Directors Guild of America Awards

Competitive categories Special awards Discontinued categories ==Winners – Motion Picture==

Lifetime Achievement Award (formerly the D. W. Griffith Lifetime Achievement Award) • 1953: Cecil B. DeMille • 1954: John Ford • 1955: No award • 1956: Henry King • 1957: King Vidor • 1958: No award • 1959: Frank Capra • 1960: George Stevens • 1961: Frank Borzage • 1962–1965: No award • 1966: William Wyler • 1967: No award • 1968: Alfred Hitchcock • 1969: No award • 1970: Fred Zinnemann • 1971–1972: No award • 1973: William A. Wellman and David Lean • 1974–1980: No award • 1981: George Cukor • 1982: Rouben Mamoulian • 1983: John Huston • 1984: Orson Welles • 1985: Billy Wilder • 1986: Joseph L. Mankiewicz • 1987: Elia Kazan • 1988: Robert Wise • 1989: No award • 1990: Ingmar Bergman • 1991: No award • 1992: Akira Kurosawa • 1993: Sidney Lumet • 1994: Robert Altman • 1995: James Ivory • 1996: Woody Allen • 1997: Stanley Kubrick • 1998: Francis Ford Coppola • 1999: No award • 2000: Steven Spielberg • 2001: No award • 2002: Martin Scorsese • 2003: No award • 2004: Mike Nichols • 2005: No award • 2006: Clint Eastwood • 2007–2009: No award • 2010: Norman Jewison • 2011: Alice Guy-Blaché • 2012: Miloš Forman • 2013–2015: No award • 2016: Ridley Scott • 2017–2020: No award • 2021: Spike Lee • 2022–2023: No award • 2024: Ang Lee Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film • 1948: Joseph L. Mankiewicz – A Letter to Three Wives ¿ • 1949: Robert Rossen – ''All the King's Men'' ¿ ** • 1950: Joseph L. Mankiewicz – All About Eve † ** • 1951: George Stevens – A Place in the Sun † • 1952: John Ford – The Quiet Man † • 1953: Fred Zinnemann – From Here to Eternity † ** • 1954: Elia Kazan – On the Waterfront † ** • 1955: Delbert Mann – Marty † ** • 1956: George Stevens – Giant † • 1957: David Lean – The Bridge on the River Kwai † ** • 1958: Vincente Minnelli – Gigi † ** • 1959: William Wyler – Ben-Hur † ** • 1960: Billy Wilder – The Apartment † ** • 1961: Robert Wise – West Side Story † ** • 1962: David Lean – Lawrence of Arabia † ** • 1963: Tony Richardson – Tom Jones † ** • 1964: George Cukor – My Fair Lady † ** • 1965: Robert Wise – The Sound of Music † ** • 1966: Fred Zinnemann – A Man for All Seasons † ** • 1967: Mike Nichols – The Graduate † • 1968: Anthony Harvey – The Lion in Winter ‡ • 1969: John Schlesinger – Midnight Cowboy † ** • 1970: Franklin Schaffner – Patton † ** • 1971: William Friedkin – The French Connection † ** • 1972: Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather ‡ ** • 1973: George Roy Hill – The Sting † ** • 1974: Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather Part II † ** • 1975: Miloš Forman – ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' † ** • 1976: John G. Avildsen – Rocky † ** • 1977: Woody Allen – Annie Hall † ** • 1978: Michael Cimino – The Deer Hunter † ** • 1979: Robert Benton – Kramer vs. Kramer † ** • 1980: Robert Redford – Ordinary People † ** • 1981: Warren Beatty – Reds † • 1982: Richard Attenborough – Gandhi † ** • 1983: James L. Brooks – Terms of Endearment † ** • 1984: Miloš Forman – Amadeus † ** • 1985: Steven Spielberg – The Color Purple § • 1986: Oliver Stone – Platoon † ** • 1987: Bernardo Bertolucci – The Last Emperor † ** • 1988: Barry Levinson – Rain Man † ** • 1989: Oliver Stone – Born on the Fourth of July † • 1990: Kevin Costner – Dances with Wolves † ** • 1991: Jonathan Demme – The Silence of the Lambs † ** • 1992: Clint Eastwood – Unforgiven † ** • 1993: Steven Spielberg – ''Schindler's List'' † ** • 1994: Robert Zemeckis – Forrest Gump † ** • 1995: Ron Howard – Apollo 13 § • 1996: Anthony Minghella – The English Patient † ** • 1997: James Cameron – Titanic † ** • 1998: Steven Spielberg – Saving Private Ryan † • 1999: Sam Mendes – American Beauty † ** • 2000: Ang Lee – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ‡ • 2001: Ron Howard – A Beautiful Mind † ** • 2002: Rob Marshall – Chicago ‡ ** • 2003: Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King † ** • 2004: Clint Eastwood – Million Dollar Baby † ** • 2005: Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain † • 2006: Martin Scorsese – The Departed † ** • 2007: Joel and Ethan Coen – No Country for Old Men † ** • 2008: Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire † ** • 2009: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker † ** • 2010: Tom Hooper – ''The King's Speech'' † ** • 2011: Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist † ** • 2012: Ben Affleck – Argo § ** • 2013: Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity † • 2014: Alejandro G. Iñárritu – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) † ** • 2015: Alejandro G. Iñárritu – The Revenant † • 2016: Damien Chazelle – La La Land † • 2017: Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water † ** • 2018: Alfonso Cuarón — Roma † • 2019: Sam Mendes — 1917 ‡ • 2020: Chloe Zhao — Nomadland † ** • 2021: Jane Campion — The Power of the Dog † • 2022: The Daniels — Everything Everywhere All at Once † ** • 2023: Christopher Nolan — Oppenheimer † ** • 2024: Sean Baker - Anora † ** • 2025: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another † ** • † – Director won the Academy Award. • ‡ – Director did not win the Academy Award. • § – Director was not nominated for Academy Award that year. • ** – Film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture. • ¿ – Originally, the DGA used a non-calendar year for its award. Both films competed in the 22nd Academy Awards for 1949, and both directors were nominated for Best Director; Mankiewicz won. ''All the King's Men'' won Best Picture; Rossen's DGA was not awarded until after the Oscars. (Beginning with the 1951 award in 1952, the DGA has been always awarded before the Oscars.) Outstanding Achievement in Documentary • 1991: Barbara Kopple – American Dream • 1992: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky – ''Brother's Keeper'' • 1993: Barbara Kopple – Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson • 1994: Steve James – Hoop Dreams • 1995: Terry Zwigoff – Crumb • 1996: Al Pacino – Looking for Richard • 1997: Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell – Riding the Rails • 1998: Jerry Blumenthal, Peter Gilbert, and Gordon Quinn – Vietnam, Long Time Coming • 1999: Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen – On the Ropes • 2000: Chuck Braverman – High School Boot Camp • 2001: Chris Hegedus and Jehane Noujaim – Startup.com • 2002: Tasha Oldham – The Smith Family • 2003: Nathaniel Kahn – My Architect • 2004: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni – The Story of the Weeping Camel • 2005: Werner Herzog – Grizzly Man • 2006: Arūnas Matelis – Before Flying Back to Earth • 2007: Asger Leth – Ghosts of Cité Soleil • 2008: Ari Folman – Waltz with Bashir • 2009: Louie Psihoyos – The Cove • 2010: Charles Ferguson – Inside Job • 2011: James Marsh – Project Nim • 2012: Malik Bendjelloul – Searching for Sugar Man • 2013: Jehane Noujaim – The Square • 2014: Laura Poitras – Citizenfour • 2015: Matthew Heineman – Cartel Land • 2016: Ezra Edelman – O.J.: Made in America • 2017: Matthew Heineman – City of Ghosts • 2018: Tim Wardle – Three Identical Strangers • 2019: Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert — American Factory • 2020: Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw — The Truffle Hunters • 2021: Stanley Nelson Jr. — Attica • 2022: Sara Dosa – Fire of Love • 2023: Mstyslav Chernov – 20 Days in Mariupol • 2024: Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev – Porcelain War Outstanding Achievement in First-Time Feature Film • 2015: Alex Garland – Ex Machina • 2016: Garth Davis – Lion • 2017: Jordan Peele – Get Out • 2018: Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade • 2019: Alma Har'el — Honey Boy • 2020: Darius Marder — Sound of Metal • 2021: Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Lost Daughter • 2022: Charlotte Wells – Aftersun • 2023: Celine Song – Past Lives • 2024: RaMell Ross – Nickel Boys • 2025: Charlie Polinger - The Plague ==Winners – Television==

Lifetime Achievement Award • 2014: James Burrows and Robert Butler • 2015: Joe Pytka • 2018: Don Mischer • 2022: Robert A. Fishman • 2023: David Nutter Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials • 2012: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Procter & Gamble, "Best Job") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series • 1990: James Burrows – Cheers ("Woody Interruptus") • 1991: Peter Bonerz – Murphy Brown ("Uh-Oh: Part 2") • 1992: Tom Cherones – Seinfeld ("The Contest") • 1993: James Burrows – Frasier ("The Good Son") • 1994: David Lee – Frasier ("The Matchmaker") • 1995: Gordon Hunt – Mad About You ("The Alan Brady Show") • 1996: Andy Ackerman – Seinfeld ("The Rye") • 1997: Andy Ackerman – Seinfeld ("The Betrayal") • 1998: Thomas Schlamme – Sports Night ("Pilot") • 1999: Thomas Schlamme – Sports Night ("Small Town") • 2000: James Burrows – Will & Grace ("Lows in the Mid-Eighties") • 2001: Todd Holland – Malcolm in the Middle ("Bowling") • 2002: Bryan Gordon – Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Special Section") • 2003: Tim Van Patten – Sex and the City ("Boy, Interrupted") • 2004: Tim Van Patten – Sex and the City ("An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux") • 2005: Marc Buckland – My Name Is Earl ("Pilot") • 2006: Richard Shepard – Ugly Betty ("Pilot") • 2007: Barry Sonnenfeld – Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette") • 2008: Paul Feig – The Office ("Dinner Party") • 2009: Jason Winer – Modern Family ("Pilot") • 2010: Michael Spiller – Modern Family ("Halloween") • 2011: Robert B. Weide – Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Palestinian Chicken") • 2012: Lena Dunham – Girls ("Pilot") • 2013: Beth McCarthy-Miller – 30 Rock ("Hogcock!" / "Last Lunch") • 2014: Jill Soloway – Transparent ("Best New Girl") • 2015: Chris Addison – Veep ("Election Night") • 2016: Becky Martin – Veep ("Inauguration") • 2017: Beth McCarthy-Miller – Veep ("Chicklet") • 2018: Bill Hader – Barry ("Chapter One: Make Your Mark") • 2019: Bill Hader – Barry ("ronny/lily") • 2020: Susanna Fogel – The Flight Attendant ("In Case of Emergency") • 2021: Lucia Aniello – Hacks ("There Is No Line") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series • 1971: Daniel Petrie – The Man and the City ("Hands of Love") • 1972: Robert Butler – The Waltons ("Dust Bowl Cousins") • 1973: Charles S. Dubin – Kojak ("Knockover") • 1974: David Friedkin – Kojak ("Cross Your Heart, Hope to Die") • 1975: James Cellan Jones – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill • 1976: Glenn Jordan – Family ("Rites of Friendship") • 1977: John Erman – Roots ("Part II") • 1978: Gene Reynolds – Lou Grant ("Prisoner") • 1979: Roger Young – Lou Grant ("Cop") • 1980: Roger Young – Lou Grant ("Lou") • 1981: Robert Butler – Hill Street Blues ("Hill Street Station") • 1982: David Anspaugh – Hill Street Blues ("Personal Foul") • 1983: Jeff Bleckner – Hill Street Blues ("Life in the Minors") • 1984: Thomas Carter – Hill Street Blues ("The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall") • 1985: Will Mackenzie – Moonlighting ("My Fair David") • 1986: Will Mackenzie – Moonlighting ("Atomic Shakespeare") • 1987: Marshall Herskovitz – thirtysomething ("Pilot") • 1988: Marshall Herskovitz – thirtysomething ("Therapy") • 1989: Eric Laneuville – L.A. Law ("I'm in the Nude for Love") • 1990: Michael Zinberg – Quantum Leap ("The Leap Home" – Part II) • 1991: Eric Laneuville – ''I'll Fly Away'' ("All God's Children") • 1992: Rob Thompson – Northern Exposure ("Cicely") • 1993: Gregory Hoblit – NYPD Blue ("Pilot") • 1994: Charles Haid – ER ("Into That Good Night") • 1995: Christopher Chulack – ER ("Hell and High Water") • 1996: Christopher Chulack – ER ("Fear of Flying") • 1997: Barbara Kopple – Homicide: Life on the Street ("The Documentary") • 1998: Paris Barclay – NYPD Blue ("Hearts and Souls") • 1999: David Chase – The Sopranos ("The Sopranos") • 2000: Thomas Schlamme – The West Wing ("Noël") • 2001: Alan Ball – Six Feet Under ("Pilot") • 2002: John Patterson – The Sopranos ("Whitecaps") • 2003: Christopher Misiano – The West Wing ("Twenty Five") • 2004: Walter Hill – Deadwood ("Deadwood") • 2005: Michael Apted – Rome ("The Stolen Eagle") • 2006: Jon Cassar – 24 ("Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.") • 2007: Alan Taylor – Mad Men ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") • 2008: Dan Attias – The Wire ("Transitions") • 2009: Lesli Linka Glatter – Mad Men ("Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency") • 2010: Martin Scorsese – Boardwalk Empire ("Boardwalk Empire") • 2011: Patty Jenkins – The Killing ("Pilot") • 2012: Rian Johnson – Breaking Bad ("Fifty-One") • 2013: Vince Gilligan – Breaking Bad ("Felina") • 2014: Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland ("From A to B and Back Again") • 2015: David Nutter – Game of Thrones ("Mother's Mercy") • 2016: Miguel Sapochnik – Game of Thrones ("Battle of the Bastards") • 2017: Reed Morano – ''The Handmaid's Tale'' ("Offred") • 2018: Adam McKay – Succession ("Celebration") • 2019: Nicole Kassell – Watchmen ("It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice") • 2020: Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland ("Prisoners of War") • 2021: Mark Mylod – Succession ("All the Bells Say") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs • 1984: Sharron Miller – The Woman Who Willed a Miracle • 1996: Stuart Margolin – Salt Water Moose • 1997: Brian Robbins – Nickelodeon Sports Theater ("First Time") • 1998: Mitchell Kriegman – Bear in the Big Blue House ("Love Is All You Need") • 1999: Amy Schatz – Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Time Tales • 2000: Greg Beeman – Miracle in Lane 2 • 2001: Amy Schatz – '' 'Twas the Night: A Holiday Celebration'' • 2002: Guy Ferland – ''Bang Bang You're Dead'' • 2003: Kevin Lima – Eloise at Christmastime • 2004: Stuart Gillard – Going to the Mat • 2005: Chris Eyre – Edge of America • 2006: Kenny Ortega – High School Musical • 2007: Paul Hoen – Jump In! • 2008: Amy Schatz – Classical Baby ("The Poetry Show") • 2009: Allison Liddi-Brown – Princess Protection Program • 2010: Eric Bross – The Boy Who Cried Werewolf • 2011: Amy Schatz – ''A Child's Garden of Poetry'' • 2012: Paul Hoen – Let It Shine • 2013: Amy Schatz – An Apology to Elephants • 2014: Jonathan Judge – 100 Things To Do Before High School ("Pilot") • 2015: Kenny Ortega – Descendants • 2016: Tina Mabry – An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win • 2017: Niki Caro – Anne with an E ("Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials (1991–2012) • 1991: Michael Stich – The Bold and the Beautiful ("Episode #1103") • 1992: Susan Strickler – Another World ("Episode 7022") • 1993: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode 6356") • 1994: Michael Stich – The Bold and the Beautiful ("Episode 1884") • 1995: William Ludel and Alan Pultz – General Hospital ("Episode 8248") • 1996: Kathyrn Foster and Mike Denney – The Young and the Restless ("Episode 5875") • 1997: Scott McKinsey – General Hospital ("Episode #8883") • 1998: James Sayegh – One Life to Live ("Episode #7572") • 1999: Herb D. Stein and Roger W. Inman – Days of Our Lives ("Episode #8557") • 2000: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode #8205") • 2001: William Ludel – General Hospital ("Episode #9801") • 2002: Scott McKinsey – Port Charles ("Episode #1433") • 2003: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #8849") • 2004: Bruce S. Barry – Guiding Light ("Episode #14,321") • 2005: Owen Renfroe – General Hospital ("Episode #10914") • 2006: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode #9779") • 2007: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #9947") • 2008: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #10281") • 2009: Christopher Goutman – As the World Turns ("Once Upon a Time") • 2010: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Starr X'd Lovers: The Musical – Part II") • 2011: William Ludel – General Hospital ("Intervention") • 2012: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Between Heaven and Hell") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs (2005–present) • 2005: Tony Croll – Three Wishes ("Pilot") & J. Rupert Thompson – Fear Factor ("Heist Fear Factor") (TIE) • 2006: Tony Sacco – Treasure Hunters ("Episode #101") • 2007: Bertram van Munster – The Amazing Race ("Episode #1110") • 2008: Tony Croll – ''America's Next Top Model'' ("Episode 1002") • 2009: Craig Borders – Extreme Engineering ("Hong Kong Bridge") • 2010: Eytan Keller – The Next Iron Chef ("Episode #301") • 2011: Neil P. DeGroot – The Biggest Loser ("Episode #1115") • 2012: Brian Smith – MasterChef ("Episode #305") • 2013: Neil P. DeGroot – 72 Hours ("The Lost Coast") • 2014: Anthony B. Sacco – The Chair ("The Test") • 2015: Adam Vetri – ''Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge'' ("Gods of War") • 2016: J. Rupert Thompson – American Grit ("Over the Falls") • 2017: Brian Smith – MasterChef ("Vegas Deluxe & Oyster Schucks") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series as of 2016 • 2000: Jeff Bleckner – The Beach Boys: An American Family • 2001: Frank Pierson – Conspiracy • 2002: Mick Jackson – Live from Baghdad • 2003: Mike Nichols – Angels in America • 2004: Joseph Sargent – Something the Lord Made • 2005: George C. Wolfe – Lackawanna Blues • 2006: Walter Hill – Broken Trail • 2007: Yves Simoneau – Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee • 2008: Jay Roach – Recount • 2009: Ross Katz – Taking Chance • 2010: Mick Jackson – Temple Grandin • 2011: Jon Cassar – The Kennedys • 2012: Jay Roach – Game Change • 2013: Steven Soderbergh – Behind the Candelabra • 2014: Lisa Cholodenko – Olive Kitteridge • 2015: Dee Rees – Bessie • 2016: Steve Zaillian – The Night Of ("The Beach") • 2017: Jean-Marc Vallée – Big Little Lies • 2018: Ben Stiller – Escape at Dannemora • 2019: Johan Renck – Chernobyl • 2020: Scott Frank – ''The Queen's Gambit'' • 2021: Barry Jenkins – The Underground Railroad • 2022: Helen Shaver – Station Eleven, “Who’s There?” • 2023: Sarah Adina Smith – Lessons in Chemistry • 2024: Steven Zaillian – Ripley Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Series (2013–present) :Note: This award is for regular programming. • 2013: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Justin Timberlake") • 2014: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ("Episode #1") • 2015: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ("Episode #325") • 2016: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Dave Chappelle") • 2017: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Jimmy Fallon") • 2018: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Adam Driver") • 2019: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Eddie Murphy") • 2020: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Dave Chappelle") • 2021: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Keegan Michael-Key") • 2022: Liz Patrick – Saturday Night Live ("Jack Harlow") • 2023: Michael Mancini & Liz Patrick – Saturday Night Live ("Pedro Pascal") • 2024: Liz Patrick – Saturday Night Live ("John Mulaney") Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Special (2013–present) :Note: This award is for special programs. • 2013: Glenn Weiss – 67th Tony Awards • 2014: Glenn Weiss – The 68th Tony Awards • 2015: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special • 2016: Glenn Weiss – 70th Tony Awards • 2017: Glenn Weiss – 89th Academy Awards • 2018: Louis J. Horvitz – 60th Grammy Awards • 2019: James Burrows – All in the Family, and The Jeffersons, Andy Fisher – ''Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons''' • 2020: Thomas Schlamme – A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote • 2021: Paul Dugdale – Adele: One Night Only • 2022: Glenn Weiss – 75th Annual Tony Awards • 2023: Paul Miller – Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love • 2024: Beth McCarthy-Miller – The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady ==See also==