Lights, camera… deadlines! The Directors Guild of America (DGA) just dropped the official schedule for its 78th Annual DGA Awards, and if you’re a filmmaker with a feature, series, doc, or commercial worth flexing for Hollywood’s biggest stage behind the camera, it’s go time.
Entry forms for Theatrical Feature Film submissions are now available online starting Tuesday, September 9, 2025, officially kicking off awards season for directors across mediums. This includes not only narrative films but also documentaries, television, commercials, and the coveted Michael Apted Award for First-Time Theatrical Feature Film directors.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Submission Deadlines:
- Theatrical Feature Film, TV, and Commercials: Friday, November 14, 2025
- First-Time Feature & Documentary Films: Friday, October 17, 2025
- Voting Begins:
- Nominations for all categories: Monday, December 15, 2025
- Voting for final awards: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Key Announcement Dates:
- Television & Commercial Nominees: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Theatrical Feature Film & First-Time Director Nominees: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Documentary Nominees: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Mark Your Calendars:
- Nominee Screenings: January 19–23, 2026
- Dinner Reservations Open: January 13, 2026
- DGA Awards Ceremony: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Categories span the creative universe — from Theatrical Feature Film to Movies for Television, Dramatic Series, Comedy, Reality, News, Sports, and Commercials. If you called “action” and wrapped “that’s a wrap” on anything between July 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025, your shot at one of the industry’s most respected honors starts now.
Last year’s winners included cinematic powerhouses like Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), as well as breakouts in doc and TV categories — underscoring the DGA’s commitment to elevating work across every format and budget.
Think your work deserves a seat at the director’s table? Time to submit. Because while actors may get the applause, it’s the directors who call the shots — literally.
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