The winners of the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards for 2020 were announced tonight during the 73rd Annual DGA Awards virtual ceremony. Chloé Zhao won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Nomadland.
Presenters included (in alphabetical order): Scott Berger, James Burrows, Jason Cohen, Ava DuVernay, Lesli Linka Glatter, Tiffany Haddish, Bill Hader, Alma Har’el, Matthew Heineman, Spike Jonze, Nicole Kassell, Tina Mabry, Sam Mendes, Don Mischer, Dee Rees, and Phil Alden Robinson.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Chloé Zhao
Nomadland
(Searchlight Pictures)
Ms. Zhao’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Mary Kerrigan
- First Assistant Director: Mary Kerrigan
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR
Darius Marder
Sound of Metal
(Amazon Studios)
Mr. Marder’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Amy Greene
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES
Leslie Linka Glatter
Homeland, "Prisoners of War"
(Showtime)
Ms. Glatter's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Michael Klick, Philippa Naughten
- First Assistant Director: Sunday Stevens
- Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
- Second Second Assistant Director: Yarden Levo
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES
Susana Fogel
The Flight Attendant, "In Case of Emergency"
(HBO Max)
Ms. Fogel's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Bonnie Muñoz
- First Assistant Director: Derek Peterson
- Second Assistant Director: Jacquie Dore
- Second Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
- Location Manager: Chris Banks
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES
Scott Frank
The Queen's Gambit
(Netflix)
Mr. Frank's Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Aldric La'auli Porter
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
Don Roy King
Saturday Night Live, "Dave Chappelle; Foo Fighters"
(NBC)
Mr. King's Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel-Mack Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
Thomas Schlamme
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote
(HBO Max)
Mr. Schlamme's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Debra James
- First Assistant Director: Shawn Pipkin-West
- Second Assistant Director: Courtney Franklin
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Ni'cole Pettis, Cathy Bond
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMS
Joseph Guidry
Full Bloom, "Petal to the Metal"
(HBO Max)
Mr. Guidry's Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Sean Galvin
- Lead Stage Manager: Jimmy Chriss
- Stage Managers: Rachel Shimko, Kristianna Laroda, Richard Melendez
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
Amy Schatz
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
(HBO)
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMERCIALS
Melina Matsoukas
(Prettybird)
You Love Me, Beats by Dr. Dre – Translation
- First Assistant Director: Paul Norman
- Second Assistant Director: Don Johnson
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DOCUMENTARY
Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw
The Truffle Hunters
(Sony Pictures Classics)
HONORARY LIFE MEMBER & SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Renowned director and Past President Paris Barclay was the recipient of the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of leadership in the industry, contribution to the Guild and the profession of directing, and outstanding career achievement.
Betty Thomas received the Robert B. Aldrich Award recognizing extraordinary service to the Guild.
Brian E. Frankish received the Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
Joyce Thomas received the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award, which is given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of service to the industry and to the Directors Guild of America.
About the DGA
In the 85 years since its founding in 1936, the DGA has fought for the economic and creative rights of its members; protected their ability to financially benefit from the reuse of their work; established strong pension and health plans; and established jurisdiction in new technologies and distribution platforms. Today we represent more than 18,000 directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, new media and other audiovisual media.
