Directors Guild of America (DGA) sets key dates and deadlines for nominations, awards

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) today announced more key dates, eligibility and deadlines for its 2022 awards calendar for theatrical feature film, television, documentary and first time feature categories.

The 74th DGA Awards will be held on March 12, just two weeks before the Oscars and the nominations will be announced on January 27, 2022, the same day as the Producers Guild of America (PGA) announces their nominees and the first day that Oscar nomination voting begins.

As previously announced, the eligibility period is adjusted for last season’s extension, making films released from March 1 – December 31 eligible. The deadline for films with a planned, scheduled, or actual theatrical
release during the period of March 1, 2021 through June 14, 2021, the deadline is Friday, October 22, 2021. All eligible films theatrically released from June 15, 2021 – December 31, 2021 will be automatically entered by the DGA where online voting for Theatrical Feature Film nominations opens Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

DGA members will be able to vote online between December 15, 2021 – January 26, 2022 for Theatrical Feature Film Nominations; between December 15, 2021 – January 21, 2022 for Television Nominations in five categories; and between January 27, 2022 – March 11, 2022 for the Theatrical Feature Film Award. All voting will continue to take place online.

Earlier this year the DGA also announced that films without an exclusive theatrical release before going to streaming will not be eligible for its awards. Netflix has already gotten ahead of that by giving its awards-driven content like The Power of the Dog, The Lost Daughter, Passing and Bruised exclusive theatrical releases before their streaming debuts. For Warner Bros, however, they have stuck with their day/date strategy with HBO Max for now, thereby eliminating its top directing contender, Oscar and DGA nominee Denis Villeneuve, from consideration. No word on if the studio will alter that release pattern for Dune or any of its other releases has been announced.

Here is the complete schedule of key dates for the 74th Directors Guild of America awards.

 Eligibility Period for 2022 Directors Guild Award

THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM

Entry Forms for DGA and Non-DGA Films available online – Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Deadline for Theatrical Feature Film entries with a planned, scheduled, or actual theatrical
release during the period of March 1, 2021 through June 14, 2021, the deadline – Friday, October 22, 2021

All eligible films theatrically released during the period of June 15, 2021 – December 31, 2021 will be automatically entered by the DGA Online voting for Theatrical Feature Film nominations opens Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Deadline to vote online for Theatrical Feature Film nominations – Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Five Theatrical Feature Film nominees announcement – Thursday, January 27, 2022

Online voting for Theatrical Feature Film Award opens Thursday, January 27, 2022

Membership Screenings of Nominated Theatrical Feature Films – Monday-Friday, Jan. 31 – Feb. 4, 2022

Deadline to vote online for Theatrical Feature Film Award – Friday, March 11, 2022

TELEVISION

Entry Forms for TV & Commercials available online Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Deadline for submitting TV & Commercials entries – Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Online voting for Television Nominations opens Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Deadline to vote online for Television nominations – Friday, January 21, 2022

Announce all Television and Commercials nominees – Wednesday, January 26, 2022

FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR

Entry Forms for First-Time Feature Film Director will be available online beginning
Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Deadline for First-Time Feature Film entries with a planned, scheduled, or actual theatrical release during the period of March 1, 2021 through June 14, 2021 – Friday, October 22, 2021

Deadline for First-Time Feature Film entries with a theatrical release during the period of June 15, 2021 through December 31, 2021 – Monday, November 8, 2021

Five First-Time Feature Film Director nominees announced Thursday, January 27, 2022

DOCUMENTARY

Entry Form for Documentary available online Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Deadline for Documentary entries with a theatrical release or broadcast during the period of
March 1, 2021 through June 14, 2021 – Friday, October 22, 2021

Deadline for Documentary entries with a theatrical release or broadcast during the period of June 15, 2021 through December 31, 2021

Monday, November 8, 2021
Documentary nominees announced Wednesday, January 26, 2022