"La La Land" Tops 69th Directors Guild of America Awards

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the entertainment labor union that represents film and television directors.  The DGA gives out the Directors Guild of America Award each year to honor outstanding achievement.

The DGA announced the winners of the 69th Annual DGA Awards at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

2017 / 69th Annual DGA Award winners (for feature films released in 2016):

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in  Feature Film

DAMIEN CHAZELLE
La La Land
(Lionsgate)

Mr. Chazelle’s Directorial Team:

    Unit Production Manager: Michael Beugg
    First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
    Second Assistant Director: Paula Case
    Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bart Lipton
    Second Second Assistant Director: Brett Robinson
    Additional Second Assistant Director: Dodi Rubenstein

This was Mr. Chazelle’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film

GARTH DAVIS
Lion
(The Weinstein Company)

Mr. Davis’s Directorial Team:

    Production Managers: Rajeev Mehra, Rakesh Singh (India Unit)
    First Assistant Director: Chris Webb
    First Assistant Director: Ananya Rane (India Unit)
    Second Assistant Directors: Mark Ingram (Australia Unit), Sunny Tiku (India Unit), KP Singh (India Unit), Shaunak Kapur (India Unit)

This was one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Davis. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for Lion. He was previously nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials in 2009 for “Shadow Puppets,” U.S. Cellular.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

MIGUEL SAPOCHNIK
Game of Thrones, “The Battle of the Bastards”
(HBO)

This was Mr. Sapochnik’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

BECKY MARTIN
Veep, “Inauguration”
(HBO)

Ms. Martin’s Directorial Team:

    Unit Production Manager: David Hyman
    First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
    Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
    Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
    Additional Second Assistant Director: Gary Cotti

This was Ms. Martin’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series

STEVEN ZAILLIAN
The Night Of, “The Beach”
(HBO)

Mr. Zaillian’s Directorial Team:

    Unit Production Manager: Greer Yeaton
    First Assistant Director: Michael Steele
    Second Assistant Director: Ginger Gonzalez
    Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Iovine
    Location Manager: Shane Haden

This was Mr. Zaillian’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Dave Chappelle”
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:

    Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
    Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly

This was Mr. King’s eleventh DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials in 2015 for Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special and for Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live “Host: Justin Timberlake.” He was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, and in 2015 in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming category for the Saturday Night Live episode, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato.”

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

GLENN WEISS
The 70th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)

Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:

    Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Ricky Kirshner
    Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Peter Epstein, Joey Despenzero, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Andrew Feigin, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Alfonso Pena, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider, Jim Semmelman

This was Mr. Weiss’s thirteenth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th, 67th and 68th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2015 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series, together with Rob Ashford, for Peter Pan Live!

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

J. RUPERT THOMPSON
American Grit, “The Finale - Over the Falls”
(FOX)

Mr. Thompson’s Directorial Team:

    Associate Director: David Charles
    Stage Managers: Daniel Curran, Kevin Fletcher

This was Mr. Thompson’s seventh DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2005 for Fear Factor, “Heist Fear Factor, Season 6 Premiere.” He was also nominated in 2006 for Fear Factor, “Military Fear Factor, Season Finale,” in 2008 for Estate of Panic, “102, That Sinking Feeling,” in 2011 for Fear Factor 2.0, “Scorpion Tales,” in 2012 for Stars Earn Stripes, “Amphibious Assault,” and in 2013 for The Hero, “Teamwork.”

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs

TINA MABRY
An American Girl Story - Melody 1963: Love Has to Win
(Amazon)

Ms. Mabry’s Directorial Team:

    Unit Production Manager: Richard G. King
    First Assistant Director: Otto Penzato
    Second Assistant Director: David Berke
    Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher H. Cook
    Additional Second Assistant Directors: Candice Lee, Matthew W. Ross

This was Ms. Mabry’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

DEREK CIANFRANCE
(RadicalMedia)
Chase, Nike Golf – Wieden + Kennedy Portland

    First Assistant Director: Rick Lange
    Second Assistant Director: Ethan Ross, Craig Sackett, Cue Chatley
    Second Second Assistant Directors: Greg Moutran, Stephen Killebrew

Doubts, Powerade – Wieden + Kennedy Portland

    First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
    Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson

Expectations, Powerade – Wieden + Kennedy Portland

    First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
    Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson

Manifesto, Squarespace – Anomaly

    First Assistant Director: David Backus
    Second Assistant Director: Josh Voegelin

This was Mr. Cianfrance’s first DGA Award nomination.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

EZRA EDELMAN
O.J.: Made in America
ESPN Films

This was Mr. Edelman’s first DGA Award nomination.

DGA Awards Medallion Small Lifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients

RIDLEY SCOTT
Lifetime Achievement Award in Feature Film

This award, which is given to a Director in recognition of distinguished achievement in motion picture direction, is the Guild's highest honor and the recipient is selected by the present and past presidents of the Guild.

JAY D. ROTH
DGA Presidents Award

This award, which is given for leadership and extraordinary efforts in enhancing the welfare and image of the Guild and the industry, is bestowed only by a unanimous vote of the sitting and former DGA Presidents.

THOMAS SCHLAMME
Robert B. Aldrich Service Award

This award is given in recognition of extraordinary service to the Directors Guild of America and to its membership.

MARIE CANTIN
Frank Capra Achievement Award

This award is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.

--------------------