Directors Guild Television and Documentary Nominations
The Directors Guild of America have announced the nominees for the 70th annual DGA Awards in the television, commercial and documentary categories.
The awards will be handed out February 3 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, with Judd Apatow hosting the ceremony and Don Mischer as awards chair.
The feature film and first-time feature film nominees will be announced Thursday, January 11.
A list of nominees follows.
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
THE DUFFER BROTHERS
Stranger Things, “Chapter Nine: The Gate”
(Netflix)
The Duffer Brothers‘ Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Timothy Lonsdale
- First Assistant Director: Richard Denault
- Second Assistant Director: John R. Bonaccorse
- Second Second Assistant Directors: David Champion, Robert S. Hoffman
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Clayton Thompson, Tyler Smith
This is Mr. Matt Duffer’s and Mr. Ross Duffer’s second DGA Award nomination. They were previously nominated in this same category in 2016 for Stranger Things, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers.”
REED MORANO
The Handmaid’s Tale, “Offred”
(Hulu)
Ms. Morano’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Joe Boccia
This is Ms. Morano’s first DGA Award nomination.
JEREMY PODESWA
Game of Thrones, “The Dragon and the Wolf”
(HBO)
This is Mr. Podeswa’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category in 2010 for The Pacific, “Home.”
MATT SHAKMAN
Game of Thrones, “The Spoils of War”
(HBO)
This is Mr. Shakman’s first DGA Award nomination.
ALAN TAYLOR
Game of Thrones, “Beyond the Wall”
(HBO)
Mr. Taylor’s Directorial Team:
- First Assistant Director: Toby Ford
This is Mr. Taylor’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2008 for Mad Men, “The Mountain King.” He won the DGA Award in this category in 2007 for hisMad Men pilot “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
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COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
AZIZ ANSARI
Master of None, “The Thief”
(Netflix)
Mr. Ansari’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Gwen Bialic, Igor Srubshchik
- First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
- Second Assistant Director: Ellen Parnett
This is Mr. Ansari’s first DGA Award nomination.
MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, “Server Error”
(HBO)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Tyler Romary
- First Assistant Director: Nick Mastandrea
- Second Assistant Director: Heather Wagner‑Wang
- Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Gordon Freeman
This is Mr. Judge’s fourth DGA Award nomination – all in this category for episodes of Silicon Valley.He was previously nominated in 2016 for “Founder Friendly,” in 2015 for “Binding Arbitration” and in 2014 for “Minimum Viable Product.”
MELINA MATSOUKAS
Master of None, “Thanksgiving”
(Netflix)
Ms. Matsoukas’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Gwen Bialic, Igor Srubshchik
- First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
- Second Assistant Director: Ellen Parnett
- Second Second Assistant Director: Dustin Bewley
- Location Manager: Julie Sage
This is Ms. Matsoukas’s first DGA Award nomination.
BETH McCARTHY‑MILLER
Veep, “Chicklet”
(HBO)
Ms. McCarthy‑Miller’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: David Hyman
- First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
- Second Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
- Second Second Assistant Director: Yarden Levo
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Chalis Romero
This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2013 for the 30 Rock episode “Hogcock!/Last Lunch.” She was also nominated that year, together with Rob Ashford, in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes “Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304” in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer and U2” episode ofSaturday Night Live. She was also twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night Live episodes “Christopher Walken and The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999. She was also nominated in 2015 in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category for Adele Live in New York City.
AMY SHERMAN‑PALLADINO
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
(Amazon)
Ms. Sherman‑Palladino’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Frank Covino, Dhana Rivera Gilbert
First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
Second Assistant Director: Soren Miltich
Second Second Assistant Director: Kyle Burstein
Location Manager: Michael Buonanno
This is Ms. Sherman‑Palladino’s first DGA Award nomination.
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI‑SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini‑Series for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
SCOTT FRANK
Godless
(Netflix)
Mr. Frank’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Alton Walpole, Michael Malone
- First Assistant Directors: Aldric La’auli Porter, Eric Henriquez
- Second Assistant Directors: Eric Glasser, Kevin O’Neil
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Jai James, C.J. Neels, Ronan O’Connor
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kathryn Olguin, Jessica Richey, Joe Bufalino
This is Mr. Frank’s first DGA Award nomination.
BARRY LEVINSON
The Wizard of Lies
(HBO)
Mr. Levinson’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Amy Herman, Joseph E. Iberti
- First Assistant Director: Michele Ziegler
- Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jakub Porembski
- Location Manager: Andrew D. Cooke
This is Mr. Levinson’s sixth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2010 for You Don’t Know Jack. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding DirectorialAchievement in Feature Film in 1988 for Rain Man, and was previously nominated in that category in1990 for Avalon and in 1991 for Bugsy. He was also nominated in the Dramatic Series category in 1993for his Homicide: Life on the Street episode “Gone for Goode.”
KYRA SEDGWICK
Story of a Girl
(Lifetime)
This is Ms. Sedgwick’s first DGA Award nomination.
JEAN‑MARC VALLÉE
Big Little Lies
(HBO)
Mr. Vallée’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Barbara A. Hall, G.D. Fienberg
- First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
- Second Assistant Director: Christine Danahy
- Second Second Assistant Director: Bob Riley
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Bryan Landrine, Rob Burgess, Allison Rushton, Mallory Squeo
This is Mr. Vallée’s first DGA Award nomination.
GEORGE C. WOLFE
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
(HBO)
Mr. Wolfe’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Kathryn Dean, Patricia Doherty Hess
- First Assistant Director: Chris Surgent
- Second Assistant Director: Takahide Kawakami
- Second Second Assistant Director: Kevin Breen
This is Mr. Wolfe’s second DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for OutstandingDirectorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini‑Series in 2005 for Lackawanna Blues (in a tie with Joseph Sargent for Warm Springs).
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
ANDRE ALLEN
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, “#2061”
(TBS)
Mr. Allen’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Jeremy Hardwick, Pat King
- Stage Manager: Laura Mack
This is Mr. Allen’s first DGA Award nomination.
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time with Bill Maher, “#1527”
(HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
- Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian Anderson
This is Mr. Casey’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in this category in 2016, 2015 and 2014 for Real Time with Bill Maher, “Show #1437,” “Show #1334” and “Show #1226.”
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Joe Biden/Elton John”
(CBS)
Mr. Hoskinson’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
- Stage Manager: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib, Susan Schroe
This is Mr. Hoskinson’s fifth DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in this category in 2016 for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Episode #0179” and in 2015, 2013 and 2007 for The Colbert Report episodes “11040, “ “10004” and “3052.”
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Jimmy Fallon”
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
- Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly
This is Mr. King’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in this category for Saturday Night Live, “Host: Dave Chappelle” in 2016, and for Saturday Night Live, “Host: Justin Timberlake” in 2013. Mr. King also won the DGA Award for Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special in 2015. 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.”
PAUL PENNOLINO
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “French Elections”
(HBO)
Mr. Pennolino’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Susan Schroer
This is Mr. Pennolino’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2016 for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. He is also nominated this year in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents‘ Dinner.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
STAN LATHAN
Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin
(Netflix)
Mr. Lathan’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Sara Niimi
- Stage Manager: Rob Sellers
This is Mr. Lathan’s first DGA Award nomination.
LINDA MENDOZA
Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Honoring David Letterman
(PBS)
Ms. Mendoza’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Dora Mendoza, Kelly Hernacki
- Stage Managers: Arthur Lewis, Mark McKenna, Lou Moore
This is Ms. Mendoza’s third DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in this same category in 2016 for Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House. She was also nominated in the Musical Variety category in 2010 for Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Performance at The White House.
PAUL PENNOLINO
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents‘ Dinner
(TBS)
Mr. Pennolino’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Jeremy Hardwick, Mike Walker, Libby Minarek, Jonathan Harris
- Stage Managers: Laura Mack, April Smith, Kenyon Noble
This is Mr. Pennolino’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2016 for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. He is also nominated this year in theVariety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming category for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “French Elections.”
AMY SCHUMER
Amy Schumer: The Leather Special
(Netflix)
This is Ms. Schumer’s second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming category in 2015 for Inside Amy Schumer, “12 Angry Men” with Director Ryan McFaul
GLENN WEISS
The 89th Annual Academy Awards
(ABC)
Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Eve Adair, Susan Kopensky, Lori Margules, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Michael Polito
- Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Rita Cossette, Dave Cove, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Ron Paul, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel‑Moore, Debbie Williams, Ari Woog
This is Mr. Weiss’s fourteenth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials in 2013, 2014 and 2016 for the 67th, 68th and 70th Annual Tony Awards and in the Musical Variety category in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, and 66th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in the Musical Variety category in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards. Additionally, Mr. Weiss was nominated in 2015 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series, together with Rob Ashford, for Peter Pan Live!
REALITY PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
HISHAM ABED
Encore!, “Pilot”
(ABC)
This is Mr. Abed’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category forThe Hills.
JOHN GONZALEZ
Live PD, “Episode 50”
(A&E)
Mr. Gonzalez’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Janine Devito
- Stage Manager: Jeff Buda
This is Mr. Gonzalez’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2016 for Live PD.
BRIAN SMITH
MasterChef, “Vegas Deluxe & Oyster Shucks”
(FOX
Mr. Smith’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Anna Moulaison
- Stage Managers: Drew Lewandowski, Brady Hess
This is Mr. Smith’s fifth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category forMasterChef in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 – and in 2016 for S.T.R.O.N.G.
ADAM VETRI
Dare to Live, “Chainsmokers”
(MTV)
Mr. Vetri’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Ian Blankenship
This is Mr. Vetri’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2014, and won in 2015, for Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge.
KENT WEED
Spartan: The Ultimate Team Challenge, “Season Premiere”
(NBC)
Mr. Weed’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Ben Simms
- Stage Manager: Dave Massey
This is Mr. Weed’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2008 for I Survived a Japanese Game Show.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
NIKI CARO
Anne with an E, “Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny”
(Netflix)
This is Ms. Caro’s first DGA Award nomination.
BENJAMIN LEHMANN
The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special
(HBO)
Mr. Lehmann’s Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yori Tondrowski, Frank Campagna
- Stage Managers: Anne Marie Dentici Gammon, Shawn Havens, Theresa Anderson
- Location Managers: Steven Carbajal, Jillian Stricker
This is Mr. Lehmann’s first DGA Award nomination.
LILY MARIYE
Just Add Magic, “Just Add Meddling”
(Amazon)
Ms. Mariye’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Pixie Wespiser
- First Assistant Director: Gregory Guzik
- Second Assistant Director: Darrell Woodard
- Second Second Assistant Director: Tara Nicole Tjahjadi
This is Ms. Mariye’s first DGA Award nomination.
ALISON McDONALD
An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life
(Amazon)
Ms. McDonald’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Richard G. King
- First Assistant Director: Otto Penzato
- Second Assistant Director: David Berke
- Second Second Assistant Director: Yarden Levo
This is Ms. McDonald’s first DGA Award nomination.
MATTHEW O’NEILL AND THALIA SODI
15: A Quinceañera Story: Zoey
(HBO)
This is Mr. O’Neill’s first DGA Award nomination.
This is Ms. Sodi’s first DGA Award nomination.
COMMERCIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
MARTIN de THURAH
(Epoch Films)
Festival, StubHub – Goodby Silverstein
- First Assistant Director: Charles Conner
Machines, StubHub – Goodby Silverstein
- First Assistant Director: Charles Conner
Mad World, WealthSimple – WealthSimple In House
- First Assistant Director: Jey Wada
- Second Assistant Director: Curtis Smith
This is Mr. de Thurah’s second DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2013 forThe Man Who Couldn’t Slow Down (Hennessy VS) and Human Race (Acura MDX 2014).
ALMA HAR’EL
(Epoch Films)
Love Without Bias, P&G – Wieden + Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: George Miles Johnstone
This is Ms. Har’el’s first DGA Award nomination.
HOFFMAN/METOYER
(MJZ)
Anthem, KitchenAid – DigitasLBi
- Second Assistant Director: Frankie Pagnotta
- Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Ross
Go Further, Ford – GTB
- First Assistant Director: David Webb
- Second Assistant Director: David Marnell
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jeff Tavani
This is the first DGA nomination for Mr. Will Hoffman and Mr. Julius Metoyer.
MILES JAY
(SMUGGLER)
Alive, Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones – Grey
- First Assistant Director: Gareth Moses
Calling JohnMalkovich.com, Squarespace – John X Hannes
Who is JohnMalkovich.com?, Squarespace – John X Hannes
This is Mr. Jay’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2015 for It Can Wait (ESPN).
ISAIAH SERET
(Biscuit Filmworks)
Growing Up, Samsung Galaxy – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
- First Assistant Director: Howell Caldwell
- Second Assistant Director: Ben Randolph
- Second Second Assistant Director: Shauna Frontera
I Love You, Samsung Great – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
- First Assistant Director: Brian Stevens
- Second Assistant Director: Steve Bagnara
Never Too Composed, Kohler – DDB Chicago
- First Assistant Director: Eric Topp
- Second Assistant Director: Rob Nia
This is Mr. Seret’s first DGA Award nomination.
DOCUMENTARY
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):
KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK
The Vietnam War
(PBS)
This is Mr. Burns’ and Ms. Novick’s second DGA Award nomination. They were previously nominated in this category in 2007 for The War.
BRYAN FOGEL
Icarus
(Netflix)
This is Mr. Fogel’s first DGA Award nomination.
MATTHEW HEINEMAN
City of Ghosts
(Amazon Studios)
This is Mr. Heineman’s second DGA Award nomination. He won in this category in 2015 for Cartel Land
STEVE JAMES
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
(PBS)
This is Mr. James’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won in this category in 1994 for Hoop Dreams, and was also nominated in this category in 2008 and 2011 for At The Death House Door and Frontline: The Interrupters.
ERROL MORRIS
Wormwood
(Netflix)
Mr. Morris’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Caroline Baron
- Assistant Unit Production Manager: Sean Fogel
- Stage Managers: Kamen Velkovsky, Keith Marlin
- Location Manager: David Velasco
This is Mr. Morris’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category in 1999 for Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuchter, Jr. and in 2003 for The Fog of War, and was also nominated in the Commercials category in 2003.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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