Competitive categories

Special awards

Discontinued categories

Lifetime Achievement Award

(formerly the D. W. Griffith Lifetime Achievement Award)

Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film

• 1948: Joseph L. Mankiewicz – A Letter to Three Wives ¿
• 1949: Robert Rossen – All the King's Men ¿ **
• 1950: Joseph L. Mankiewicz – All About Eve † **
• 1951: George Stevens – A Place in the Sun †
• 1952: John Ford – The Quiet Man †
• 1953: Fred Zinnemann – From Here to Eternity † **
• 1954: Elia Kazan – On the Waterfront † **
• 1955: Delbert Mann – Marty † **
• 1956: George Stevens – Giant †
• 1957: David Lean – The Bridge on the River Kwai † **
• 1958: Vincente Minnelli – Gigi † **
• 1959: William Wyler – Ben-Hur † **
• 1960: Billy Wilder – The Apartment † **
• 1961: Robert Wise – West Side Story † **
• 1962: David Lean – Lawrence of Arabia † **
• 1963: Tony Richardson – Tom Jones † **
• 1964: George Cukor – My Fair Lady † **
• 1965: Robert Wise – The Sound of Music † **
• 1966: Fred Zinnemann – A Man for All Seasons † **
• 1967: Mike Nichols – The Graduate †
• 1968: Anthony Harvey – The Lion in Winter ‡
• 1969: John Schlesinger – Midnight Cowboy † **
• 1970: Franklin Schaffner – Patton † **
• 1971: William Friedkin – The French Connection † **
• 1972: Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather ‡ **
• 1973: George Roy Hill – The Sting † **
• 1974: Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather Part II † **
• 1975: Miloš Forman – One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest † **
• 1976: John G. Avildsen – Rocky † **
• 1977: Woody Allen – Annie Hall † **
• 1978: Michael Cimino – The Deer Hunter † **
• 1979: Robert Benton – Kramer vs. Kramer † **
• 1980: Robert Redford – Ordinary People † **
• 1981: Warren Beatty – Reds †
• 1982: Richard Attenborough – Gandhi † **
• 1983: James L. Brooks – Terms of Endearment † **
• 1984: Miloš Forman – Amadeus † **
• 1985: Steven Spielberg – The Color Purple §
• 1986: Oliver Stone – Platoon † **
• 1987: Bernardo Bertolucci – The Last Emperor † **
• 1988: Barry Levinson – Rain Man † **
• 1989: Oliver Stone – Born on the Fourth of July †
• 1990: Kevin Costner – Dances with Wolves † **
• 1991: Jonathan Demme – The Silence of the Lambs † **
• 1992: Clint Eastwood – Unforgiven † **
• 1993: Steven Spielberg – Schindler's List † **
• 1994: Robert Zemeckis – Forrest Gump † **
• 1995: Ron Howard – Apollo 13 §
• 1996: Anthony Minghella – The English Patient † **
• 1997: James Cameron – Titanic † **
• 1998: Steven Spielberg – Saving Private Ryan †
• 1999: Sam Mendes – American Beauty † **
• 2000: Ang Lee – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ‡
• 2001: Ron Howard – A Beautiful Mind † **
• 2002: Rob Marshall – Chicago ‡ **
• 2003: Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King † **
• 2004: Clint Eastwood – Million Dollar Baby † **
• 2005: Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain †
• 2006: Martin Scorsese – The Departed † **
• 2007: Joel and Ethan Coen – No Country for Old Men † **
• 2008: Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire † **
• 2009: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker † **
• 2010: Tom Hooper – The King's Speech † **
• 2011: Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist † **
• 2012: Ben Affleck – Argo § **
• 2013: Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity †
• 2014: Alejandro G. Iñárritu – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) † **
• 2015: Alejandro G. Iñárritu – The Revenant †
• 2016: Damien Chazelle – La La Land †
• 2017: Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water † **
• 2018: Alfonso Cuarón — Roma †
• 2019: Sam Mendes — 1917 ‡
• 2020: Chloe Zhao — Nomadland † **
• 2021: Jane Campion — The Power of the Dog †
• 2022: The Daniels — Everything Everywhere All at Once † **

1. † – Director won the Academy Award.
2. ‡ – Director did not win the Academy Award.
3. § – Director was not nominated for Academy Award that year.
4. ** – Film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
5. ¿ – Originally, the DGA used a non-calendar year for its award. Both films competed in the 22nd Academy Awards for 1949, and both directors were nominated for Best Director; Mankiewicz won. All the King's Men won Best Picture; Rossen's DGA was not awarded until after the Oscars. (Beginning with the 1951 award in 1952, the DGA has been always awarded before the Oscars.)

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary

• 1991: Barbara Kopple – American Dream
• 1992: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky – Brother's Keeper
• 1993: Terry Zwigoff – Crumb
• 1994: Steve James – Hoop Dreams
• 1995: No award
• 1996: Al Pacino – Looking for Richard
• 1997: Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell – Riding the Rails
• 1998: Jerry Blumenthal, Peter Gilbert, and Gordon Quinn – Vietnam, Long Time Coming
• 1999: Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen – On the Ropes
• 2000: Chuck Braverman – High School Boot Camp
• 2001: Chris Hegedus and Jehane Noujaim – Startup.com
• 2002: Tasha Oldham – The Smith Family
• 2003: Nathaniel Kahn – My Architect
• 2004: Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni – The Story of the Weeping Camel
• 2005: Werner Herzog – Grizzly Man
• 2006: Arūnas Matelis – Before Flying Back to Earth
• 2007: Asger Leth – Ghosts of Cité Soleil
• 2008: Ari Folman – Waltz with Bashir
• 2009: Louie Psihoyos – The Cove
• 2010: Charles Ferguson – Inside Job
• 2011: James Marsh – Project Nim
• 2012: Malik Bendjelloul – Searching for Sugar Man
• 2013: Jehane Noujaim – The Square
• 2014: Laura Poitras – Citizenfour
• 2015: Matthew Heineman – Cartel Land
• 2016: Ezra Edelman – O.J.: Made in America
• 2017: Matthew Heineman – City of Ghosts
• 2018: Tim Wardle – Three Identical Strangers
• 2019: Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert — American Factory
• 2020: Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw — The Truffle Hunters
• 2021: Stanley Nelson Jr. — Attica
• 2022: Sara Dosa – Fire of Love

Outstanding Achievement in First-Time Feature Film

• 2015: Alex Garland – Ex Machina
• 2016: Garth Davis – Lion
• 2017: Jordan Peele – Get Out
• 2018: Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade
• 2019: Alma Har'el — Honey Boy
• 2020: Darius Marder — Sound of Metal
• 2021: Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Lost Daughter
• 2022: Charlotte Wells – Aftersun

Lifetime Achievement Award

• 2014: James Burrows and Robert Butler
• 2015: Joe Pytka
• 2018: Don Mischer
• 2022: Robert A. Fishman
• 2023: David Nutter

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

• 2012: Alejandro González Iñárritu (Procter & Gamble, "Best Job")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

• 1990: James Burrows – Cheers ("Woody Interruptus")
• 1991: Peter Bonerz – Murphy Brown ("Uh-Oh: Part 2")
• 1992: Tom Cherones – Seinfeld ("The Contest")
• 1993: James Burrows – Frasier ("The Good Son")
• 1994: David Lee – Frasier ("The Matchmaker")
• 1995: Gordon Hunt – Mad About You ("The Alan Brady Show")
• 1996: Andy Ackerman – Seinfeld ("The Rye")
• 1997: Andy Ackerman – Seinfeld ("The Betrayal")
• 1998: Thomas Schlamme – Sports Night ("Pilot")
• 1999: Thomas Schlamme – Sports Night ("Small Town")
• 2000: James Burrows – Will & Grace ("Lows in the Mid-Eighties")
• 2001: Todd Holland – Malcolm in the Middle ("Bowling")
• 2002: Bryan Gordon – Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Special Section")
• 2003: Tim Van Patten – Sex and the City ("Boy, Interrupted")
• 2004: Tim Van Patten – Sex and the City ("An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux")
• 2005: Marc Buckland – My Name Is Earl ("Pilot")
• 2006: Richard Shepard – Ugly Betty ("Pilot")
• 2007: Barry Sonnenfeld – Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette")
• 2008: Paul Feig – The Office ("Dinner Party")
• 2009: Jason Winer – Modern Family ("Pilot")
• 2010: Michael Spiller – Modern Family ("Halloween")
• 2011: Robert B. Weide – Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Palestinian Chicken")
• 2012: Lena Dunham – Girls ("Pilot")
• 2013: Beth McCarthy-Miller – 30 Rock ("Hogcock!" / "Last Lunch")
• 2014: Jill Soloway – Transparent ("Best New Girl")
• 2015: Chris Addison – Veep ("Election Night")
• 2016: Becky Martin – Veep ("Inauguration")
• 2017: Beth McCarthy-Miller – Veep ("Chicklet")
• 2018: Bill Hader – Barry ("Chapter One: Make Your Mark")
• 2019: Bill Hader – Barry ("ronny/lily")
• 2020: Susanna Fogel – The Flight Attendant ("In Case of Emergency")
• 2021: Lucia Aniello – Hacks ("There Is No Line")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

• 1971: Daniel Petrie – The Man and the City ("Hands of Love")
• 1972: Robert Butler – The Waltons ("Dust Bowl Cousins")
• 1973: Charles S. Dubin – Kojak ("Knockover")
• 1974: David Friedkin – Kojak ("Cross Your Heart, Hope to Die")
• 1975: James Cellan Jones – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
• 1976: Glenn Jordan – Family ("Rites of Friendship")
• 1977: John Erman – Roots ("Part II")
• 1978: Gene Reynolds – Lou Grant ("Prisoner")
• 1979: Roger Young – Lou Grant ("Cop")
• 1980: Roger Young – Lou Grant ("Lou")
• 1981: Robert Butler – Hill Street Blues ("Hill Street Station")
• 1982: David Anspaugh – Hill Street Blues ("Personal Foul")
• 1983: Jeff Bleckner – Hill Street Blues ("Life in the Minors")
• 1984: Thomas Carter – Hill Street Blues ("The Rise and Fall of Paul the Wall")
• 1985: Will Mackenzie – Moonlighting ("My Fair David")
• 1986: Will Mackenzie – Moonlighting ("Atomic Shakespeare")
• 1987: Marshall Herskovitz – thirtysomething ("Pilot")
• 1988: Marshall Herskovitz – thirtysomething ("Therapy")
• 1989: Eric Laneuville – L.A. Law ("I'm in the Nude for Love")
• 1990: Michael Zinberg – Quantum Leap ("The Leap Home" – Part II)
• 1991: Eric Laneuville – I'll Fly Away ("All God's Children")
• 1992: Rob Thompson – Northern Exposure ("Cicely")
• 1993: Gregory Hoblit – NYPD Blue ("Pilot")
• 1994: Charles Haid – ER ("Into That Good Night")
• 1995: Christopher Chulack – ER ("Hell and High Water")
• 1996: Christopher Chulack – ER ("Fear of Flying")
• 1997: Barbara Kopple – Homicide: Life on the Street ("The Documentary")
• 1998: Paris Barclay – NYPD Blue ("Hearts and Souls")
• 1999: David Chase – The Sopranos ("The Sopranos")
• 2000: Thomas Schlamme – The West Wing ("Noël")
• 2001: Alan Ball – Six Feet Under ("Pilot")
• 2002: John Patterson – The Sopranos ("Whitecaps")
• 2003: Christopher Misiano – The West Wing ("Twenty Five")
• 2004: Walter Hill – Deadwood ("Deadwood")
• 2005: Michael Apted – Rome ("The Stolen Eagle")
• 2006: Jon Cassar – 24 ("Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.")
• 2007: Alan Taylor – Mad Men ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")
• 2008: Dan Attias – The Wire ("Transitions")
• 2009: Lesli Linka Glatter – Mad Men ("Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency")
• 2010: Martin Scorsese – Boardwalk Empire ("Boardwalk Empire")
• 2011: Patty Jenkins – The Killing ("Pilot")
• 2012: Rian Johnson – Breaking Bad ("Fifty-One")
• 2013: Vince Gilligan – Breaking Bad ("Felina")
• 2014: Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland ("From A to B and Back Again")
• 2015: David Nutter – Game of Thrones ("Mother's Mercy")
• 2016: Miguel Sapochnik – Game of Thrones ("Battle of the Bastards")
• 2017: Reed Morano – The Handmaid's Tale ("Offred")
• 2018: Adam McKay – Succession ("Celebration")
• 2019: Nicole Kassell – Watchmen ("It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice")
• 2020: Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland ("Prisoners of War")
• 2021: Mark Mylod – Succession ("All the Bells Say")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs

• 1984: Sharron Miller – The Woman Who Willed a Miracle
• 1996: Stuart Margolin – Salt Water Moose
• 1997: Brian Robbins – Nickelodeon Sports Theater ("First Time")
• 1998: Mitchell Kriegman – Bear in the Big Blue House ("Love Is All You Need")
• 1999: Amy Schatz – Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepy Time Tales
• 2000: Greg Beeman – Miracle in Lane 2
• 2001: Amy Schatz – 'Twas the Night: A Holiday Celebration
• 2002: Guy Ferland – Bang Bang You're Dead
• 2003: Kevin Lima – Eloise at Christmastime
• 2004: Stuart Gillard – Going to the Mat
• 2005: Chris Eyre – Edge of America
• 2006: Kenny Ortega – High School Musical
• 2007: Paul Hoen – Jump In!
• 2008: Amy Schatz – Classical Baby ("The Poetry Show")
• 2009: Allison Liddi-Brown – Princess Protection Program
• 2010: Eric Bross – The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
• 2011: Amy Schatz – A Child's Garden of Poetry
• 2012: Paul Hoen – Let It Shine
• 2013: Amy Schatz – An Apology to Elephants
• 2014: Jonathan Judge – 100 Things To Do Before High School ("Pilot")
• 2015: Kenny Ortega – Descendants
• 2016: Tina Mabry – An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win
• 2017: Niki Caro – Anne with an E ("Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials (1991–2012)

• 1991: Michael Stich – The Bold and the Beautiful ("Episode #1103")
• 1992: Susan Strickler – Another World ("Episode 7022")
• 1993: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode 6356")
• 1994: Michael Stich – The Bold and the Beautiful ("Episode 1884")
• 1995: William Ludel and Alan Pultz – General Hospital ("Episode 8248")
• 1996: Kathyrn Foster and Mike Denney – The Young and the Restless ("Episode 5875")
• 1997: Scott McKinsey – General Hospital ("Episode #8883")
• 1998: James Sayegh – One Life to Live ("Episode #7572")
• 1999: Herb D. Stein and Roger W. Inman – Days of Our Lives ("Episode #8557")
• 2000: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode #8205")
• 2001: William Ludel – General Hospital ("Episode #9801")
• 2002: Scott McKinsey – Port Charles ("Episode #1433")
• 2003: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #8849")
• 2004: Bruce S. Barry – Guiding Light ("Episode #14,321")
• 2005: Owen Renfroe – General Hospital ("Episode #10914")
• 2006: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Episode #9779")
• 2007: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #9947")
• 2008: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Episode #10281")
• 2009: Christopher Goutman – As the World Turns ("Once Upon a Time")
• 2010: Larry Carpenter – One Life to Live ("Starr X'd Lovers: The Musical – Part II")
• 2011: William Ludel – General Hospital ("Intervention")
• 2012: Jill Mitwell – One Life to Live ("Between Heaven and Hell")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs (2005–present)

• 2005: Tony Croll – Three Wishes ("Pilot") & J. Rupert Thompson – Fear Factor ("Heist Fear Factor") (TIE)
• 2006: Tony Sacco – Treasure Hunters ("Episode #101")
• 2007: Bertram van Munster – The Amazing Race ("Episode #1110")
• 2008: Tony Croll – America's Next Top Model ("Episode 1002")
• 2009: Craig Borders – Extreme Engineering ("Hong Kong Bridge")
• 2010: Eytan Keller – The Next Iron Chef ("Episode #301")
• 2011: Neil P. DeGroot – The Biggest Loser ("Episode #1115")
• 2012: Brian Smith – MasterChef ("Episode #305")
• 2013: Neil P. DeGroot – 72 Hours ("The Lost Coast")
• 2014: Anthony B. Sacco – The Chair ("The Test")
• 2015: Adam Vetri – Steve Austin's Broken Skull Challenge ("Gods of War")
• 2016: J. Rupert Thompson – American Grit ("Over the Falls")
• 2017: Brian Smith – MasterChef ("Vegas Deluxe & Oyster Schucks")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries

• 2000: Jeff Bleckner – The Beach Boys: An American Family
• 2001: Frank Pierson – Conspiracy
• 2002: Mick Jackson – Live from Baghdad
• 2003: Mike Nichols – Angels in America
• 2004: Joseph Sargent – Something the Lord Made
• 2005: George C. Wolfe – Lackawanna Blues
• 2006: Walter Hill – Broken Trail
• 2007: Yves Simoneau – Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
• 2008: Jay Roach – Recount
• 2009: Ross Katz – Taking Chance
• 2010: Mick Jackson – Temple Grandin
• 2011: Jon Cassar – The Kennedys
• 2012: Jay Roach – Game Change
• 2013: Steven Soderbergh – Behind the Candelabra
• 2014: Lisa Cholodenko – Olive Kitteridge
• 2015: Dee Rees – Bessie
• 2016: Steve Zaillian – The Night Of ("The Beach")
• 2017: Jean-Marc Vallée – Big Little Lies
• 2018: Ben Stiller – Escape at Dannemora
• 2019: Johan Renck – Chernobyl

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Series (2013–present)

Note: This award is for regular programming.

• 2013: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Justin Timberlake")
• 2014: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ("Episode #1")
• 2015: Dave Diomedi – The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ("Episode #325")
• 2016: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Dave Chappelle")
• 2017: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live ("Jimmy Fallon")

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Variety/Talk/News/Sports Special (2013–present)

Note: This award is for special programs.

• 2013: Glenn Weiss – 67th Tony Awards
• 2014: Glenn Weiss – 68th Tony Awards
• 2015: Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
• 2016: Glenn Weiss – 70th Tony Awards
• 2017: Glenn Weiss – 89th Academy Awards