The winners will be announced at the 73rd Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, April 10, 2021, which will be a private virtual event for DGA members.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Dramatic Series
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
JASON BATEMAN
Ozark, “Wartime”
(Netflix)
Mr. Bateman’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Matthew Spiegel
- First Assistant Director: Peter Thorell
- Second Assistant Director: Townson Wells
- Second Second Assistant Director: Sarah Gorczyk
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Jill Somers
JON FAVREAU
The Mandalorian, “Chapter 9: The Marshal”
(Disney+)
Mr. Favreau’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson
- First Assistant Director: Kim Richards
- Second Assistant Director: Heather Wagner‑Wang
- Second Second Assistant Director: Heather Kehayas
- Additional Second Assistant Director: David Buchwald
VINCE GILLIGAN
Better Call Saul, “Bagman”
(AMC)
Mr. Gilligan’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: James Paul Hapsas
- First Assistant Director: Efrain Cortes
- Second Assistant Director: Louis Lanni
- Second Second Assistant Director: KiKi Levine
LESLI 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
JULIE ANNE ROBINSON
Bridgerton, “Diamond of the First Water”
(Netflix)
Ms. Robinson’s Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Ian Foster Woolf
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Comedy Series
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
ZACH BRAFF
Ted Lasso, “Biscuits”
(Apple TV+)
MJ DELANEY
Ted Lasso, “The Hope that Kills You”
(Apple TV+)
SUSANNA 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
ERIN O’MALLEY
Curb Your Enthusiasm, “The Surprise Party”
(HBO)
Ms. O’Malley’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Mary Church
- First Assistant Director: Adam Feil
- Second Assistant Director: Candice Lee
- Second Second Assistant Director: D.J. Carter
JEFF SCHAFFER
Curb Your Enthusiasm, “The Spite Store”
(HBO)
Mr. Schaffer’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Mary Church
- First Assistant Director: Adam Feil
- Second Assistant Director: Candice Lee
- Second Second Assistant Directors: D.J. Carter, Brent Stanton
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Movies for Television and Limited Series
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
SUSANNE BIER
The Undoing
(HBO)
Ms. Bier’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Deb Dyer
- First Assistant Director: Richard Styles
- Second Assistant Director: Josh Muzaffer
- Location Manager: Lauri Pitkus
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Steven Lafferty, Alex Scricco
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Alex Scricco, Zachary Citarella
SCOTT FRANK
The Queen’s Gambit
(Netflix)
Mr. Frank’s Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Aldric La’auli Porter
THOMAS KAIL
Hamilton
(Disney+)
Mr. Kail’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: David Backus
- First Assistant Director: Robin Abrams
- Second Assistant Director: Thomas Gaito
MATT SHAKMAN
WandaVision
(Disney +)
Mr. Shakman’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Mary Kane
- First Assistant Director: Janell Sammelman
- Second Assistant Directors: Meaghan F. McLaughlin, Stephanie Tull Coscina
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Katye Kalivoda, Nadeem Ashayer (Los Angeles Unit)
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kate Pulley, George Williams (Los Angeles Unit)
LYNN SHELTON
Little Fires Everywhere, “Find a Way”
(Hulu)
Ms. Shelton’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Brad Yacobian
- First Assistant Director: Luke Maxcy
- Second Assistant Director: Kirisa Gavrin
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Christina Lee, Gabriella Poli Vidal
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “Episode 1835”
(HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
- Stage Managers: Brian Anderson, Patrick Whitney
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “#1025 Live Show Following Capitol Insurrection”
(CBS)
Mr. Hoskinson’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
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
DAVID PAUL MEYER
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “President Obama: Inspiring Future Leaders & “A Promised Land”“
(Comedy Central)
Mr. Meyer’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Susan Faith Locke‑Shapiro
CHRISTOPHER WERNER
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Trump & Election Results”
(HBO)
Mr. Werner’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: John Scott Wilson
- Stage Manager: Dino Castelli
- Location Manager: Demian Resnick
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
STACEY ANGELES
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Remembering RBG - A Nation Ugly Cries with Desi Lydic
(Comedy Central)
MARIELLE HELLER
What the Constitution Means to Me
(Amazon)
Ms. Heller’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Tomas ‘Dutch’ Deckaj
- Stage Manager: Nicole Payson
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020”
(Showtime)
Mr. Hoskinson’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
SPIKE LEE
David Byrne's American Utopia
(HBO)
Mr. Lee’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Nina Shiffman
- First Assistant Director: Jermaine Sumra
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Steven Bruno
- Location Manager: John Maher
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
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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Reality Programs
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
DAVID CHARLES
World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, “3,2,1...Go!”
(Amazon)
Mr. Charles’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Daniel Curran
Stage Managers: Ian Blankenship, Kevin Fletcher, Andy Nelson, Mickel Picco
JON FAVREAU
The Chef Show, “Tartine”
(Netflix)
Mr. Favreau’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Annie Johnson
KEN FUCHS
Shark Tank, “1211”
(ABC)
Mr. Fuchs’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Amy Barker
- Head Stage Manager: Eric Rhoden
- Stage Managers: Doug Neal, Michael Strauss
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
RICH KIM
Lego Masters, “Mega City Block”
(FOX)
Mr. Kim’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Ryan Bunnell
- Stage Managers: Will Baker, Kevin Fletcher
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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Children's Programs
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
KABIR AKHTAR
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, “Opening Night”
(Disney+)
Mr. Akhtar’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Jeff T. Miller, Greg A. Hampson
- First Assistant Director: Brent Geisler
- Second Assistant Director: Cody Harbaugh
LARISSA BILLS
On Pointe, “Showtime!”
(Disney+)
DEAN ISRAELITE
The Astronauts, “Countdown”
(Nickelodeon)
RICHIE KEEN
The Healing Powers of Dude, “Second Step: Homeroom”
(Netflix)
Mr. Keen’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Chris Phillips
- First Assistant Director: Natalie Van Doren
AMY SCHATZ
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
(HBO)
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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Commercials
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
STEVE AYSON
(MJZ)
The Great Chase, Nike ‑ Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai
- First Assistant Director: John Lowe
NISHA GANATRA
(Chelsea Pictures)
#wombstories, Bodyform/Libresse – AMVBBDO
NICLAS LARSSON
(MJZ)
See the Unseen, VW Touareg ‑ adam&eveDDB
The Parents, Volvo XC60 ‑ Forsman & Bodenfors
MELINA MATSOUKAS
(Prettybird)
You Love Me, Beats by Dr. Dre ‑ Translation
First Assistant Director: Paul Norman
Second Assistant Director: Don Johnson
TAIKA WAITITI
(Hungry Man)
The Letter, Coca‑Cola ‑ Wieden & Kennedy London
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Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Documentary
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2020 are (in alphabetical order):
MICHAEL DWECK & GREGORY KERSHAW
The Truffle Hunters
(Sony Pictures Classics)
PIPPA EHRLICH & JAMES REED
My Octopus Teacher
(Netflix)
DAVID FRANCE
Welcome to Chechnya
(HBO)
AMANDA McBAINE & JESSE MOSS
Boys State
(Apple/A24)
BENJAMIN REE
The Painter and the Thief
(NEON)
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