Jay D. Roth, national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, will be the recipient of the DGA Presidents Award at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 4, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The award, which is given for leadership and extraordinary efforts in enhancing the welfare and image of the Guild and the industry, is bestowed only by a unanimous vote of the sitting and former DGA presidents.
Roth, the DGA’s national executive director for the past 22 years, is only the fourth recipient of the DGA Presidents Award, first given in 1998 to former DGA president George Sidney, and then in 2001 and 2005 to former presidents Robert Wise and Gil Cates.
“The Presidents Award has only been previously given to the most exceptional leaders of the DGA. Sidney, Wise and Cates were remarkable presidents who left a lasting impact on the Guild. And in Jay Roth, we have a kindred spirit whose brilliant mind and incredible accomplishments, including our groundbreaking recent negotiations, have forged a deep footprint–a legacy which has advanced both this Guild and our industry,” said Barclay, current DGA president.
“I’m honored by this recognition from our current and past presidents,” said Roth. “We’ve served alongside one another to carry into the future the vision upon which this Guild was founded: protecting and advancing the creative and economic rights of directors. I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished together.”
Kevin Costner to receive MPSE Filmmaker Award; Greg Hedgepath named recipient of MPSE Career Achievement honor
Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) will present Oscar®-winning filmmaker and actor Kevin Costner with the 2025 MPSE Filmmaker Award, bestowed annually to a filmmaker of distinction. And supervising sound editor Greg Hedgepath will receive the Career Achievement Award for his prolific career in sound editing. Both awards will be presented during MPSE’s 72nd Annual Golden Reel Awards Gala on February 23, 2025 at the Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.
The MPSE Filmmaker Award is bestowed upon an individual outside the sound community whose career has demonstrated a great appreciation and understanding of the impact of sound editing. The MPSE Career Achievement Award is presented to a person whose career has made a significant impact on the sound community through exemplary work, service or leadership.
“Kevin Costner has captivated audiences with his powerful storytelling throughout his illustrious career,” said MPSE president David Barber. “From epic Westerns to poignant dramas, his use of sound as an integral component of his cinematic storytelling has stirred our emotions and immersed viewers in the worlds he’s created for decades. This passion for sound is abundantly clear in his latest ambitious project, the Horizon saga. We are thrilled to honor him with the Filmmaker Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the art of storytelling through sound in film and television.”
Barber added, “Greg Hedgepath is a true titan in the world of sound. His contributions to cinema are immense, spanning decades and encompassing a remarkable range of genres. From the heart-pounding intensity of ‘Speed’ and ‘Twister’ to the nuanced drama of ‘Selma’ and ‘Straight Outta Compton’, Greg’s work has consistently elevated... Read More