Mischer2022: Robert A. Fishman2023: David Nutter

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

2012: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

1990: James BurrowsCheers 1991: Peter BonerzMurphy Brown 1992: Tom CheronesSeinfeld 1993: James BurrowsFrasier 1994: David LeeFrasier 1995: Gordon HuntMad About You 1996: Andy AckermanSeinfeld 1997: Andy AckermanSeinfeld 1998: Thomas SchlammeSports Night 1999: Thomas SchlammeSports Night 2000: James BurrowsWill & Grace 2001: Todd HollandMalcolm in the Middle 2002: Bryan GordonCurb Your Enthusiasm 2003: Tim Van PattenSex and the City 2004: Tim Van PattenSex and the City 2005: Marc BucklandMy Name Is Earl 2006: Richard ShepardUgly Betty 2007: Barry SonnenfeldPushing Daisies 2008: Paul FeigThe Office 2009: Jason WinerModern Family 2010: Michael SpillerModern Family 2011: Robert B. WeideCurb Your Enthusiasm 2012: Lena DunhamGirls 2013: Beth McCarthy-Miller30 Rock 2014: Jill SolowayTransparent 2015: Chris AddisonVeep 2016: Becky MartinVeep 2017: Beth McCarthy-MillerVeep 2018: Bill HaderBarry 2019: Bill HaderBarry 2020: Susanna FogelThe Flight Attendant 2021: Lucia Aniello – ''Hacks''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

1971: Daniel PetrieThe Man and the City 1972: Robert ButlerThe Waltons 1973: Charles S. DubinKojak 1974: David FriedkinKojak 1975: James Cellan JonesJennie: Lady Randolph Churchill1976: Glenn JordanFamily 1977: John ErmanRoots 1978: Gene ReynoldsLou Grant 1979: Roger YoungLou Grant 1980: Roger YoungLou Grant 1981: Robert ButlerHill Street Blues 1982: David AnspaughHill Street Blues 1983: Jeff BlecknerHill Street Blues 1984: Thomas CarterHill Street Blues 1985: Will MackenzieMoonlighting 1986: Will MackenzieMoonlighting 1987: Marshall Herskovitzthirtysomething 1988: Marshall Herskovitzthirtysomething 1989: Eric LaneuvilleL.A. Law 1990: Michael ZinbergQuantum Leap 1991: Eric LaneuvilleI'll Fly Away 1992: Rob ThompsonNorthern Exposure 1993: Gregory HoblitNYPD Blue 1994: Charles HaidER 1995: Christopher ChulackER 1996: Christopher ChulackER 1997: Barbara KoppleHomicide: Life on the Street 1998: Paris BarclayNYPD Blue 1999: David ChaseThe Sopranos 2000: Thomas SchlammeThe West Wing 2001: Alan BallSix Feet Under 2002: John PattersonThe Sopranos 2003: Christopher MisianoThe West Wing 2004: Walter HillDeadwood 2005: Michael AptedRome 2006: Jon Cassar24 2007: Alan TaylorMad Men 2008: Dan AttiasThe Wire 2009: Lesli Linka GlatterMad Men 2010: Martin ScorseseBoardwalk Empire 2011: Patty JenkinsThe Killing 2012: Rian JohnsonBreaking Bad 2013: Vince GilliganBreaking Bad 2014: Lesli Linka GlatterHomeland 2015: David NutterGame of Thrones 2016: Miguel SapochnikGame of Thrones 2017: Reed MoranoThe Handmaid's Tale 2018: Adam McKaySuccession 2019: Nicole KassellWatchmen 2020: Lesli Linka GlatterHomeland 2021: Mark MylodSuccession''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs

1984: Sharron MillerThe Woman Who Willed a Miracle1996: Stuart MargolinSalt Water Moose1997: Brian RobbinsNickelodeon Sports Theater 1998: Mitchell KriegmanBear in the Big Blue House 1999: Amy SchatzGoodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Time Tales2000: Greg BeemanMiracle in Lane 22001: Amy Schatz 'Twas the Night: A Holiday Celebration2002: Guy FerlandBang Bang You're Dead2003: Kevin LimaEloise at Christmastime2004: Stuart GillardGoing to the Mat2005: Chris EyreEdge of America2006: Kenny OrtegaHigh School Musical2007: Paul HoenJump In!2008: Amy SchatzClassical Baby 2009: Allison Liddi-BrownPrincess Protection Program2010: Eric BrossThe Boy Who Cried Werewolf2011: Amy SchatzA Child's Garden of Poetry2012: Paul HoenLet It Shine2013: Amy SchatzAn Apology to Elephants2014: Jonathan Judge100 Things To Do Before High School 2015: Kenny OrtegaDescendants2016: Tina MabryAn American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win2017: Niki Caro – ''Anne with an E''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials (1991–2012)

1991: Michael StichThe Bold and the Beautiful 1992: Susan StricklerAnother World 1993: Jill MitwellOne Life to Live 1994: Michael StichThe Bold and the Beautiful 1995: William Ludel and Alan PultzGeneral Hospital 1996: Kathyrn Foster and Mike DenneyThe Young and the Restless 1997: Scott McKinseyGeneral Hospital 1998: James Sayegh – One Life to Live 1999: Herb D. Stein and Roger W. Inman – Days of Our Lives 2000: Jill MitwellOne Life to Live 2001: William LudelGeneral Hospital 2002: Scott McKinseyPort Charles 2003: Larry CarpenterOne Life to Live 2004: Bruce S. BarryGuiding Light 2005: Owen RenfroeGeneral Hospital 2006: Jill MitwellOne Life to Live 2007: Larry CarpenterOne Life to Live 2008: Larry CarpenterOne Life to Live 2009: Christopher GoutmanAs the World Turns 2010: Larry CarpenterOne Life to Live 2011: William LudelGeneral Hospital 2012: Jill Mitwell – ''One Life to Live''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs (2005–present)

2005: Tony Croll – Three Wishes & J. Rupert ThompsonFear Factor 2006: Tony Sacco – Treasure Hunters 2007: Bertram van MunsterThe Amazing Race 2008: Tony Croll – America's Next Top Model 2009: Craig Borders – Extreme Engineering 2010: Eytan Keller – The Next Iron Chef 2011: Neil P. DeGroot – The Biggest Loser 2012: Brian SmithMasterChef 2013: Neil P. DeGroot – 72 Hours 2014: Anthony B. Sacco – The Chair 2015: Adam Vetri – Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge 2016: J. Rupert ThompsonAmerican Grit 2017: Brian Smith – ''MasterChef''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series as of 2016

2000: Jeff BlecknerThe Beach Boys: An American Family2001: Frank PiersonConspiracy2002: Mick JacksonLive from Baghdad2003: Mike NicholsAngels in America2004: Joseph SargentSomething the Lord Made2005: George C. WolfeLackawanna Blues2006: Walter HillBroken Trail2007: Yves SimoneauBury My Heart at Wounded Knee2008: Jay RoachRecount2009: Ross KatzTaking Chance2010: Mick JacksonTemple Grandin2011: Jon CassarThe Kennedys2012: Jay RoachGame Change2013: Steven SoderberghBehind the Candelabra2014: Lisa CholodenkoOlive Kitteridge2015: Dee ReesBessie2016: Steve ZaillianThe Night Of 2017: Jean-Marc ValléeBig Little Lies2018: Ben StillerEscape at Dannemora2019: Johan RenckChernobyl2020: Scott FrankThe Queen's Gambit2021: Barry JenkinsThe Underground Railroad2022: Helen ShaverStation Eleven, “Who’s There?”2023: Sarah Adina SmithLessons in Chemistry2024: Steven Zaillian – ''Ripley''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Series (2013–present)

2013: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2014: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2015: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2016: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2017: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2018: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2019: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2020: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2021: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 2022: Liz PatrickSaturday Night Live 2023: Michael Mancini & Liz PatrickSaturday Night Live 2024: Liz Patrick – ''Saturday Night Live''

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Special (2013–present)

2013: Glenn Weiss67th Tony Awards2014: Glenn WeissThe 68th Tony Awards2015: Don Roy KingSaturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special2016: Glenn Weiss70th Tony Awards2017: Glenn Weiss89th Academy Awards2018: Louis J. Horvitz60th Grammy Awards2019: James BurrowsAll in the Family, and The Jeffersons, Andy FisherLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons'2020: Thomas SchlammeA West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote2021: Paul DugdaleAdele: One Night Only2022: Glenn Weiss – 75th Annual Tony Awards2023: Paul MillerCarol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love2024: Beth McCarthy-Miller – ''The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady''