April 7, 2014
Los Angeles – The Directors Guild of America today announced that the application period for the 20th Annual DGA Student Film Awards is now open.
Currently in its 20th year, the DGA Student Film Awards have spotlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino, and Women filmmakers. Winners of the DGA Student Film Awards in each category receive a $2,500 prize from the DGA and their films are screened in a special ceremony at the DGA Theater. The winners of the jury awards in each category receive $1,000 and screen clips of their films at the DGA.
A number of previous winners have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers, including:
- Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station)
- Patricia Riggen (The 33; Lemonade Mouth; Under the Same Moon)
- Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers; Step Up 3D)
- Nicole Kassell (The Following; The Killing; The Americans; Suits; The Closer; Cold Case; The Woodsman)
- Sylvain White (Hawaii Five-0; Person of Interest; Covert Affairs; CSI: Miami; Stomp the Yard)
This year’s application period runs from April 7 – October 6, 2014, and the winners in each category will be announced in November.
Eligible films must be made in the 2013/2014 school year (September 2013 through August 2014), and must be 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.
Click here to download an application.