The Directors Guild of America (DGA) today announced that the application period for the 21st Annual DGA Student Film Awards for Women and Minority Directors is now open. The awards are designed to honor, encourage and bring attention to exceptional diverse directors in film schools and select universities across the country.
Winners of the DGA Student Film Awards in each category will receive a $2,500 prize from the DGA and have their films screened in a special ceremony at the DGA Theater. Jury award winners will receive a $1,000 prize and screen clips of their films at the ceremony.
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the years. A number of past winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:
Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)
Patricia Riggen (The 33; Lemonade Mouth; Under the Same Moon)
John M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers; Step Up 3D)
Nicole Kassell (The Following; The Killing; The Americans; Suits; The Closer; Cold Case; The Woodsman)
Sylvain White (Hawaii Five-0; Person of Interest; Covert Affairs; CSI: Miami; Stomp the Yard)
This year’s application period runs from April 22–October 9, 2015, and the winners in each category will be announced in November.
Eligible films must be made in the 2014/2015 school year (September 2014 through August 2015), and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Dramas, comedies and documentaries are all eligible. Animated and experimental films are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in, or be a recent (one-year) graduate from, an accredited post-secondary institution in California or a DGA-selected university offering a degree in film or television. Eligible films are those in which a student holds every major crew position. To download an application, visit here.
