Producers Guild of America Announces Finalists and Expansion of “PGA Innovation Award” for the 36th Producers Guild Awards

Today, the Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced the six finalists for the 2025 PGA Innovation Award, “which recognizes the production of a noteworthy, impactful emerging media program that significantly elevates the audience’s viewing experience.”

For the first time, PGA members will have an opportunity to explore and engage with all finalists and interact with some of their producers at the PGA Innovation Award Finalists Showcase, which will be hosted by AGBO on November 23. Each of the six finalists will also be featured in Produced By Magazine and their producers will participate in “Conversations In Innovation,” a virtual panel in December. 

The Innovation Award honors exceptional distinctiveness, inventiveness, and impact in expanding the conventions of program format, content, audience interaction, production technique and delivery. The expansion of programming around the PGA Innovation Award underscores  the guild’s mission of recognizing and embracing innovation and emerging technologies utilized by producers.

“The PGA is committed to honoring and encouraging innovation and emerging media formats,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line in a joint statement. “With the expansion of the PGA Innovation Award this year, the Guild has committed to ensuring that its members have an opportunity to experience and engage with some of the year’s most innovative productions that push the boundaries of creative expression and emerging media.”

“As co-chairs of the jury, we are thrilled to announce our six finalists, each of whom has pushed boundaries to deliver groundbreaking innovations reshaping our industry,” said jury leaders Joanna Popper and Eric W. Shamlin. “Every year, the jury witnesses a remarkable evolution in both the diversity of formats and the exceptional quality of work. This year is no exception—the finalists exemplify creative talent across a wide spectrum of technology, storytelling, and budget.”

The 2025 PGA Innovation Award Finalists are:

• Critterz (Native Foreign)
• Emperor (Atlas V / Reynard Films / France Télévisions)
• Impulse: Playing with Reality (Anagram / Floréal / France Télévisions)
• Orbital (Cosm Studios / Planetary Collective / Kuva)
• The Pirate Queen with Lucy Liu (Singer Studios)
• What If…? – An Immersive Story (Marvel Studios / ILM Immersive / Disney+)

The PGA awarded the inaugural Innovation Award in 2019 to the team behind “Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode 1.” The 2024 recipient of the award was the producing team behind Meta Quest’s VR experience “Body of Mine,” which was also featured at the 2024 Produced By Conference. Other winning productions include “For All Mankind: Time Capsule” (2022) and “Stay Alive, My Son” (2023).

Programs released between January 1, 2024, and October 1, 2024 were eligible for consideration. The PGA Innovation Award is presented to the production as a whole, not to individual producers. As such, the producers are not required to go through the PGA Awards eligibility determination process. The PGA Innovation Award, along with other key awards, will be presented during the PGA Awards Nominees Event on February 6, 2025 in Los Angeles. Confirmed details about the event are forthcoming. 

The 2025 Producers Guild Awards Event Chairs are Mike Farah and Joe Farrell. The 2025 Producers Guild Awards are produced by Anchor Street Collective and written by Jody Lambert, Lauren Cortizo and Matt Oberg for the Producers Guild of America. Branden Chapman is executive producer, and Carleen Cappelletti is co-executive producer. Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis is PR agency of record, and Diane Salerno manages sponsorships. 

Sponsors of the 2025 Producers Guild Awards include Cadillac, the Official Vehicle, Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline, Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky, and GreenSlate.