Creative production studio Ambassadors has promoted Daphne Litjens to head of production. In her new role, Litjens will work closely with recently appointed live-action executive producer Sander Heeroma and head of visual effects Will Jeffers to oversee creative productions between Amsterdam and New York.
Litjens joined Ambassadors in 2009 as the creative production studio’s first visual effects producer. Over the past decade, she’s become a key driver behind award-winning work such as “Creature of Habit,” Ambassadors first campaign in a series with ASN Bank and Selmore.
Ambassadors’ recent work includes “This is How You Dare” for Hyundai with B-Reel and the Gouden Loeki-winning “Freddie” for Staatsloterij with TBWANeboko.
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
