Directors Guild of America (DGA) Predictions for Television

 

Proving once again that television is a medium of exploding diversity and opportunity (as opposed to feature film), the nominees for outstanding directing in television are packed with women and non-white minorities in a way the Oscars can only dream to be. In the category of Movies for Television and Miniseries alone women make up three of the five nominees, including a woman of color, Dee Rees, for Bessie.

Also, the DGA has introduced a new category to the feature film section (but I’m including it here) for first-time directors. Those nominees are Fernando Coimbra, A Wolf at the Door; Joel Edgerton, The Gift; Alex Garland, Ex Machina; Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes, Son of Saul.

Winners will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday evening, February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.

Here are the nominees for Television and my winner predictions:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

Michael Engler, Downton Abbey “Episode 8”

Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland “The Tradition of Hospitality”

David Nutter, Game of Thrones “Mother’s Mercy” – PREDICTION

Steven Soderbergh, The Knick “Williams and Walker”

Matthew Weiner, Mad Men “Person to Person”

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Chris Addison, Veep “Election Night”

Louis C.K., Louie “Sleepover”

Mike Judge, Silicon Valley “Blinding Arbitration”

Gail Mancuso, Modern Family “White Christmas”

Jill Soloway, Transparent “Kina Hora” – PREDICTION

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series

Angela Bassett, Whitney

Laurie Collyer, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

Paul Haggis, Show Me a Hero

Kenny Leon and Matthew Diamond, The Wiz Live! – PREDICTION

Dee Rees, Bessie

 

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

Paul G. Casey, Real Time with Bill Maher “#1334”

Dave Diomedi, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon “Episde 325”

Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato”

Ryan McFaul & Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer “12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer” – PREDICTION

Chuck O’Neil, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart “Episode #20142”

 

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

Sofia Coppola, A Very Murray Christmas

Hamish Hamilton, The 87^th Annual Academy Awards

Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live 40^th Anniversary Special – PREDICTION

Beth McCarthy Miller, Adele Live in New York City

Chris Rock, Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

Brady Connell, The Great Christmas Light Fight “Episode 304”

Ken Fuchs, Shark Tank “702”

Steve Hryniewicz, Cutthroat Kitchen “Superstar Sabotage Finale: It’s Raining Ramen”

Bertram Van Munster, The Amazing Race “Bring the Fun, Baby!”

Adam Vetri, Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge “Gods of War” – PREDICTION

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs

Paul Hoen, Invisible Sister

Joseph Mazzarino, Sesame Street “The Cookie Thief”

Kenny Ortega, Descendants – PREDICTION

Amy Schatz, Saving My Tomorrow “Part 3”

Sasie Sealy, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street “Gortimer and the Vengeful Violinist”

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Meru

Liz Garbus, What Happened, Miss Simone?

Alex Gibney, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Disbelief

Matthew Heinman, Cartel Land

Asif Kapadia, Amy – PREDICTION

 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director

Fernando Coimbra, A Wolf at the Door

Joel Edgerton, The Gift

Alex Garland, Ex Machina – PREDICTION

Marielle Heller, The Diary of a Teenage Girl

László Nemes, Son of Saul

About the DGA:

In the 79 years since its founding in 1936, the DGA has fought for the economic and creative rights of its members; protected their ability to financially benefit from the reuse of their work; established strong pension and health plans; and established jurisdiction in new technologies and distribution platforms. Today we represent nearly 16,000 directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, new media and other audiovisual media.