The Directors Guild of America (DGA) today announced that the application period for the 22nd Annual DGA Student Film Awards for Women and Ethnic 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.

Over the years, the DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers. 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.  

A number of past winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:  

  • Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station)

  • Patricia Riggen (Miracles From Heaven, The 33; Lemonade Mouth; Under the Same Moon)

  • Jon M. Chu (Now You See Me: The Second Act, G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers; Step Up 3D)

  • Nicole Kassell (Vinyl, Better Call Saul, The Following; The Killing; The Americans; Suits; The Closer; Cold Case; The Woodsman)

  • Sylvain White (Rush Hour, Empire, Sleepy Hollow, Hawaii Five-0; Person of Interest; Covert Affairs; CSI: Miami)

This year’s application period runs from April 13 – October 14, 2016, and the winners in each category will be announced in November. 
 
Eligible films must be made in the 2015/2016 school year (September 2015 through August 2016), 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. 
For the first time this year, the DGA Student Film Awards application and submission process is entirely online. For more information visit http://www.dga.org/Awards/Students.aspx or to begin the application process visit http://www.dga.org/Awards/Students/ApplicationRules.aspx

About the DGA
In the 80 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 16,000 directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, new media and other audiovisual media. www.dga.org