On December 5, 2008, the Los Angeles theatre complex was the site of the International Documentary Association's (IDA) 2008 Awards Ceremony, sponsored once again by the Guild.

The celebration of documentary filmmaking was hosted by IDA member and pending DGA director-member Morgan Spurlock whose feature Super Size Me earned an IDA nomination in 2004. During the ceremony, 2005 DGA Documentary Award winner Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man) was honored with the IDA's Career Achievement Award; DGA director-member Rob Epstein (Paragraph 175) was presented with the IDA's Pioneer Award; and DGA director-member Sam Pollard (American Masters: "Marvin Gaye: What's Going On") earned the IDA's Avid Excellence in Editing Award.