Entry Criteria:

Director Eligibility:

• The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards online entry form. A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of the entry form.
• This award category is open to both DGA and non-DGA Theatrical Feature Film Directors.

Film Eligibility:

• A feature-length film is defined as more than 40 minutes.
• The film must be released in a paid admission commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles or New York during the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
• The film must be theatrically exhibited for at least seven (7) consecutive days and be advertised and exploited during its Los Angeles or New York qualifying run in a manner customary with industry practice.
• International films that meet these criteria are eligible. Non-English language submissions must be subtitled in English.
• Feature films that are exhibited theatrically and exhibited or distributed simultaneously ("day-and-date") on any other platforms are not eligible. Feature films exhibited or distributed on free television, a pay cable service, Internet, DVD or any other format or delivery system in the continental United States prior to theatrical release are not eligible.
• Re-releases, animated films, and documentaries are not eligible.

Credit:
• The Director must have exercised all traditional theatrical feature film directorial functions in connection with original photography and received an on-screen “Directed By” credit.

Entry Deadline:

• All Theatrical Feature Film entry forms must be received in the Awards office by 5:00 p.m. PT on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025. No entries will be accepted after the deadline.

Judging Process:

• All eligible Theatrical Feature Film entries will be placed on a nomination ballot that will be available online to the DGA membership for voting. The five entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2025 DGA Theatrical Feature Film Nominees on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
• The nominated projects will then be placed on a final ballot available online to the DGA membership for voting to select the Winner of the 2025 DGA Theatrical Feature Film Award. The Winner will be announced at the 78th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

FYC Outreach:

• For more information regarding ‘For Your Consideration’ mailing options for DGA Awards, please contact Ashley Alvarez at (310) 289-2036 or ashleya@dga.org.

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