DGA Awards 2019: Alfonso Cuaron Continues the ‘Roma’ Win Streak

Roma director Alfonso Cuarón solidified his chances for taking home Oscars by earning the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Films award. The 2019 DGA Awards were presented on February 2nd and recognized the best in films and television of 2018.

Among those on hand to celebrate the work of directors were Mahershala Ali, Yalitza Aparicio, Christian Bale, Paris Barclay, Linda Cardellini, Marina de Tavira, Guillermo del Toro, Sam Elliott, Tony Hale, Dennis Haysbert, Brian Tyree Henry, Ron Howard, and Viggo Mortensen. Sarah Paulson, Jordan Peele, Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell, Octavia Spencer, John David Washington, and Constance Wu also presented awards at this year’s DGA event.

71st Annual DGA Awards Winners:

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:
    ALFONSO CUARÓN
    Roma (Netflix)Mr. Cuarón’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Ana Hernández
    First Assistant Director: René U. Villareal
    Second Assistant Director: María Dioni
    Second Second Assistant Directors: Luis Fernando Vásquez, Julián ‘Chico’ Valdés

    This was Mr. Cuarón’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2013 for Gravity.

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film
    BO BURNHAM
    Eighth Grade (A24)Mr. Burnham’s Directorial Team:
    First Assistant Director: Dan Taggatz
    Second Assistant Director: Vic Coram
    Second Second Assistant Director: Evelyn Fogleman

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

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
    ADAM McKAY
    Succession, “Celebration” (HBO)Mr. McKay’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Regina Heyman
    First Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
    Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers
    Second Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
    Location Managers: Michael Kriaris, Patty Carey

    This was Mr. McKay’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film Award for The Big Short in 2015.

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
    BILL HADER
    Barry, “Chapter One: Make Your Mark” (HBO)Mr. Hader’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: Mark Tobey, Aida Rodgers
    First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
    Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
    Second Second Assistant Director: Chris Riddle
    Additional Second Assistant Director: Gary Cotti

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

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series
    BEN STILLER
    Escape at Dannemora (Showtime)Mr. Stiller’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: Adam Brightman, Bill Carraro
    First Assistant Directors: Lisa M. Rowe, Lyda Blank, Phillip A. Patterson
    Second Assistant Director: Kevin R. Shields
    Second Second Assistant Director: Luke A. Crawford
    Location Manager: Hyo Park

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

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
    DON ROY KING
    Saturday Night Live, “Adam Driver; Kanye West” (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 thirteenth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in this category for Saturday Night Live, “Host: Jimmy Fallon” in 2017, 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.”

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials
    LOUIS J. HORVITZ
    The 60th Grammy Awards (CBS)Mr. Horvitz’s Directorial Team:
    Associate Directors: Richard A. Preuss, Ron Andreassen, Kate Hollanda, Sabrina Rufo Mishler, Booey Kober
    Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Doug Smith, Benny Almonte, Joey Despenzero, Peter Epstein, John Esposito, Andy Feigin, Doug Fogel, Tyler Goldman, Jeffry Gitter, Phyllis Digilio‑Kent, Arthur Lewis, Julie Lorusso, Jeff Markowitz, Seth Mellman, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Alfonso Pena, Annette Powlis, Kyle Ramdeen, Lauren Schneider, Eddie Valk, Karen Tasch Weiss

    This was Mr. Horvitz’s nineteenth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 1997 for The Kennedy Center Honors. He was also nominated for The Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2014. In 2013, he was nominated for The 55th Annual Grammy Awards and was previously nominated for The 70th, 71st, 72nd, 74th, 75th, 76th, 77th, 79th and 80th Annual Academy Awards, along with Sinatra: 80 Years My Way in 1995 and Live Aid Concert in 1985.

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs
    RUSSELL NORMAN
    The Final Table, “Japan” (Netflix)Mr. Norman’s Directorial Team:
    Associate Director: Carrie Havel
    Lead Stage Manager: Jonathan Marks
    Stage Managers: Daniel Curran, Mickel Picco

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

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs
    JACK JAMESON
    Sesame Street, “When You Wish Upon a Pickle: A Sesame Street Special” (HBO)Mr. Jameson’s Directorial Team:
    Associate Director: Ken Diego
    Stage Managers: Shawn Havens, Mike Walker, Theresa Anderson

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

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials
    SPIKE JONZE
    (MJZ)Welcome Home, Apple Homepod – TBWA \ Media Arts Lab
    Unit Production Managers: Vincent Landay, Natalie Hill
    First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
    Second Assistant Directors: Dave Marnell, Robert Kay, Nadeem Ashayer
    Second Second Assistant Director: Jeff Tavani

    This was Mr. Jonze’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2006 for Hello Tomorrow (Adidas), Penguin (Miller Beer) and Pardon Our Dust (Gap). He was also previously nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film Award for Being John Malkovich in 1999.

• • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
    TIM WARDLE
    Three Identical Strangers (Neon and CNN Films)This was Mr. Wardle’s first DGA Award nomination.

DGA Awards Medallion Small Lifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients

• • DON MISCHER – Lifetime Achievement Award in Television
    This award is given in recognition of Distinguished Achievement in Television Direction.

• • KATHLEEN McGILL – 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.

• • MIMI DEATON – Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award
    This award is given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.

• FX NETWORKS – DGA Diversity Award
  This award is given for the network’s commitment to, and leadership in, inclusive hiring in DGA-covered categories – and for the example they set for the rest of the industry.