Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced the DGA’s nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2015.
“With more television and documentary choices than ever available to audiences, the level of directorial excellence across the nominees for these nine categories is unparalleled,” said Barclay. “We’re proud to recognize the critical role of director in these genres and honor the incredible range of talent and skill found in all of these projects. Congratulations to the nominees.”
The winners will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
MICHAEL ENGLER
Downton Abbey, “Episode 8”
(PBS)
This is Mr. Engler’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category in 2007 for the 30 Rock episode “Rosemary's Baby,” in 2003 for the Sex and the City episode “Hop, Skip & A Week,” and in 2001 for the Sex and the City episode “My Motherboard, Myself.”
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, “The Tradition of Hospitality”
(Showtime)
Ms. Glatter's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Michael Klick
First Assistant Director: Sunday Stevens
Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
This is Ms. Glatter’s sixth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2014 for Homeland, “From A to B and Back Again” and in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
DAVID NUTTER
Game of Thrones, “Mother's Mercy”
(HBO)
This is Mr. Nutter’s sixth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2013 for the Game of Thrones episode “The Rains of Castamere” and in 2006 for The Sopranos episode “Join the Club.” He was also nominated in the Comedy Series category for Entourage episodes “The Resurrection” (2007) and “Lose Yourself” (2010); and in the Movies for Television and Mini-Series category for The Pacific “Basilone” in 2010.
STEVEN SODERBERGH
The Knick, “Williams and Walker”
(Cinemax)
Mr. Soderbergh's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Michael Polaire, Gabrielle Mahon
First Assistant Director: Gregory Jacobs
Second Assistant Director: Jody Spilkoman
Second Second Assistant Directors: Travis Rehwaldt, Jason F. Fesel
Location Manager: Rob Striem
This is Mr. Soderbergh’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for Behind the Candelabra in 2013. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2000 for both Erin Brockovich and Traffic. He was also the recipient of the Guild’s 2014 Robert B. Aldrich Service Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.
MATTHEW WEINER
Mad Men, “Person to Person”
(AMC)
Mr. Weiner's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Dara Weintraub
First Assistant Director: Lisa M. Rowe
Second Assistant Director: Maria Mantia
Second Second Assistant Director: M. Ryan Traylor
This is Mr. Weiner’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category for the Mad Men episodes “Meditations in an Emergency” in 2008 and “Shut The Door. Have A Seat” in 2009.
COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
CHRIS ADDISON
Veep, “Election Night”
(HBO)
Mr. Addison's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Bill Hill
First Assistant Director: Dale Stern
Second Assistant Director: Michelle Gritzer
Second Second Assistant Director: Miles Perman
This is Mr. Addison’s first DGA Award nomination.
LOUIS C.K.
Louie, “Sleepover”
(FX)
Mr. C.K.’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: M. Blair Breard
First Assistant Director: Adam Escott
Second Assistant Director: Nick Vanderpool
Second Second Assistant Director: Daniel Lugo
Location Manager: Jeff Caron
This is Mr. C.K.’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2012 for the Louie episode “New Year’s Eve” and in 2014 for the Louie episode “Elevator: Part 6.” He was also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category in 2013 for Louis C.K.: Oh My God.
MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, “Binding Arbitration”
(HBO)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Philipp A. Barnett
First Assistant Director: Brett Dos Santos
Second Assistant Director: Thomas Boucher
Second Second Assistant Director: Bryan Snodgrass
This is Mr. Judge’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Silicon Valley episode “Minimum Viable Product.”
GAIL MANCUSO
Modern Family, “White Christmas”
(ABC)
Ms. Mancuso's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Sally Young
First Assistant Director: Jim Hensz
Second Assistant Director: Jason Z. Kemp
Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Baker
This is Ms. Mancuso’s third DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Modern Family episode “Vegas” and in 2013 for the Modern Family episode “My Hero.”
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, “Kina Hora”
(Amazon)
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell
Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes
Second Second Assistant Director: Anna Vogt
This is Ms. Soloway’s second DGA Award nomination. She previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy in 2014 for her Transparent episode “Best New Girl.”
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 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
ANGELA BASSETT
Whitney
(Lifetime)
Ms. Bassett's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Kyle Clark
First Assistant Director: Van Hayden
Second Assistant Director: Elaine Wood
Second Second Assistant Director: Wayne Witherspoon
This is Ms. Bassett’s first DGA Award nomination.
LAURIE COLLYER
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
(Lifetime)
Ms. Collyer's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Joseph Boccia
First Assistant Directors: Myron Hoffert, J. Stephen Buck
Second Assistant Directors: Gerrod Shully, Brent Clark
This is Ms. Collyer’s second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Documentary category in 2000 for Nuyorican Dream.
PAUL HAGGIS
Show Me a Hero
(HBO)
Mr. Haggis's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: April Taylor, Nina K. Noble
First Assistant Director: Haze JF Bergerson, III
Second Assistant Director: Matthew Mason
Second Second Assistant Director: Scott Foster
Additional Second Assistant Director: Mary G. Knauf
Location Manager: Andrew D. Cooke
This is Mr. Haggis’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2005 for Crash.
KENNY LEON (Directed By)
MATTHEW DIAMOND (Live Television Direction By)
The Wiz Live!
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Rae Kraus, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Adam Mishler
Key Stage Managers: Andrew C. Gottlieb, Jeff Markowitz
Stage Managers: Cyndi Owgang, Jeffrey L. Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Cody Renard Richard, Sarah Testerman
This is Mr. Leon’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2008 for A Raisin in the Sun.
This is Mr. Diamond’s seventh DGA Award nomination. He won DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for Great Performances: Dance in America – Swan Lake with American Ballet Theater in 2005; for From Broadway: Fosse in 2002, and for Some Enchanted Evening, Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein in 1995. He was previously nominated in the Musical Variety category in 1998 for Savion Glover – Stomp, Slide & Swing: Performance in the White House; in the Documentary category in 1998 for Dance Maker; and in the Children’s Programs category in 2008 for Camp Rock.
DEE REES
Bessie
(HBO)
Ms. Rees's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Ron Schmidt
First Assistant Director: Michael J. Moore
Second Assistant Director: Basti Van Der Woude
Second Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
This is Ms. Rees’s first DGA Award nomination.
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 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1334”
(HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian Anderson
This is Mr. Casey’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1226.”
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #325”
(NBC)
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Mark Jankeloff, Maureen Smith
Stage Managers: Niclana Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
This is Mr. Diomedi’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2014 for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #1.” He was previously nominated in this same category in 2013 for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato”
(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 tenth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live “Host: Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category this year for Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.
RYAN MCFAUL & AMY SCHUMER
Inside Amy Schumer, “12 Angry Men”
(Comedy Central)
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Nicholas R. Bell, Kim Thompson, Luke Sherman
This is Mr. McFaul’s first DGA Award nomination.
This is Ms. Schumer’s first DGA Award nomination.
CHUCK O'NEIL
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, “Episode #20142”
(Comedy Central)
Mr. O’Neil’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Paul A.J. Pennolino
Stage Managers: Craig Spinney, Tom Ucciferri, April Smith
This is Mr. O’Neil’s twelfth DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in 2010 for Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear and in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, all for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
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 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
SOFIA COPPOLA
A Very Murray Christmas
(Netflix)
Ms. Coppola’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Roman Coppola
Head Stage Manager: Jason Ivey
Stage Managers: Scott Bowers, Connie Pierce-Winters, Woodrow Travers
This is Ms. Coppola’s second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Feature Film category in 2003 for Lost in Translation.
HAMISH HAMILTON
The 87th Annual Academy Awards
(ABC)
Mr. Hamilton’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Hayley Collett, Susan Kopensky, Tim Kettle, Lori Margules, Michael Polito
Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Dave Cove, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Ron Paul, Vince Poxon, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Doug Smith, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Debbie Williams, Ari Woog
This is Mr. Hamilton’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2014 for The 86th Annual Academy Awards.
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti, Dan Dome
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Joey Despenzero, Lynn Finkel, Eddie Valk
This is Mr. King’s tenth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live “Host: Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming category this year for Saturday Night Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato.”
BETH MCCARTHY MILLER
Adele Live in New York City
(NBC)
Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Susan Locke-Shapiro, Michael Poole
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
This is Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s eleventh 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 of Saturday 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.
CHRIS ROCK
Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo
(HBO)
Mr. Rock’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director/Stage Manager: Arthur Lewis
This is Mr. Rock’s first DGA Award nomination.
REALITY PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
BRADY CONNELL
The Great Christmas Light Fight, “Episode 304”
(ABC)
This is Mr. Connell’s first DGA Award nomination.
KEN FUCHS
Shark Tank, “702”
(ABC)
Mr. Fuchs’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Amy Barker
Head Stage Manager: Eric Rhoden
Stage Managers: Doug Neal, Michael Strauss
This is Mr. Fuchs’s first DGA Award nomination.
STEVE HRYNIEWICZ
Cutthroat Kitchen, “Superstar Sabotage Finale: It’s Raining Ramen”
(Food Network)
Mr. Hryniewicz’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Anna Moulaison-Moore
Stage Manager: Drew Lewandowski
This is Mr. Hryniewicz’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in 2014 for Top Chef, “The First Thanksgiving.”
BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER
The Amazing Race, “Bring the Fun, Baby!”
(CBS)
Mr. van Munster’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Dan Coffie
This is Mr. van Munster’s tenth DGA Award nomination. He won in this category in 2007 for The Amazing Race, “Episode #1110” and was also nominated an additional seven times in this category for the The Amazing Race: in 2005 for “Episode #805,” in 2006 for “Episode #102,” in 2008 for “Episode #1303,” in 2009 for “Don’t Let A Cheese Hit Me,” in 2010 for “I Think We’re Fighting the Germans, Right?,” in 2011 for “You Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win?” and in 2013 for “Beards in the Wind.” He was also nominated with Directors Jack Cannon and Elise Doganieri in 2014 for The Quest, “One True Hero.”
ADAM VETRI
Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, “Gods of War”
(CMT)
Mr. Vetri’s Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Ian Blankenship
Stage Manager: Mercury Melendez
This is Mr. Vetri’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2014 for Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, “Welcome to the Gun Show.”
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL HOEN
Invisible Sister
(Disney Channel)
Mr. Hoen’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Michael C. Cuddy
First Assistant Director: Daniel Katzman
Second Assistant Director: Seth W. Hansen
Second Second Assistant Director: Brittney Diez
This is Mr. Hoen’s eighth DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2012 for Let It Shine and in 2007 for Jump In. He was also nominated in this category in 2010 for Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, in 2008 for Cheetah Girls: One World, in 2004 for Searching for David’s Heart, in 2000 for the Even Stevens episode “Take My Sister… Please,” and in 2014 for How to Build A Better Boy.
JOSEPH MAZZARINO
Sesame Street, “The Cookie Thief”
(PBS)
Mr. Mazzarino’s Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Ken Diego
Stage Managers: Theresa Anderson, Shawn Havens
This is Mr. Mazzarino’s second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2014 for Sesame Street, “4504 Numericon.”
KENNY ORTEGA
Descendants
(Disney Channel)
Mr. Ortega’s Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Rachel Leiterman
This is Mr. Ortega’s third DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2006 for High School Musical, and was nominated in this category in 2007 for High School Musical 2.
AMY SCHATZ
Saving My Tomorrow, “Part 3”
(HBO)
This is Ms. Schatz’s tenth DGA Award nomination. She won in this category five times for An Apology to Elephants in 2013, A Child’s Garden of Poetry in 2011, Classical Baby (I’m Grown Up Now), “The Poetry Show” in 2008, ‘Twas the Night in 2001, and Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepy Time Tales in 1999. She was also nominated an additional four times in this category for Saving My Tomorrow, “Part 1 and 2” in 2014, Don’t Divorce Me! Kids’ Rules for Parents on Divorce in 2012, Hard Times for an American Girl: The Great Depression in 2009, and Through a Child’s Eyes: September 11, 2001 in 2002.
SASIE SEALY
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, “Gortimer and the Vengeful Violinist”
(Amazon)
Ms. Sealy’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Richard G. King
First Assistant Director: Otto Penzato
Second Assistant Director: Lance W. Lanfear
Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Baker
This is Ms. Sealy’s first DGA Award nomination.
COMMERCIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
JUAN CABRAL
(MJZ)
Monkeys, Ikea – Mother
Freestyle, Lurpak – Wieden + Kennedy London
This is Mr. Cabral’s first DGA Award nomination.
MILES JAY
(Smuggler)
It Can Wait, ESPN – ESPN Creative Works
First Assistant Director: Scott Rorie
This is Mr. Jay’s first DGA Award nomination.
TOM KUNTZ
(MJZ)
So It Begins, Old Spice – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
Second Assistant Director: Robert Kay
The Chase, Heineken – Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam
First Assistant Director: Steven Fernandez
Revenge, Clash of Clans – Barton F. Graff
First Assistant Directors: Peter Jackson, Kevin Burke
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Burke
This is Mr. Kuntz’s sixth DGA Award nomination. He previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for Eyebrows (Cadbury), Tips (Career Builder), Scents for Gents (Old Spice) and Tailor (Skittles) in 2009; and was previously nominated in this category in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
ANDREAS NILSSON
(Biscuit Filmworks)
Emily’s Oz, Comcast – Goodby, Silverstein & Partners NY
First Assistant Directors: Craig Owens, Eric Topp
Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp
Time Upon A Once, General Electric – BBDO
Unit Production Manager: Vincent Landay
Dad Song, Old Spice – Wieden + Kennedy
This is Mr. Nilsson’s first DGA Award nomination.
STEVE ROGERS
(Biscuit Filmworks)
Ripple, Nike Golf – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Unit Production Manager: Vincent Landay
First Assistant Director: David Dean
Second Assistant Director: Blake Perkinson
Second Second Assistant Director: Frank Horn
Snow Day, Nike – Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Unit Production Manager: James Veal
First Assistant Director: Craig Owens
Second Assistant Director: Eric Topp
Second Second Assistant Directors: Rob Nia, Rob Topp, Rob Torres
This is Mr. Rogers’s first DGA Award nomination.
DOCUMENTARY
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
JIMMY CHIN & ELIZABETH CHAI VASARHELYI
Meru
Music Box Films
Itinerant Media
Little Monster Films
This is Mr. Chin’s first DGA Award nomination.
This is Ms. Vasarhelyi’s first DGA Award nomination.
LIZ GARBUS
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Netflix Documentary
RadicalMedia
Moxie Firecracker
This is Ms. Garbus’s first DGA Award nomination.
ALEX GIBNEY
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
HBO Documentary Films
Sky Atlantic
Jigsaw Productions
This is Mr. Gibney’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category in 2007 for Taxi to the Darkside and in 2010 for Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer.
MATTHEW HEINEMAN
Cartel Land
The Orchard
A&E Indiefilms
Our Time Projects
The Documentary Group
Whitewater Films
This is Mr. Heineman’s first DGA Award nomination.
ASIF KAPADIA
Amy
A24
Cinetic
Globe Productions
On The Corner
Mr. Kapadia’s Directorial Team:
Production Manager: Raquel Alvarez
This is Mr. Kapadia’s first DGA Award nomination.
For a complete list of nominations in all categories, please visit the Awards section of the DGA website at www.dga.org.
The winners in all categories will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
BMW is the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of the 68th Annual DGA Awards.
