Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — a.k.a. the Daniels — the duo behind the sci-fi comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” won the top prize at the Directors Guild of America‘s DGA awards on Saturday night. They became the third directing duo ever to win.
The Daniels beat out Steven Spielberg, who holds the record for the most nominations and wins, at 13 and three, respectively. Spielberg was gunning for his fourth trophy, for the semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans.”
“This has been an incredible year for our little film that somehow keeps going,” Kwan said. This was the first DGA Award nomination for the filmmakers.
The DGA boasts a voting body of around 19,000 members. Over its 75-year history, the DGA Awards has been the most reliable barometer for the Oscars’ best director prize. only eight DGA winners have failed to walk away with the Academy Award, most recently Sam Mendes (“1917”), who lost to Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”) in 2020.
“Euphoria” executive producer and director Sam Levinson won the award for dramatic series. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the ability to do this job,” Levinson said. This was his first DGA Award nomination — and first win.
Bill Hader won the comedy award for directing the “Barry” episode “710N”; he was not in attendance on Saturday. This is his third DGA award, having also won the category in 2019 and 2020.
In the limited series/TV movie category, Helen Shaver won for “Station Eleven.” Having started her career as an actor, Shaver recounted her journey to becoming a director. “Thank you DGA for recognizing me as one of your peers,” she said. This was Shaver’s first DGA award nomination; she previously won a Directors Guild of Canada award for the episode (“Who’s There?”) and previously won Directors Guild of Canada awards for “Vikings.”
In the first-time theatrical feature film category, which was renamed this year in honor of legendary filmmaker Michael Apted, “Aftersun” director Charlotte Wells won the award.
The night kicked off with “Fire of Love” director Sara Dosa winning the prize for best documentary. It was her first nomination and first win at the DGA Awards. “It’s been truly a struggle and I’m so grateful to have my dream job,” she said.
Glenn Weiss won his ninth DGA Award (his first for 2018), this time for CBS’ 75th Annual Tony Awards, in the variety/talk/news/sports — specials. Weiss revealed that he eloped with his now-wife Jan on Valentine’s Day; the director famously and very publicly proposed to his girlfriend on stage during the Emmy Awards in 2018.
“Saturday Night Live” director Liz Patrick won the award for variety/talk/news/sports — series for helming the episode featuring host and musical guest Jack Harlow. This was Patrick’s first DGA Awards nomination and first win. And in children’s programs, Anne Renton won for Apple TV+’s “Best Foot Forward.” This was also her first DGA Award nomination and first win.
In reality programs, Nat Geo’s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” director Ben Simms won the category. It was his second DGA nomination; he was also nominated for the show last year.
DGA president Lesli linka Glatter opened the awards show by briefly discussing the upcoming guild contract negotiations with the town’s studios.
“In this ever changing, complicated and sometimes hostile environment for creative people in our industry – we are committed to ensuring that creative excellence and economic stability continue so you can realize your vision,” she said. “And I can guarantee you one thing – the DGA is going to fight like hell to protect that future for our directors and their teams.
“Later this spring, we will be back at the table. And rest assured – we will be ready. It comes down to this: we are all partners in this business. Partners. Which means negotiating a new contract that continues to treat our members fairly and with respect, that recognizes and rewards our vital contributions to this industry no matter how it evolves, that reinforces our shared interest in building a healthy, vibrant, stable business that will entertain and inspire audiences around the world.
“The DGA is prepared and ready to fight for an excellent deal to protect the future for directors and their teams — and that is exactly what we are going to achieve,” she added.
Also during the ceremony, Robert Fishman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for TV direction; first assistant director Mark Hansson received the Frank Capra Achievement Award for an assistant director or unit production manager and stage manager; and Valdez Flagg received the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award for an associate director or stage manager.
Judd Apatow was back to host this year’s ceremony. The event, which returned live last year after going virtual in 2021, and is part of a busy holiday weekend on the kudos gauntlet that also includes the BAFTA and Art Directors Guild events. Here’s a look at this year’s winners.
(Winners are in bold.)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film
WINNERS: DANIEL KWAN, DANIEL SCHEINERT, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
Unit Production Manager: Allison Rose Carter, First Assistant Director: Rodney Smith, Second Assistant Director: John Nasraway, Second Second Assistant Director: Ken C. Wu
TODD FIELD, “Tár” (Focus Features)
Unit Production Manager: Nigel Wooll, First Assistant Director: Sebastian Fahr-Brix
JOSEPH KOSINSKI, “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures)
Unit Production Managers: LeeAnn Stonebreaker, Tommy Harper, First Assistant Director: Scott Robertson, Second Assistant Directors: Andrew Stahl, Robert E. Kay, Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor
MARTIN McDONAGH, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight Pictures)
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
STEVEN SPIELBERG, “The Fabelmans” (Universal Pictures)
Unit Production Manager: Carla Raij, First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen, Second Assistant Director: Heather Wagner-Wang, Second Second Assistant Director: David Stickler
Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director
WINNER: Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun” (A24)
Alice Diop, “Saint Omer” (Neon)
Audrey Diwan, “Happening” (IFC Films)
John Patton Ford, “Emily the Criminal” (Roadside Attractions/Vertical Entertainment)
Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, “Murina” (Kino Lorber)
Dramatic Series
WINNER: SAM LEVINSON, Euphoria, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” (HBO)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield; First Assistant Directors: Valerie Johnson, Sally Brunski; Second Assistant Directors: Cindy King, Colin Duffy; Second Second Assistant Directors: James Chestnut; Additional Second Assistant Director: Aaron Rose Leone
JASON BATEMAN, Ozark, “A Hard Way To Go” (Netflix)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Dana Scott, Patrick Markey; First Assistant Director: Townson Wells; Second Assistant Director: Jill Somers; Second Second Assistant Director: Sarah Gorczyk; Additional Second Assistant Director: Evan Marsh
VINCE GILLIGAN, Better Call Saul, “Waterworks” (AMC)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Richard E. “Slab” Chaplain Jr.; First Assistant Director: Angie Meyer; Second Assistant Director: Louis A. Lanni; Second Second Assistant Director: Magin Gomez; Additional Second Assistant Director: Nathan E. Davis
AOIFE MCARDLE, Severance, “Hide and Seek” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Kristyn Macready; First Assistant Directors: Ellen Parnett, Kit Bland; Second Assistant Directors: Sahar Shmolevitz, Melinda Ziyadat; Second Second Assistant Directors: Kelsi Russell, Jack A. Birdsall; Additional Second Assistant Directors: Skylar Loraquette, Alexander Hirschl; Location Manager: Ryan Smith
BEN STILLER, Severance, “The We We Are” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Kristyn Macready; First Assistant Director: Marco Londoner; Second Assistant Director: Matt Lake; Second Second Assistant Directors: Kelsi Russell, Justin Bischoff, Jack A. Birdsall; Location Manager: Ryan Smith
Comedy Series
WINNER: BILL HADER, Barry, “710N” (HBO)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Aida Rodgers; First Assistant Director: Gavin Kleintop; Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares; Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, Chalis Romero
TIM BURTON, Wednesday, “Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe” (Netflix)
AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?” (Amazon Prime Video)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Dhana Rivera Gilbert, Meghan K. Wicker; First Assistant Director: Julie A. Bloom; Second Assistant Director: Lisa McPherson; Second Second Assistant Directors: Lincoln Major, Peter Nix; Additional Second Assistant Directors: Cameron Boone, Conor Griff; Assistant Unit Production Managers: Nick Thomason, Luca Waldman; Location Manager: Jose Guerrero
CHRISTOPHER STORER, The Bear, “Review” (Hulu)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Carrie Holt De Lama; First Assistant Director: Duccio Fabbri; Second Assistant Director: Dan Gutierrez; Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole McGovern; Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas
MIKE WHITE, The White Lotus, “BYG” (HBO)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Mark Kamine; First Assistant Director: Justin Ritson; Second Assistant Director: Joe Landry; Second Second Assistant Director: Bobby Teten
Movies for Television and Limited Series
WINNER: HELEN SHAVER, Station Eleven, “Who’s There?” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: David Nicksay; First Assistant Director: Jennifer Wilkinson; Second Assistant Director: Anna Vogt
ERIC APPEL, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (Roku Channel)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Jason C. Brown; First Assistant Director: Emily Neumann; Second Assistant Director: Julie Cummings; Second Second Assistant Director: Oscar Flores
DEBORAH CHOW, “Obi‑Wan Kenobi” (Disney+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Thomas Hayslip, Susan McNamara; First Assistant Director: Katterli Frauenfelder; Second Assistant Director: Jeff Hubbard; Second Second Assistant Directors: Isaac Mejia, Franny Stafford; Additional Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann
JEREMY PODESWA, Station Eleven, “Unbroken Circle” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team:; Unit Production Manager: David Nicksay; First Assistant Directors: Andrew Shea, Derek Peterson, Jennifer Wilkinson
TOM VERICA, Inventing Anna, “The Devil Wore Anna” (Netflix)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Brette Billow, Mary Kane (LA Unit); First Assistant Directors: Dylan Hopkins, Marisia Moreno, Carol Vitkay (LA Unit); Second Assistant Directors: Adam Bernard, Maggie Callis, Cara McCastlain Fisher (LA Unit); Second Second Assistant Director: Pam Giangreco, Ellen Parnett, Heidi Hinzman (LA Unit); Location Manager: Kristin Dromboski
PvNew/Talk/News/Sports — Regularly Scheduled Programming
WINNER: LIZ PATRICK, Saturday Night Live, “Host and Musical Guest Jack Harlow” (NBC)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel‑Mack; Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
PAUL G. CASEY Real Time With Bill Maher, “Episode #2010” (HBO)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Stacy Talbot; Stage Managers: Brian Anderson, Patrick Whitney
JIM HOSKINSON, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Episode #1333” (CBS)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger; Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
DAVID PAUL MEYER, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “Brandi Carlile Discusses Her New Deluxe Album and Performs “You and Me on the Rock”” (Comedy Central)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Adrienne Ford; Stage Managers: Bennymar Almonte, Nick Bailey
PAUL PENNOLINO, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Afghanistan” (HBO)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson; Stage Managers: Jeff Leib, Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney
PvNew/Talk/News/Sports — Specials
WINNER: GLENN WEISS, The 75th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Susan Kopensky, Ricky Kirshner; Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Bennymar Almonte, Phyllis Digilio, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Tyler Goldman, Arthur Lewis, Kevin Lishawa, Julie LoRusso, Seth Mellman, Jason Pacella, Jeffrey Pearl, Annette Powlis, Lauren Class Schneider, Eddie Valk
IAN BERGER, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe ‑ Hungary for Democracy (Comedy Central)
HAMISH HAMILTON, Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show 2022 (NBC)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Hayley Collett, Sara Niimi; Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Jeffry Gitter, Karen Tasch Weiss, Donna Parker, Tammy Raab, Zachary Figures, Jackie Stathis, Johnny Pruitt, Jennifer Marquet
JAMES MERRYMAN, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter (ABC)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Lizz Zanin, Leslie Vincent; Stage Managers: Ron Paul, Jackie Paul, Jackie Stathis, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Jason Drew
MARCUS RABOY, Mark Twain Prize 2022: Celebrating Jon Stewart (PBS)
Directorial Team: Associate Directors: Robin Mishkin Abrams, Kelly Hernacki; Stage Managers: Rhoda Gilmore, Doug Fogel, Annette Powlis
Reality Programs
WINNER: BEN SIMMS, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, “Florence Pugh in the Volcanic Rainforests of Costa Rica” (National Geographic Channel)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Sara Brown
JOSEPH H. GUIDRY, The Big Brunch, “Carb Loading Brunch” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Sean P. Galvin; Stage Managers: Rachel Shimko, J.C. Babas, Winston Churchill, Patty Sosa
CARRIE HAVEL, The Go‑Big Show, “only One Can Win” (TBS)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Dara DiGerolamo; Stage Managers: Rafael Orozco, Linda Carizzo, Patricia Sosa, Greg Rosa, Ike Fuchs, Theresa Moio
RICH KIM, Lego Masters, “Jurass‑brick World” (Fox)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Ryan Bunnell; Stage Managers: Will Baker, Ken Cooper
MICHAEL SHEA, FBoy Island, “Do You Like Cats?” (HBO Max)
Directorial Team: Associate Director: Tori Himes; Stage Managers: J.C. Babas
Children’s Programs
WINNER: ANNE RENTON, Best Foot Forward, “Halloween” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Lance W. Lanfear; First Assistant Director: Nandi Bowe; Second Assistant Director: Susie Balaban; Second Second Assistant Director: Tim Neven
TIM FEDERLE, “Better Nate Than Ever” (Disney+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Guy Efrat, Pamela Thur; First Assistant Director: Danielle Rigby; Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson; Second Second Assistant Director: Billy Brennan; Additional Second Assistant Directors: Annie Tompkins, Jes Norris; Location Manager: Michael Buonanno
BonNIE HUNT, Amber Brown, “I, Amber Brown” (Apple TV+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Jeff T. Miller; First Assistant Director: Troy Rohovit; Second Assistant Director: Cody Harbaugh; Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Moceri
DEAN ISRAELITE, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, “The Tale of Room 13” (Nickelodeon)
Directorial Team: First Assistant Director: Sinan Saber; Second Assistant Director: Ashley Bell
MICHAEL LEMBECK, “Snow Day The Musical” (Paramount+)
Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Julie Kovisars
Commercials
WINNER: KIM GEHRIG (Somesuch, Inc.)
Accessibility, Apple ‑ Apple (Direct)
First Assistant Directors: Michael Estrella; Second Assistant Director: Brian Steffen; Second Second Assistant Director: Shauna Frontera
Run Baby Run, iPhone ‑ Apple (Direct)
First Assistant Director: Matias Nilsson; Second Assistant Director: Carl Jackson; Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Paulson
JUAN CABRAL (MJZ)
For All Life’s Moments, John Lewis ‑ adam&eveDDB
First Assistant Director: Ben Glickman
Share the Joy, Apple AirPods ‑ TBWAMedia Arts Lab
CRAIG GILLESPIE (MJZ)Hard Knocks, Apple Watch Series 7 – Apple
First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
Problem, Jimmy John’s – Anomaly
First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet; Second Assistant Director: Greg Moutran; Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher Maltauro
Thrill Driver, Nissan ‑ TBWAChiatDay NY
First Assistant Director: Francois Caillaud; Second Assistant Director: Rob Topp; Second Second Assistant Director: Michael Dudley
DAVID SHANE (O Positive, LLC)
Detectives, iPhone 13 Pro – Apple
First Assistant Director: Greg McCollum; Second Assistant Director: Heidi Vanderjagt
Smile, ITVX ‑ Uncommon
Traffic Stop, Native ‑ M/H
IVAN ZACHARIÁŠ (SMUGGLER)
Data Auction, iPhone ‑ TBWA Media Arts Lab
First Assistant Director: Brian Carmody
This Is How We Work Now, Upwork ‑ Alto
documentary
WINNER: SARA DOSA, “Fire of Love” (National Geographic)
MATTHEW HEINEMAN, “Retrograde” (Disney+)
LAURA POITRAS, “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (Neon)
DANIEL ROHER, “Navalny” (CNN+/HBO Max)
SHAUNAK SEN, “All That Breathes” (HBO/HBO Max)
