DGA Awards Reveals Feature Film, Documentary Nominees

Directors Guild of America unveiled the nominees for the DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film and for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film for 2025.

Earlier the nominees were also revealed for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary.

Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film are Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Guillermo Del Toro for Frankenstein, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme and Chloé Zhao for Hamnet.

The nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film are Hasan Hadi for The President’s Cake, Harry Lighton for Pillion, Charlie Polinger for The Plague, Alex Russell for Lurker, and Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby.

Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Film are Mstyslav Chernov for 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Geeta Gandbhir for The Perfect Neighbor, Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni for Cutting Through Rocks, Elizabeth Lo for Mistress Dispeller and Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus for Cover-Up.

“We could not be prouder to recognize the incredible work of this year’s nominees for their dedication to the art of filmmaking” said Nolan. “On behalf of the entire Guild community, I extend my congratulations to these directors on this achievement, and we look forward to celebrating your work at the DGA Awards.”

The winners will be announced at the 78th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film

Paul Thomas Anderson
One Battle After Another
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Weiske
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares, Ian Stone
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti, Rafael Sanz-Jimenez
Additional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy, Chunning Chang, Kit Conners, Kasia Trojak, Tyler Young

Ryan Coogler
Sinners
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield, Kenneth Yu
First Assistant Director: Marvin Williams
Second Assistant Director: Amir R. Khan
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gregg Carr, Desiree Stevenson

Guillermo Del Toro
Frankenstein
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale
First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
Second Assistant Director: Chad Belair

Josh Safdie
Marty Supreme
(A24)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Anthony Katagas, Joe Guest
First Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
Second Second Assistant Director: Kailyn Dabkowski
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Max Samu, Suk Yi Mar, Samson Jacobson
Location Manager: Matthew Kania, Ross Brodar

Chloé Zhao
Hamnet
(Focus Features)

Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film

Hasan Hadi
The President’s Cake
(Sony Pictures Classics)

Harry Lighton
Pillion
(A24)

Charlie Polinger
The Plague
(Independent Film Company)

Alex Russell
Lurker
(MUBI)

Eva Victor
Sorry, Baby
(A24)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

Liza Johnson
The Diplomat, “Amagansett”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: John P. Fedynich
First Assistant Director: Adam Escott
Second Assistant Director: Tom Glick
Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Sikora
Location Manager: Rob Coleman

Amanda Marsalis
The Pitt, “6:00 P.M.”
(HBO Max)
Unit Production Manager: Michelle Lankwarden
First Assistant Director: Eric Tignini
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Zelman
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca Rogers, Chloe Huckins
Additional Second Assistant Director: Michelle Akeley

Janus Metz
Andor, “Who Are You?”
(Disney+)
Unit Production Manager: Karl Caffrey
First Assistant Director: Sean Guest

Ben Stiller
Severance, “Cold Harbor”
(Apple TV)
Unit Production Manager: Caroline Baron
First Assistant Director: Katie Pruitt
Second Assistant Director: Cat McFadyen
Second Second Assistant Director: Forrest Viola
Additional Second Assistant Director: Erin Skelly
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Sean Fogel, Alexandra Vivas
Location Manager: Ryan Smith, Grace Kwon

John Wells
The Pitt, “7:00 A.M.”
(HBO Max)
Unit Production Manager: Michelle Lankwarden
First Assistant Director: Eric Tignini
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Zelman
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca Rogers
Additional Second Assistant Director: Chloe Huckins

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Lucia Aniello
Hacks, “A Slippery Slope”
(HBO Max)
Unit Production Manager: Mark Rabinowitz
First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
Second Assistant Director: Kirisa Gavrin
Second Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann Rafdal
Additional Second Assistant Director: Amy Ergle

Janicza Bravo
The Bear, “Worms”
(FX on Hulu)
Unit Production Managers: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson Bidner
First Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
Second Assistant Director: Olivia Dame
Second Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. Morales
Assistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
The Studio, “The Oner”
(Apple TV)
Unit Production Manager: Shawn Dyrdahl
First Assistant Director: Donald Murphy
Second Assistant Director: Peter Dress

Christopher Storer
The Bear, “Bears”
(FX on Hulu)
Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson Bidner
First Assistant Director: Duccio Fabbri
Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek, Olivia Dame
Second Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. Morales
Assistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas

Mike White
The White Lotus, “Denials”
(HBO Max)
Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman, Mark Kamine
First Assistant Director: Justin Ritson
Second Assistant Director: Joe Landry
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Aidan Sleeper

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Limited & Anthology Series

Jason Bateman
Black Rabbit, “The Black Rabbits”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Becky Phillips, Erica Kay
First Assistant Director: John Silvestri
Second Assistant Director: Nick Notte
Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario, Jilly Blundell
Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

Antonio Campos
The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Caroline Baron
First Assistant Director: Tomas Deckaj
Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers
Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Merksamer, Sean Fogel
Location Manager: Grace Kwon

Lesli Linka Glatter
Zero Day, “Episode 6”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Amy Herman
First Assistant Director: Michael Lerman
Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers
Second Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin Heins
Additional Second Assistant Director: Davis Woodall
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Mike Buonanno
Location Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser

Shannon Murphy
Dying for Sex, “It’s Not That Serious”
(FX on Hulu)
Unit Production Manager: Francesca M. Mannix
First Assistant Director: Julie A. Bloom
Second Assistant Director: Findlay Ward Zotter
Second Second Assistant Director: Kristin Dombroski, Laura E. Rizer

Ally Pankiw
Black Mirror, “Common People”
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Shawn Williamson

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television

Jesse Armstrong
Mountainhead
(HBO Max)
Unit Production Manager: Jill Footlick
First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
Second Assistant Director: MarSchelle Walker
Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

Stephen Chbosky
Nonnas
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Pamela Hirsch, Kara Doherty
First Assistant Director: Chris Surgent
Second Assistant Director: Takahide Kawakami
Second Second Assistant Director: Cary Lee
Location Manager: Tatiana Forster

Scott Derrickson
The Gorge
(Apple TV)
Unit Production Manager: Greg Goodman
First Assistant Director: Cliff Lanning
Second Assistant Director: Lee Tailor

Michael Morris
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
(Peacock)

Kyle Newacheck
Happy Gilmore 2
(Netflix)
Unit Production Manager: Brittany Sugarman, David Bausch
First Assistant Director: David M. Bernstein
Second Assistant Director: Ryan Robert Howard
Second Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin Heins
Additional Second Assistant Director: Mia Bruno
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Rocco Nisivoccia
Location Manager: Louis Zuppardi
Assistant Location Manager: Scott Ferlisi

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety

Yvonne De Mare
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Julia Roberts; Sam Smith”
(CBS)
Associate Director: Karen Yaeger
Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib

Andy Fisher
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “Stephen Colbert; Kumail Nanjiani; Reneé Rapp”
(ABC)
Associate Director: Jeri-Ann Wong, Amy Stober, David Craig
Stage Manager: Alec Potter, Josh Wader, Christian Jensen, Peter Epstein

Beth McCarthy-Miller
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
(Peacock)
Associate Director: Susan Sullivan
Stage Manager: Lynn Finkel, Linda Carrizzo, Joey Despenzero, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, John Esposito, Andrew Feigin, Steve Hollander, Greg Kasoff, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Jennifer Marquet, Cyndi Owgang, Jason Pacella, Tammy Raab, Elise Reaves, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Niclana Tolmasoff, Bret Warren, Ari Woog

Liz Patrick
SNL50: The Anniversary Special
(NBC)
Associate Director: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini, Dan Dome
Stage Manager: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Peter Epstein, Karen Tasch Weiss, Steve Bautista, Joey Despenzero, Frank Fernandez, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Cyndi Owgang, Elise Reaves, Niclana Tolmasoff, Leslie Williams

Paul Pennolino
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Public Media”
(HBO Max)
Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
Stage Manager: Jeff Leib, Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Sports

Matthew Gangl
2025 World Series – Game 7 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
(FOX Sports)
Associate Director: Larry Lancaster, Aaron Stojkov, Bryan Colucci
Stage Manager: Dominick Tringali, Dan Frank

Steve Milton
2025 Masters Tournament – Augusta National Golf Club
(CBS Sports)
Associate Director: Robert Matina, Chris Svendsen, Andy Freedman, Eric Spitzer, Ade Ellis, Tyler Jahn, Josh Weingardt, Brian Maher, Stuart Millstein, Katie Keane, Adam Cohen, Jack Kempner, George Wishart, Dan Obermuller
Stage Manager: Cory Fishman

Rich Russo
Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs
(FOX Sports)
Associate Director: Rich Gross, Casey Garland

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality / Quiz & Game

Lucinda M. Margolis
Jeopardy!, “Ep. 9341”
(Syndicated)
Associate Director: Chloe Corwin
Stage Manager: James F. McGuire

Adam Sandler
The Price is Right, “10,000th Episode”
(CBS)
Associate Director: Jazmin Eckenberg
Stage Manager: Steven Hollander, Jason Galland, Alex Weston

Mike Sweeney
Conan O’Brien Must Go, “Austria”
(HBO Max)
Associate Director: Jason Chillemi

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

Kim Gehrig
(Somesuch)

You Can’t Win. So Win. – Nike | Wieden+Kennedy
First Assistant Director: Peter Jackson, John Mattern
Second Assistant Director: Melina Greene
Second Second Assistant Director: Chelsea Meador

I’m Not Remarkable – Apple | Client Direct
First Assistant Director: Guy Forgaard
Second Assistant Director: Amanda Johnson
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Dudley, Clyde Broom

Miles Jay
(Smuggler)

Dish – ChatGPT | Isle of Any
Unit Production Manager: Yianni Papadopoulos
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Rachel Obering
Second Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum

Pull Up – ChatGPT | Isle of Any
Unit Production Manager: Yianni Papadopoulos
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Rachel Obering
Second Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum

Trip – ChatGPT | Isle of Any
Unit Production Manager: Yianni Papadopoulos
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Julia Blanford
Second Second Assistant Director: K.J. Walsh

Home for the Holidays – Meta | Droga5
First Assistant Director: David Webb

Secret Santa – Meta | Droga5
First Assistant Director: David Webb

Spike Jonze
(MJZ)

Someday – Apple Airpods 4 | TBWA\Media Arts Lab
First Assistant Director: Steve Danton, Kate Greenberg
Second Assistant Director: Matthew Dennis Smith
Second Second Assistant Director: Amy Hughes, Carly Sturgeon

Andreas Nilsson
(Biscuit Filmworks)

Conquer the First School Poo – Andrex | FCB London

Garrett – Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Client Direct
Unit Production Manager: James Veal
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum

Big Flex – Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Client Direct
Unit Production Manager: James Veal
First Assistant Director: George Nessis
Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum

Trunk Trucker – Virgin Media | VCCP London

Steve Rogers
(Biscuit Filmworks)

Bring a Book to Life – Amazon | Droga5 London

A Tale as Old as Websites – Squarespace | Client Direct

Everything is Fine – Coinbase | Mother London

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Film

Mstyslav Chernov
2000 Meters to Andriivka
(PBS)

Geeta Gandbhir
The Perfect Neighbor
(Netflix)

Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni
Cutting Through Rocks
(Assembly Releasing)

Elizabeth Lo
Mistress Dispeller
(Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus
Cover-Up
(Netflix)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Series / News

Marshall Curry
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room”
(Peacock)

Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin
Billy Joel: And So It Goes, “Part Two”
(HBO Max)

Rebecca Miller
Mr. Scorsese, “All This Filming Isn’t Healthy”
(Apple TV)

Alexandria Stapleton
Sean Combs: The Reckoning, “Official Girl”
(Netflix)

Matt Wolf
Pee-Wee as Himself, “Part 1”
(HBO Max)