The Directors Guild of America (DGA) today announced the host and presenters for the tenth Directors Guild of America Honors, to be held at the DGA Theater in New York City on Thursday, October 18, 2018 and followed by an after-party at Nobu 57.

Comedian and director Mike Birbiglia will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Birbiglia’s critically acclaimed 2012 directorial debut Sleepwalk with Me was based on his solo play and book of the same name. Birbiglia’s highly anticipated solo play The New One will make its Broadway debut in November.   

Confirmed presenters to date include:

  • Christine Baranski (The Good Fight, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Big Bang Theory)
  • Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, A Walk on the Moon, Conviction, Ghost)
  • Kevin Kline (Beauty and the Beast, In & Out, The Ice Storm, Dave)
  • Jay D. Roth, former National Executive Director, DGA, Senior Advisor
  • Meryl Streep (The Post, Florence Foster Jenkins, Julie & Julia, Mamma Mia!)
  • Sigourney Weaver (Avatar, The Ice Storm, Gorillas in the Mist, Alien)
  • David White, National Executive Director, SAG-AFTRA

World-renowned director Ang Lee is receiving the DGA Honor for his tremendous contributions to the industry as a pioneering filmmaker. Fox Searchlight Pictures Chairman Nancy Utley is receiving the DGA Honor for her longstanding support for independent film and directors’ creative visions and her extensive philanthropic efforts. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is being recognized with a DGA Honor for her longstanding commitment to fighting for creators’ rights and safeguarding the content created by DGA members and the entertainment industry. SAG-AFTRA Senior Advisor John McGuire is being recognized for his nearly five decades of work on behalf of performers, and as a New York leader fighting for the rights of all industry workers and the health of the entertainment community. Costume designer Ann Roth is receiving the DGA Honor for her trailblazing career.

DGA Honors celebrates individuals and institutions that have made distinguished contributions to American culture through the world of film and television. The event recognizes the diversity of achievement—in business, government, and labor — that have made New York and the eastern U.S. an exciting and thriving home for the entertainment industry. The membership of the DGA, other top entertainment industry professionals, and union, government and business leadership from across the nation are expected to attend.

For more information about DGA Honors 2018, including honoree biographies, please visit: https://www.dga.org/Awards/Honors.aspx

About the DGA

In the more than 80 years since its founding in 1936, the DGA has fought for the economic and creative rights of its members; protected their ability to financially benefit from the reuse of their work; established strong pension and health plans; and established jurisdiction in new technologies and distribution platforms. Today we represent more than 17,000 directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, new media and other audiovisual media.

 

About Mike Birbiglia
Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, director, writer and actor – and proud member of the DGA. He made his NYC theater debut in 2008 with the Nathan Lane-produced solo play Sleepwalk with Me which ran for eight months at the Bleecker Street Theater and became a NY Times bestselling book of the same name. Birbiglia adapted Sleepwalk with Me into his directorial debut feature film. Sleepwalk with Me won the “Best of Next” Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival in 2012. His second feature Don’t Think Twice starring Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs was the best reviewed comedy of 2016 according to Rotten Tomatoes. His latest solo play The New One recently sold out a six week run at the Cherry Lane Theatre and was called “a genius blend of confessional and observational comedy” by the New York Times. The New One (thenewone.com) moves to Broadway November 11th at the Cort Theatre.