The DGA Awards celebrates outstanding directorial achievement and we welcome your entry. Here are the awards guidelines and entry form for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Series / News. You must agree to these rules at the bottom of the page in order to proceed to the entry form.
Entry Criteria:
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Director Eligibility:
- Entry submissions must be covered under a DGA Agreement and directed by a DGA member with a Deal Memorandum on file.
- A Director may only submit one entry for consideration.
- 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.
- A documentary series is comprised of a minimum of two episodes.
- Only documentary series that have originally aired on television or streaming services during the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 are eligible.
- Entries must be an episode of a series. If the Director has directed the entire series, the Director must select one episode for consideration.
- Documentary series that are only broadcast locally (even if available on the Internet) are not eligible.
- Documentary series exhibited theatrically prior to television or streaming are not eligible.
- Only news programs that have originally aired on television or streaming services during the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 are eligible.
- Members who directed an eligible program that is broadcast between November 15, 2025 and December 31, 2025, have the option of submitting their entry for consideration as part of next year’s 79th Annual DGA Awards.
- Entries may be an episode of a series or a special.
- A ’breaking news’ segment, which interrupts regular programming, is not eligible.
- News programs that are only broadcast locally (even if available on the Internet) are not eligible.
- Talk series/programs or specials may be submitted under this category as appropriate.
- Entries must have a minimum broadcast format length of approximately one half hour.
- The Director must have exercised all traditional directorial functions in connection with original photography.
- For Directors submitting under Documentary Series, they must have received an on-screen "Directed By" credit.
- For Directors submitting under News, please note if a Letter of Employment is not on file, staff may ask for a Network contact to confirm date worked.
- The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards entry form. A confirmation e-mail will be sent upon receipt of the entry form.
Documentary Series Eligibility:
News Eligibility:
Length:
Credit:
Entry Requirements:
Entry Deadline:
- All Documentary Series / News 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:
- Documentary Series / News entries will be placed on a nomination ballot that will be available to the DGA membership for voting online, starting Monday, December 15, 2025. The entries that receive the highest number of votes will be announced as the 2025 DGA Documentary Series / News Nominees on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
- Nominees will be required to immediately provide a secure password protected HD link of the nominated project with the following specifications: QuickTime Movie in Apple ProRes, 1920 x 1080. A Blue Ribbon Panel will then vote by secret ballot to select the Winner of the 2025 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Series / News. The Winner will be announced at the 78th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Should you have any questions, please contact the DGA Awards Office at Awards@dga.org or (310) 289-2038.