DGA President Michael Apted

LOS ANGELES, CA — Veteran feature, documentary and television director Michael Apted was re-elected President of the Directors Guild of America at the Guild's National Biennial Convention held today at DGA National Headquarters in Los Angeles. In addition, 130 delegates representing more than 13,100 members of the DGA elected a new slate of officers and National Board of Directors.

Apted, who joined the DGA in 1978, has an extensive history of elected service to the Guild. He was elected President in 2003, Fifth Vice President in 2002, to the National Board in 2001, and to the Western Directors Council in 1997. A filmmaker who has enjoyed success in many filmmaking arenas — from independent features/documentaries, to television, to major studio films — Apted has served on the DGA Independent Directors Committee since its inception and as chairperson until he became President.

"The DGA is forever on the front lines, protecting our creative and economic rights and fending off threats to our livelihoods such as runaway production, piracy, and the theft of intellectual property," Apted said today after winning the election by acclamation. "I am honored to be standing on the front lines with this Guild, and look forward to continuing my work as president."

Steven Soderbergh, who was elected National Vice President, the Guild's second highest position, said of Apted's re-election: "Michael Apted is a true leader — in this Guild, in the industry, and in his craft. His passion, diligence, and integrity serve as an inspiration and a model for all our members. He is the best and the brightest, and I am proud to serve with him."

Gilbert Cates, a former DGA president, was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Also elected were First Vice President Paris Barclay, Second Vice President Ed Sherin, Third Vice President Taylor Hackford, Fourth Vice President William M. Brady, Fifth Vice President Betty Thomas, Sixth Vice President Gary Donatelli, and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger.

Michael Mann, LeVar Burton, Lee Shallat Chemel, Max Schindler, John Rich, Kim Kurumada, Victoria Hochberg, Stephen Glanzrock, Jeremy Kagan, Herb Adelman, and Barbara Roche were elected to Board seats. (A complete list of the new officers and board members concludes this release.)

In his thirty-seven years as a director, Apted has helmed an extensive list of feature films and documentaries. His feature films include Coalminer's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist, Thunderheart, Nell, The World is Not Enough, Triple Echo, Stardust, The Squeeze, Agatha, Continental Divide, Gorky Park, Class Action, Enigma, Enough and Tell No One. Most recently, he directed the first three episodes of the television series Rome and is currently in production on the feature film Amazing Grace.

His documentary credits include Incident at Oglala, Bring on the Night, Me and Isaac Newton, and the recent Married in America. But Apted's most widely recognized documentary directorial achievement remains his internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning sequels based on the original 7 UP documentary — 7 Plus 7, 21, 28, 35,42 and 49 UP — which have followed the lives of 14 Britons since the age of seven in seven-year increments.

top of page