December 17, 2024
LOS ANGELES – The Directors Guild of America announced today the winners of the 2024 DGA Student Film Awards for African American, Asian American, Latino and Women Directors. The awards were established by the DGA’s National Board 30 years ago to address the significant underrepresentation of Directors of color and women Directors in feature filmmaking.
“It’s so exciting and inspiring to see the incredible work on display at the 30th Annual DGA Student Film Awards,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. “These Directors represent the very best of a new generation of filmmakers, and we are proud to showcase their projects. Over the past 30 years, the Student Film Awards has been a launchpad for many incredible directors – including Jon Chu, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Ryan Coogler, Nicole Kassell and Sylvain White. Their success is a testament to the power of this program, and the importance of highlighting the rising stars in our industry. I am proud of the DGA’s longstanding commitment to innovative and diverse visions, and this kind of mentorship is at the heart of our Guild. I extend my congratulations to everyone involved in this program and wish you all continued success in your filmmaking journeys.”
The DGA Student Film Awards honor, encourage, and bring attention to outstanding diverse Directors in film schools and universities nationwide. The 2024 winners, selected by a blue ribbon DGA member panel, are:
BEST AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
East Region
- Grand Prize: Mirta Desir of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema – Brooklyn College/CUNY — Jean & I
- Jury Award: Ben Locke of Boston University — Taper
West Region
- Grand Prize: Britt Williams of American Film Institute — Behold a Lady
- Jury Award: Kira Powell of American Film Institute — Best Eyes
BEST ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
East Region
- Grand Prize: Nadine (Misong) Jin of Columbia University — Juk
- Jury Award: Lucas Manuel-Scheibe of New York University — Rope
West Region
- Grand Prize: Robin Wang of University of Southern California — Neither Donkey Nor Horse
- Jury Award: Grace Hanna of American Film Institute — Lola
BEST LATINO STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
East Region
- Grand Prize: Almendra Kovac Akel of Ringling College of Art & Design — ROT
- Jury Award: Marco Greco of University of North Carolina School of the Arts — Clocked-Out
West Region
- Grand Prize: Juan Zuloaga Eslait of Chapman University — Before the Winter
- Jury Award: Kimberly Caicedo of American Film Institute — Francis
BEST WOMEN STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
East Region
- Grand Prize: Ella McKenzie of University of Michigan — Nerd Association
- Jury Award: Colleen Ryan of Savannah College of Art and Design — El Alma de la Sed
West Region
- Grand Prize: Kateryna Kurganska of University of Southern California — Two Breaths
- Jury Award: MC Plaschke of American Film Institute — We Met at Camp
BEST DOCUMENTARY STUDENT FILMMAKERS:
East Region
- Grand Prize: Christine An of Boston University — Timeless Voices
- Jury Award: Gabriel Ponte Fleary of Rochester Institute of Technology — Un Viaje de Fe (A Journey of Faith)
West Region
- Grand Prize: Wubetu Shimelash of University of Southern California — Shepherd's Calling
- Jury Award: Sarah Enriquez of Moorpark College — Inside: America's Teaching Zoo
The DGA Student Film Awards have highlighted dozens of African American, Asian American, Latino and Women filmmakers over the past 30 years.
Winners who have gone on to enjoy successful directing careers include:
- Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II; Grown-ish; Rapture; The Land)
- Jon M. Chu (In the Heights; Home Before Dark; Crazy Rich Asians; Now You See Me 2)
- Ryan Coogler (Black Panther; Creed; Fruitvale Station)
- Rashaad Ernesto Green (Premature; The Chi; Looking for Alaska; Luke Cage)
- Nicole Kassell (Watchmen; Castlerock; Westworld; The Americans)
- Patricia Riggen (Surveillance; Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Miracles from Heaven; The 33)
- Sylvain White (The Rookie; Fargo; The Umbrella Academy; Amazing Stories)
Eligible films must be made in the 2023/2024 school year (September 2023 through August 2024) and produced as a student project under the supervision of a faculty member. Animated films, experimental films, commercials, music videos and webisodes are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in or be a recent (one-year) graduate from, an accredited post-secondary institution located in the United States and selected by the DGA. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position.
The West Region screenings and ceremony will take place at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The East Region screenings and ceremony will take place at the Directors Guild of America Theater in New York on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.