THE DGA AWARDS IS NOT ACCEPTING ENTRY SUBMISSIONS AT THIS TIME. 

THIS FORM IS OPEN FOR STAFF TESTING ONLY.

The DGA Awards is our annual opportunity to celebrate outstanding directorial achievement and we welcome your entry. All Documentary entries that conform to the entry criteria will be placed on the DGA Awards Documentary Nomination Ballot.

Except as otherwise indicated, this Awards category is open to both DGA and non-DGA Documentary Directors. Please read the following eligibility criteria carefully.

You must agree to these rules at the bottom of the page in order to go to the Entry Form.

Feature Documentaries:

1. Documentary Feature Films that had a seven (7) day qualifying run in a United States based commercial theater or traditional commercial theatrical release during the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 and meet eligibility requirements will be eligible for submission and included on the DGA Awards Documentary Nomination Ballot.


2. Documentaries that were exhibited theatrically and simultaneously released on video-on-demand (pay-per-view or streaming) on a national platform during the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 are also eligible.

Television Documentaries:

3. Documentaries that have been broadcast nationally on U.S. television during the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 are eligible.


4. Documentaries produced for streaming services are eligible, however, they must be covered under a DGA Agreement.


5. Documentaries that are only broadcast locally on television are not eligible.


6. A Director or Co-Directors who have directed all episodes of a Television Documentary series may enter the full series. A Director or Co-Directors who have not directed all episodes must submit only one episode.

All Documentary Entries:

7. The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards online entry form. A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of the entry form. Entries are accepted only from the Director or Co-Directors of the documentary.


8. A Director or Co-Director may submit only one entry in this category. Entries are accepted only from the Director of the program. An entry found to be submitted without the Director’s knowledge will be immediately disqualified.


9. Documentaries exhibited prior to January 1, 2023 are not eligible.


10. Length:
    • Entries in this category must be 40 minutes or more in length.


11. International Submissions:
    • Foreign/International documentaries are eligible for submission provided they meet the entry criteria. Non English-language submissions must be subtitled in English.


12. Credit:
    • The Director or Co-Directors must have exercised all traditional directorial functions in connection with original photography and/or narration and received an on-screen "Directed By" credit. "A Film By" is not considered an eligible directorial credit.


13. Entry Link:
    • The Director must provide a secure, password protected HD link of the Documentary, with start and end credits including the "Directed By" credit — "A Film By" is not considered an eligible directorial credit. A watermark may be included provided it does not obscure the entry. The link must go directly to the entry and should not require additional information to access it beyond the password. This link will be forwarded to the members of the DGA Awards Documentary Screening Committee and must remain active for the duration of Awards, ending on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Entry Deadline:

• All Documentary Entry Forms and HD link submissions must be received in the Awards office by 6:00 p.m. PT on MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2023.

Judging Process:

• All eligible Documentary entries will be viewed by a Director Member Documentary Screening Committee that votes by secret ballot. The five entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2023 DGA Documentary Director Nominees on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.


• The Documentary Screening Committee will then vote by secret ballot to select the winner of the 2023 DGA Documentary Directorial Award. The winner will be announced at the 76th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Should you have any questions, please contact Brandon Goco in the DGA Awards office at Awards@dga.org or (310) 289-2038.