The Directors Guild of America recognized the best film, TV and commercial directors of the past year at the 2026 DGA Awards.
Heading into Saturday night’s ceremony — hosted this year by Kumail Nanjiani from the Beverly Hilton — Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Guillermo Del Toro (Frankenstein), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) were up for the top prize of outstanding directorial achievement in theatrical feature film, in what tends to be a major predictor for the best director category at the Oscars. (At the Oscars though, Sentimental Value‘s Joachim Trier is nominated in Del Toro’s place).
Anderson took it home, emotionally taking the stage and calling his directing team up to join him.
“This is an incredible, incredible honor. We’re going to take it with the love that it’s given and the appreciation of all our comrades in this room,” the filmmaker said, but noting “obviously we are up here minus one.” He then paid tribute to first director Adam Somner, who passed away from cancer in November 2024.
The evening saw additional honors handed out to first-time feature filmmakers, as well as in a number of TV categories and special honors for associate director/stage manager David Charles and assistant director Gregory McCollum. It was also the first show presided over by new DGA president Christopher Nolan, who was elected to helm the Hollywood union in September.
The night began with remarks from Nolan — emphasizing the hard times that filmmakers are currently facing — followed by Nanjiani, who teased, “Thank you Chris Nolan for opening for me… it’s like a dream, inside a dream, inside a dream.” He also joked during his opening bit that directors are “the greatest communicators on the planet. You can take a complex idea and turn it into something an actor can understand.”
The DGA Awards are unique in that each nominee for the theatrical feature film category receives an honorary medallion and gets a moment on stage before the winner is announced. Anderson had the first presentation, following words from his One Battle After Another star Leonardo DiCaprio, who paid tribute to how he has given Los Angeles “a cinematic identity that feels almost forensic.” Michael B. Jordan was on hand to present to Coogler, saying, “Ryan builds families, not film sets” that leaves actors wanting to work with him again and again; Jacob Elordi made an appearance for Del Toro, telling him, “You’re the greatest friend a monster could have,” as the filmmaker spotted Nolan in the crowd and joked “I love saying President Nolan” because it was so rare to say a good name after “President.” (Anderson jokingly gave another nod to President Nolan in his acceptance speech.)
Timothée Chalamet teased Safdie for his recent appearance on The Tonight Show, saying “your days of self-styling are officially over,” and called him a “quadruple threat” for the many hats he wears on set; Safdie showed off his DGA card on stage and revealed that he reads every DGA magazine front to back. The final presentation came courtesy of Steven Spielberg, who spoke on behalf of Zhao and praised her for bringing Hamnet to life, saying he and their film’s team would “follow her into a dark forest anytime.” She joked back that she wanted to play a drinking game for every time someone on stage throughout the night shouted out Spielberg as an inspiration, and went on to thank all the storytellers in the room for their “creative fire.”
The Studio, The Pitt, Dying for Sex, SNL50, Mr. Scorsese and doc 2000 Meters to Andriivka also notched wins, while The Plague filmmaker Charlie Polinger nabbed a surprise win in the first-time feature category, thanking the collaborators who were willing to take a chance on him. Female directors made a particular splash at the show, topping five categories throughout the evening.
Check out a complete list of this year’s DGA winners below.
Theatrical Feature Film
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Will WeiskeFirst Assistant Director: Adam SomnerSecond Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares, Ian StoneSecond Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti, Rafael Sanz-JimenezAdditional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy, Chunning Chang, Kit Conners, Kasia Trojak, Tyler Young (WINNER)
Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield, Kenneth YuFirst Assistant Director: Marvin WilliamsSecond Assistant Director: Amir R. KhanAdditional Second Assistant Director: Gregg Carr, Desiree Stevenson
Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: J. Miles DaleFirst Assistant Director: Walter GasparovicSecond Assistant Director: Chad Belair
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (A24)Unit Production Manager: Anthony Katagas, Joe GuestFirst Assistant Director: Jeremy MarksSecond Assistant Director: Zach CitarellaSecond Second Assistant Director: Kailyn DabkowskiAssistant Unit Production Manager: Max Samu, Suk Yi Mar, Samson JacobsonLocation Manager: Matthew Kania, Ross Brodar
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (Focus Features)
Michael Apted First-Time Theatrical Feature Film
Hasan Hadi, The President’s Cake (Sony Pictures Classics)Harry Lighton, Pillion (A24)Charlie Polinger, The Plague (Independent Film Company) (WINNER)Alex Russell, Lurker (MUBI)Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby (A24)
Dramatic Series
Liza Johnson, The Diplomat, “Amagansett” (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: John P. FedynichFirst Assistant Director: Adam EscottSecond Assistant Director: Tom GlickSecond Second Assistant Director: Rachel SikoraLocation Manager: Rob Coleman
Amanda Marsalis, The Pitt, “6:00 p.m.” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Michelle LankwardenFirst Assistant Director: Eric TigniniSecond Assistant Director: Kevin ZelmanSecond Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca Rogers, Chloe HuckinsAdditional Second Assistant Director: Michelle Akeley (WINNER)
Janus Metz, Andor, “Who Are You?” (Disney+)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Karl CaffreyFirst Assistant Director: Sean Guest
Ben Stiller, Severance, “Cold Harbor” (Apple TV+)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Caroline BaronFirst Assistant Director: Katie PruittSecond Assistant Director: Cat McFaydenSecond Second Assistant Director: Forrest ViolaAdditional Second Assistant Director: Erin SkellyAssistant Unit Production Manager: Sean Fogel, Alexandra VivasLocation Manager: Ryan Smith, Grace Kwon
John Wells, The Pitt, “7:00 a.m.” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Michelle LankwardenFirst Assistant Director: Eric TigniniSecond Assistant Director: Kevin ZelmanSecond Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca RogersAdditional Second Assistant Director: Chloe Huckins
Comedy Series
Lucia Aniello, Hacks, “A Slippery Slope” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Mark RabinowitzFirst Assistant Director: Jeff RosenbergSecond Assistant Director: Kirisa GavrinSecond Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann RafdalAdditional Second Assistant Director: Amy Ergle
Janicza Bravo, The Bear, “Worms” (FX on Hulu)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson BidnerFirst Assistant Director: Larissa MalarekSecond Assistant Director: Olivia DameSecond Second Assistant Director: Sofía BlancoLocation Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. MoralesAssistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas
Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, The Studio, “The Oner” (Apple TV+)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Shawn DyrdahlFirst Assistant Director: Donald MurphySecond Assistant Director: Peter Dress (WINNER)
Christopher Storer, The Bear, “Bears” (FX on Hulu)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson BidnerFirst Assistant Director: Duccio FabbriSecond Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek, Olivia DameSecond Second Assistant Director: Sofía BlancoLocation Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. MoralesAssistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas
Mike White, The White Lotus, “Denials” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman, Mark KamineFirst Assistant Director: Justin RitsonSecond Assistant Director: Joe LandryAssistant Unit Production Manager: Aidan Sleeper
Limited and Anthology Series
Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit, “The Black Rabbits” (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Becky Phillips, Erica KayFirst Assistant Director: John SilvestriSecond Assistant Director: Nick NotteSecond Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario, Jilly BlundellLocation Manager: Paul Eskenazi
Antonio Campos, The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy” (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Caroline BaronFirst Assistant Director: Tomas DeckajSecond Assistant Director: Scott BowersSecond Second Assistant Director: Matt Merksamer, Sean FogelLocation Manager: Grace Kwon
Lesli Linka Glatter, Zero Day, “Episode 6” (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Amy HermanFirst Assistant Director: Michael LermanSecond Assistant Director: Scott BowersSecond Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin HeinsAdditional Second Assistant Director: Davis WoodallAssistant Unit Production Manager: Mike BuonannoLocation Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser
Shannon Murphy, Dying for Sex, “It’s Not That Serious” (FX on Hulu)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Francesca M. MannixFirst Assistant Director: Julie A. BloomSecond Assistant Director: Findlay Ward ZotterSecond Second Assistant Director: Kristin Dombroski, Laura E. Rizer (WINNER)
Ally Pankiw, Black Mirror, “Common People” (Netflix)Unit Production Manager: Shawn Williamson
Movies for Television
Jesse Armstrong, Mountainhead (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Jill FootlickFirst Assistant Director: Christo MorseSecond Assistant Director: MarSchelle WalkerLocation Manager: Paul Eskenazi
Stephen Chbosky, Nonnas (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Pamela Hirsch, Kara DohertyFirst Assistant Director: Chris SurgentSecond Assistant Director: Takahide KawakamiSecond Second Assistant Director: Cary LeeLocation Manager: Tatiana Forster (WINNER)
Scott Derrickson, The Gorge (Apple TV+)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Greg GoodmanFirst Assistant Director: Cliff LanningSecond Assistant Director: Lee Tailor
Michael Morris, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Kyle Newacheck, Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Brittany Sugarman, David BauschFirst Assistant Director: David M. BernsteinSecond Assistant Director: Ryan Robert HowardSecond Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin HeinsAdditional Second Assistant Director: Mia BrunoLocation Manager: Louis ZuppardiAssistant Location Manager: Scott Ferlisi
Variety
Yvonne Demare, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Julia Roberts; Sam Smith” (CBS)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Karen YaegerStage Manager: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
Andy Fisher, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “Stephen Colbert; Kumail Nanjiani; Reneé Rapp” (ABC)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Jeri-Ann Wong, Amy Stober, David CraigStage Manager: Alec Potter, Josh Wader, Christian Jensen, Peter Epstein
Beth McCarthy Miller, SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (Peacock)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Susan SullivanStage Manager: Lynn Finkel, Linda Carrizzo, Joey Despenzero, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, John Esposito, Andrew Feigin, Steve Hollander, Greg Kasoff, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Jennifer Marquet, Cyndi Owgang, Jason Pacella, Tammy Raab, Elise Reaves, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Niclana Tolmasoff, Bret Warren, Ari Woog
Liz Patrick, SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel Mack, Janine DeVito, Amy Mancini, Dan DomeStage Manager: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk, Peter Epstein, Karen Tasch Weiss, Steve Bautista, Joey Despenzero, Frank Fernandez, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Cyndi Owgang, Elise Reaves, Niclana Tolmasoff, Leslie Williams (WINNER)
Paul Pennolino, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Public Media” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Elliot MendelsonStage Manager: Jeff Leib, Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney
Sports
Matthew Gangl, 2025 World Series – Game 7 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Toronto Blue Jays (FOX Sports)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Larry Lancaster, Aaron Stojkov, Bryan ColucciStage Manager: Dominick Tringali, Dan Frank (WINNER)
Steve Milton, 2025 Masters Tournament – Augusta National Golf Club (CBS Sports)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Robert Matina, Chris Svendsen, Andy Freedman, Eric Spitzer, Ade Ellis, Tyler Jahn, Josh Weingardt, Brian Maher, Stuart Millstein, Katie Keane, Adam Cohen, Jack Kempner, George Wishart, Dan ObermullerStage Manager: Cory Fishman
Rich Russo, Super Bowl LIX – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs (FOX Sports)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Rich Gross, Casey Garland
Reality / Quiz and Game
Lucinda M. Margolis, Jeopardy!, “Ep. 9341” (Syndicated)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Chloe CorwinStage Manager: James F. McGuire
Adam Sandler, The Price is Right, “10,000th Episode” (CBS)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Jazmin EckenbergStage Manager: Steven Hollander, Jason Galland, Alex Weston
Mike Sweeney, Conan O’Brien Must Go, “Austria” (HBO Max)Directorial Team:Associate Director: Jason Chillemi (WINNER)
Commercials
Kim Gehrig (Somesuch)
You Can’t Win. So Win. – Nike | Wieden+KennedyDirectorial Team:First Assistant Director: Peter Jackson, John MatternSecond Assistant Director: Melina GreeneSecond Second Assistant Director: Chelsea Meador I’m Not Remarkable – Apple | Client DirectFirst Assistant Director: Guy ForgaardSecond Assistant Director: Amanda JohnsonSecond Second Assistant Director: Michael Dudley, Clyde Broom (WINNER)
Miles Jay (Smuggler)
Dish – ChatGPT | Isle of AnyDirectorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Yianni PapadopoulosFirst Assistant Director: George NessisSecond Assistant Director: Rachel OberingSecond Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum
Pull Up – ChatGPT | Isle of AnyDirectorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Yianni PapadopoulosFirst Assistant Director: George NessisSecond Assistant Director: Rachel OberingSecond Second Assistant Director: Reed Baum Trip – ChatGPT | Isle of AnyDirectorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Yianni PapadopoulosFirst Assistant Director: George NessisSecond Assistant Director: Julia BlanfordSecond Second Assistant Director: K.J. Walsh Home for the Holidays – Meta | Droga5Directorial Team:First Assistant Director: David Webb
Secret Santa – Meta | Droga5Directorial Team:First Assistant Director: David Webb
Spike Jonze (MJZ)
Someday – Apple Airpods 4 | TBWA\Media Arts LabDirectorial Team:First Assistant Director: Steve Danton, Kate GreenbergSecond Assistant Director: Matthew Dennis SmithSecond Second Assistant Director: Amy Hughes, Carly Sturgeon
Andreas Nilsson (Biscuit Filmworks)
Conquer the First School Poo – Andrex | FCB London Garrett – Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Client DirectUnit Production Manager: James VealFirst Assistant Director: George NessisSecond Assistant Director: Reed Baum
Big Flex – Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Client DirectUnit Production Manager: James VealFirst Assistant Director: George NessisSecond Assistant Director: Reed Baum
Trunk Trucker – Virgin Media | VCCP London
Steve Rogers (Biscuit Filmworks)
Bring a Book to Life – Amazon | Droga5 London
A Tale as Old as Websites – Squarespace| Client Direct
Everything is Fine – Coinbase | Mother London
Documentary Film
Mstyslav Chernov, 2000 Meters to Andriivka (PBS) (WINNER)Geeta Gandbhir, The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, Cutting Through Rocks (Assembly Releasing)Elizabeth Lo, Mistress Dispeller (Oscilloscope Laboratories)Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, Cover-Up (Netflix)
Documentary Series / News
Marshall Curry, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room” (Peacock)Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, “Part Two” (HBO Max)Rebecca Miller, Mr. Scorsese, “All This Filming Isn’t Healthy” (Apple TV+) (WINNER)Alexandra Stapleton, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, “Official Girl” (Netflix)Matt Wolf, Pee-Wee as Himself, “Part 1” (HBO Max)
