DGA Awards: Sam Mendes, Taika Waititi Among All-Male Feature-Film Director Nominees
Other nominees for the directors guild's top prize include 'Parasite's' Bong Joon Ho, 'The Irishman's' Martin Scorsese and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's' Quentin Tarantino.

The Directors Guild of America on Tuesday announced the feature-film and first-time director nominees for the 2020 DGA Awards.
The five feature-film directors nominated are Parasite's Bong Joon Ho, 1917's Sam Mendes, The Irishman's Martin Scorsese, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's Quentin Tarantino and Jojo Rabbit's Taika Waititi. This year's nominees are notably devoid of any female helmers, with such hopefuls as Little Women's Greta Gerwig, The Farewell's Lulu Wang, Harriet's Kasi Lemmons and Hustlers' Lorene Scafaria failing to land a nomination. Other notable omissions from the DGA's top prize include best director Oscar hopefuls Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story), Todd Phillips (Joker), Fernando Meirelles (The Two Popes), James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari) and Rian Johnson (Knives Out).
Last year, Roma's Alfonso Cuaron won the DGA's feature-film award ahead of winning best director honors at the 2019 Academy Awards.
The first-time feature-film directing nominees are a more diverse slate featuring Atlantics' Mati Diop, Honey Boy's Alma Har'el, Queen & Slim's Melina Matsoukas, The Peanut Butter Falcon's Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz and The Last Black Man in San Francisco's Joe Talbot.
The DGA on Monday announced a partial list of TV nominees for its 72nd annual awards. The guild unveiled the nominations in several television, commercial and documentary categories.
The contenders in the categories of comedy and drama series and variety/talk/news/sports – specials, were originally set to be announced on Monday, with the rest of the guild's small-screen nominees, but were delayed "due to a re-vote related to a newly implemented electronic entry submissions process," the DGA said on Monday.
Instead, those final TV nominees were announced on Friday, with Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and HBO's Watchmen and Game of Thrones earning multiple nominations within their respective comedy and drama categories.
Indeed, all of the nominees for outstanding directorial achievement in drama series are for directors on HBO shows: Nicole Kassell for Watchmen, "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"; Mark Mylod for Succession, "This Is Not for Tears"; David Nutter for Game of Thrones, "The Last of the Starks"; Miguel Sapochnik for Game of Thrones, "The Long Night"; and Stephen Williams for Watchmen, "This Extraordinary Being."
The nominees for outstanding directorial achievement in comedy series are Dan Attias for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "It's the Sixties, Man!" for Amazon; Bill Hader for Barry, "ronny/lily" for HBO; David Mandel for Veep, "Veep" for HBO; Amy Sherman-Palladino for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "It's Comedy or Cabbage"; and Daniel Palladino for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "Marvelous Radio."
The nominees for directorial achievement in variety/talk/news/sports specials are James Burrows and Andy Fisher for Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" on ABC; Spike Jonze (earning his second nomination this year) for Aziz Ansari: Right Now on Netflix; Stan Lathan for Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones on Netflix; Linda Mendoza for Wanda Sykes: Not Normal on Netflix; and Glenn Weiss for the 91st annual Academy Awards on ABC.
Among the nominees in the best movies for TV and limited series category were three directors who scored separate mentions for Fosse/Verdon: Thomas Kail, Minkie Spiro and Jessica Yu. They will compete with Ava DuVernay for When They See Us, Vince Gilligan for El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and Johan Renck for Chernobyl.
Other nominees include Don Roy King, Jon Favreau, Barry Sonnenfeld and Ridley Scott.
The DGA Awards will be handed out Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
The full list of film and TV nominees follow.
Jan. 10, 5:26 p.m. This story has been updated with the comedy and drama series and variety/talk/news/sports — specials nominees.
-
Feature Film
Bong Joon Ho
Parasite
(Neon)
Mr. Bong's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Park Min Chul
First Assistant Director: Kim Seong SikSam Mendes
1917
(Universal Pictures)
Mr. Mendes's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Callum McDougall, Hannah Godwin
First Assistant Director: Michael Lerman
Second Assistant Director: Joey CoughlinMartin Scorsese
The Irishman
(Netflix)
Mr. Scorsese's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: John A. Machione, Carla Raij
First Assistant Director: David Webb
Second Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Second Second Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares
Additional Second Assistant Director: Ryan Robert Howard
Location Manager: Kip MyersQuentin Tarantino
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
(Columbia Pictures)
Mr. Tarantino's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Georgia Kacandes, Nathan Kelly
First Assistant Director: William Paul Clark
Second Assistant Director: Christopher T. Sadler
Second Second Assistant Director: Brendan "Bear" Lee
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Debbie Chung, Katie PruittTaika Waititi
Jojo Rabbit
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. Waititi's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Václav Mottl, Pavel Vorá?ek
First Assistant Director: Mark Taylor
Second Assistant Director: Martina Götthansová
Second Second Assistant Director: Martina Frimelová -
First-Time Feature Film
Mati Diop
Atlantics
(Netflix)
Ms. Diop’s Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Vincent PradesAlma Har'el
Honey Boy
(Amazon Studios)
Ms. Har'el's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Grace
First Assistant Director: Sean Vawter
Second Assistant Director: Colin Flaherty
Second Second Assistant Director: Sarah BalboaMelina Matsoukas
Queen & Slim
(Universal Pictures)
Ms. Matsoukas's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Pamela Hirsch, Max Berryhill (Los Angeles Unit)
First Assistant Directors: HH Cooper, Joe Suarez (Los Angeles Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: James Roque, Johnny Recher (Los Angeles Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Sumner Boissiere, Tami Kumin (Ohio Unit)
Tyler Nilson & Michael Shwartz
The Peanut Butter Falcon
(Roadside Attractions)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Manu Gargi
First Assistant Director: James Grayford
Second Assistant Director: Dee Jones
Second Second Assistant Director: Michael McKayJoe Talbot
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
(A24 Films)
Mr. Talbot's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Natalie Teter
First Assistant Director: Hilton J. Day
Second Assistant Director: Dominic Martin
Second Second Assistant Director: Jeremiah Kelleher
Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Alex Gilbert -
Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "It's the Sixties, Man!" (Prime Video)
Mr. Attias’ Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Dhana Rivera Gilbert, Nadia Paine (Oklahoma Unit)
First Assistant Directors: Jesse Nye, Steve Love (Oklahoma Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Natasha Rivera, Jason Inman (Oklahoma Unit)
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Meghan K. Wicker
Second Second Assistant Director: Lincoln Major
Location Managers: Amanda Burbank, Jose Guerrero, Nick ThomasonBarry, "ronny/lily," (HBO)
Mr. Hader’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Aida Rodgers
First Assistant Director: Gavin Kleintop
Second Assistant Director: Kevin Zelman
Second Second Assistant Director: Heather Kehayas
Additional Second Assistant Director: Mikaela MathernVeep, "Veep," (HBO)
Mr. Mandel’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Hyman
First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg
Second Assistant Director: Emily Hogan
Second Second Assistant Directors: Ismael Jimenez, Chalis Romero
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Phil Banks, Zach Davenport, Alexis Dvorak, Phil Goodrich, Christina Lee, Emily NeumannThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "It's Comedy or Cabbage," (Prime Video)
Mr. Palladino’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Dhana Rivera Gilbert
First Assistant Director: Jesse Nye
Second Assistant Director: Natasha Rivera
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Meghan K. Wicker
Second Second Assistant Director: Lincoln Major
Location Managers: Amanda Burbank, Jose Guerrero, Nick ThomasonThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "Marvelous Radio," (Prime Video)
Ms. Sherman Palladino’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Dhana Rivera Gilbert, Nadia Paine
First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
Second Assistant Director: Luca Waldman
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Meghan K. Wicker
Second Second Assistant Director: Lincoln Major
Location Managers: Amanda Burbank, Jose Guerrero, Nick Thomason -
Dramatic Series
Nicole Kassell, Watchmen, "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice," (HBO)
Ms. Kassell's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Karen Wacker, Ron Schmidt, Joseph E. Iberti
First Assistant Director: Keri Bruno
Second Assistant Directors: Lisa Zugschwerdt, Ben White
Second Second Assistant Director: Jessie Sasser WhiteMark Mylod, Succession, "This Is Not For Tears," (HBO)
Mr. Mylod's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Tyson Bidner, Gabrielle Mahon
First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
Second Assistant Director: Michelle Flevotomas
Second Second Assistant Director: Nicholas NotteDavid Nutter, Game of Thrones, "The Last of the Starks," (HBO)
Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones, "The Long Night," (HBO)
Stephen Williams, Watchmen, "This Extraordinary Being," (HBO)
Mr. Williams's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Karen Wacker, Ron Schmidt, Joseph E. Iberti
First Assistant Director: Kayse Goodell
Second Assistant Director: Ben White -
Movies for Television and Limited Series
Ava DuVernay
When They See Us
(Netflix)
DuVernay's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: John P. Fedynich, Amy Kaufman
First Assistant Director: H.H. Cooper
Second Assistant Director: Jamiyl Campbell
Second Second Assistant Director: Amrita Kundu
Additional Second Assistant Director: Kyler Griffin
Location Manager: Charlynne J. HopsonVince Gilligan
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
(Netflix)
Gilligan's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Robin Le Chanu, Charles Newirth
First Assistant Director: John Wildermuth
Second Assistant Director: Katy Galow
Second Second Assistant Director: Nathan E. Davis
Additional Second Assistant Directors: Melissa Bosco-Laude, Chad GoyetteThomas Kail
Fosse/Verdon, "Nowadays"
(FX Networks)
Kail's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
First Assistant Director: Deanna Leslie Kelly
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
Location Manager: Ryan SmithJohan Renck
Chernobyl
(HBO)Minkie Spiro
Fosse/Verdon, "All I Care About Is Love"
(FX Networks)
Spiro's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
First Assistant Director: Marcos González Palma
Second Assistant Director: Steven Lafferty
Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
Location Manager: Ryan SmithJessica Yu
Fosse/Verdon, "Glory"
(FX Networks)
Yu's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Erica Kay
First Assistant Director: Deanna Leslie Kelly
Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Findlay Zotter
Location Manager: Ryan Smith -
Variety/Talk/News/Sports (Regularly Scheduled Programming)
Paul G. Casey
Real Time With Bill Maher, "1730"
(HBO)
Casey's Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
Stage Managers: Patrick Whitney, Brian AndersonNora S. Gerard
CBS Sunday Morning, "40th Anniversary"
(CBS)
Gerard's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Jessica Frank, Kate D'Arcy Coleman, Patricia Long Finnegan, Jyll Phillips-Friedman, Catherine Liberatore Kay
Stage Managers: Mark Dicso, Brian McGuireJim Hoskinson
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, "A. Ocasio-Cortez; Incubus"
(CBS)
Hoskinson's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Yvonne De Mare, Karen Yaeger
Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff LeibDon Roy King
Saturday Night Live, "E. Murphy; Lizzo"
(NBC)
King's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Michael Mancini, Mike Poole
Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris KellyPaul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, "SLAPP Suits"
(HBO)
Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Craig Spinney, John Scott Wilson -
Variety/Talk/News/Sports (Specials)
Live in Front of a Studio Audience Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons,' James Burrows, Andy Fisher
Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Martin Pasetta Jr., Sara Niimi
Stage Managers: John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Harvey Levine, Doug Tobin, Richard Silva, Jenny Nolan BaileyAziz Ansari: Right Now (Netflix), Spike Jonze
Mr. Jonze's Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Chad Richard Nicholson
Stage Manager: Tate NovaDave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (Netflix), Stan Lathan
Mr. Lathan's Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Myriam Leger
Stage Manager: Valdez FlaggWanda Sykes: Not Normal (Netflix), Linda Mendoza
Ms. Mendoza's Directorial Team:
Stage Manager: Arthur LewisThe 91st Annual Academy Awards (ABC), Glenn Weiss
Mr. Weiss's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Eve Adair, Susan Kopensky, Lori Margules, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Sara Niimi, Michael Polito
Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Rita Cossette, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Doug Fogel, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Ron Paul, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel?Moore, Debbie Williams, Ari Woog -
Reality Programs
Hisham Abed
Queer Eye, "Black Girl Magic"
(Netflix)Jason Cohen
Encore!, "Annie"
(Disney+)
Cohen's Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Daniel ShultzJon Favreau
The Chef Show, "Hog Island"
(Netflix)
Favreau's Directorial Team:
Associate Director: Annie JohnsonAshley S. Gorman
First Responders Live, "103"
(Fox)
Gorman's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Jamie Marshall Bennett, Don Frillici, Ryan Neary
Stage Manager: Roy FriedlandPatrick McManus
American Ninja Warrior, "1116 Las Vegas National Finals Night 4"
(NBC)
McManus' Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: David Massey, Sean Galvin
Stage Managers: Joseph R. Osborne, Wolfgang Delgado -
Children's Programs
Dean Israelite
Are You Afraid of the Dark?, "Part One: Submitted for Your Approval"
(Nickelodeon)
Israelite's Directorial Team:
First Assistant Director: Pete WhyteJack Jameson
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Special
(HBO Documentary Films)
Jameson's Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Yori Tondrowski, Ken Diego
Stage Managers: Frank Campagna, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Shawn HavensLuke Matheny
Ghostwriter, "Ghost in Wonderland, Part 1"
(Apple TV+)Amy Schatz
Song of Parkland
(HBO Documentary Films)Barry Sonnenfeld
A Series of Unfortunate Events, "Penultimate Peril: Part 1"
(Netflix) -
Commercials
Fredrik Bond
(MJZ)
Lighter Than Air, HP Elite Dragonfly - Media Monks
Unit Production Manager: Line Postmyr
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Take it Lightly, Coca-Cola Light - Ingo
Nap, iPhone - Apple
Unit Production Manager: Line Postmyr
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Director: Heather AndersonSpike Jonze
(MJZ)
Dream It, Squarespace – Squarespace
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith
The New Normal, Medmen – Mekanism
First Assistant Director: Thomas Smith Second Assistant Directors: David Marnell,
Jeff TavaniMark Molloy
(Smuggler)
Underdogs, Apple – AppleRidley Scott
(RSA Films)
The Seven Worlds, Hennessy X.O. - DDB ParisDougal Wilson
(Furlined)
Train, AT&T - BBDO NY
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Director: Aaron Fitzgerald -
Documentary
Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
American Factory
(Netflix)Feras Fayyad
The Cave
(National Geographic Documentary Films)Alex Holmes
Maiden
(Sony Picture Classics)Ljubomir Stefanov & Tamara Kotevska
Honeyland
(Neon)Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang
One Child Nation
(Amazon Studios)