The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2023 where the fourth and final season of Succession once again dominated, taking four of the five spots for Directing for a Drama Series.
The episodes “Rehearsal,” “Connor’s Wedding,” “America Decides” and “Tailgate Party” were all nominated alongside the bottle episode of The Last of Us, “Long, Long Time” directed by Peter Hoar. Two years ago Succession became the first series in 39 years to receive all the nominations in its category.
In comedy series, the third and final season of Ted Lasso earned two nominations, the second season of The Bear earned two and the final season of Barry rounded out the category.
For documentaries, the nominees were 20 Days in Mariupol, Beyond Utopia, Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Kokomo City and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
Nominations for feature film will be announced on January 10. The winners will be announced at the 76th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
PETER HOAR
The Last of Us, “Long, Long Time”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Cecil O’Connor
- First Assistant Director: Bethan Mowat
BECKY MARTIN
Succession, “Rehearsal”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
- First Assistant Director: John Silvestri
- Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
- Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi
MARK MYLOD
Succession, “Connor’s Wedding”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
- First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
- Second Assistant Directors: Sahar Shmolevitz, Justin Bischoff
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Cris Iannucci, Norman Franklin, Kyle Burstein
- Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi
ANDRIJ PAREKH
Succession, “America Decides”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
- First Assistant Director: John Silvestri
- Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
- Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi
ROBERT PULCINI & SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN
Succession, “Tailgate Party”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
- First Assistant Director: Michelle Flevotomas
- Second Assistant Director: Sahar Shmolevitz
- Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
- Additional Second Assistant Directors: Isabel Sofia Cervantes, Nicole Kay Payson
- Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi
***
COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
ERICA DUNTON
Ted Lasso, “La Locker Room Aux Folles”
(Apple TV+)
BILL HADER
Barry, “wow”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Aida Rodgers
- First Assistant Director: Gavin Kleintop
- Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, George Williams
DECLAN LOWNEY
Ted Lasso, “So Long, Farewell”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Mike Livanos (U.S. Unit)
- First Assistant Director: Jason Z. Kemp (U.S. Unit)
- Second Assistant Director: Christopher Cook (U.S. Unit)
CHRISTOPHER STORER
The Bear, “Fishes”
(FX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Tyson Bidner, Carrie Holt de Lama
- First Assistant Directors: Duccio Fabbri, Pablo Gambetta
- Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Olivia Dame, Hiro Taniguchi
- Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas
RAMY YOUSSEF
The Bear, “Honeydew”
(FX)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Tyson Bidner, Carrie Holt de Lama
- First Assistant Directors: Kit Bland, Pablo Gambetta
- Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Olivia Dame, Hiro Taniguchi
- Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas
***
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
SHAWN LEVY
All the Light We Cannot See
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Scott Elias
- First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
- Second Assistant Director: Simeon Jones
TARA MIELE
Lessons in Chemistry, “Introduction to Chemistry”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Chris Hayden
- First Assistant Director: Katie Carroll
- Second Assistant Director: Alexis Olsen Colwell
MILLICENT SHELTON
Lessons in Chemistry, “Poirot”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Chris Hayden
- First Assistant Director: Kristofer Kolpek
- Second Assistant Director: Deborah Chung
SARAH ADINA SMITH
Lessons in Chemistry, “Her and Him”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Steven Brown
- First Assistant Director: Kristofer Kolpek
- Second Assistant Director: Deborah Chung
NZINGHA STEWART
Daisy Jones & The Six, “ Track 10: Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide”
(Amazon)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Michael Nelson
- First Assistant Director: Anna Notarides
- Second Assistant Director: Samantha Hollingsworth
- Second Second Assistant Directors : Tarin Squillante, Jeff Tavani, Alex Lee Bonner, Matthew Kramer
- Location Manager: Batou Chandler
***
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time with Bill Maher, “Episode 2117”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
- Stage Managers: Brian Anderson, Patrick Whitney
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Jan. 19, 2023: Rep. Adam Kinzinger; Meet Me at the Altar; Special appearance by Harvey Guillén”
(CBS)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Yvonne DeMare, Karen Yaeger
- Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib
MICHAEL MANCINI & LIZ PATRICK
Saturday Night Live, “Pedro Pascal / Coldplay”
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Janine DeVito, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel-Mack
- Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
DAVID PAUL MEYER
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “Singer Charley Crockett Performs “Name on a Billboard” and Discusses New Album with Jordan Klepper “
(Comedy Central)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Adrienne Ford
- Stage Managers: Bennymar Almonte, Tyler Goldman
PAUL PENNOLINO
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Episode 1018: Dollar Stores”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
- Stage Managers: Craig Spinney, Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib, Steven Van Patten
***
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
JOEL GALLEN
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Robin Mishkin Abrams
- Stage Manager: Arthur Lewis
STAN LATHAN
Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Jill Dove
- Stage Manager: Valdez Flagg
LINDA MENDOZA
Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
- Stage Manager: Dan Frank
PAUL MILLER
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Sara Niimi
- Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Christopher McDonald, Jackie Stathis
GLENN WEISS
The 95th Annual Academy Awards
(ABC)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Ricky Kirshner, Susan Kopensky, Lori Margules, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Sara Niimi, Kristen Patterson Terry, Michael Polito
- Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Alexis Brusig, Rita Cossette, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Doug Fogel, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Donna Parker, Ron Paul, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Ari Woog
***
REALITY PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
NIHARIKA DESAI
Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss, “Happiness is a Bottle of Cod Liver Oil”
(Peacock)
KEN FUCHS
The Golden Bachelor, “Premiere”
(ABC)
Directorial Team:
- Stage Manager: Isaiah Fuchs
JOSEPH GUIDRY & ALEXANDRA LIPSITZ
Project Greenlight: A New Generation, “PGL vs. Gray Matter Problem”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Lizzie MacPherson
- Stage Manager: T.J. Ganser
RICH KIM
Lego Masters, “Is It Brick?”
(FOX)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Ryan Bunnell
- Stage Managers: Will Baker, Dan Shepard
PATRICK McMANUS
American Ninja Warrior, “Season 15 Finale”
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
- Associate Director: Dave Massey
- Stage Managers: Sara Brown, Sean P. Galvin, T.J. Ganser, Joseph R. Osborne, Matthew Patrick, Greg Rosa, Louise Story
***
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
JAMES BOBIN
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Jim Rowe
- First Assistant Director: Pete Whyte
- Location Manager: David Occhino
DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON
American Born Chinese, “What Guy Are You”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Erin O’Malley
- First Assistant Director: Katie Hausmann
- Second Assistant Directors: Randin Brown Hargrave, Morgan Willis
ROB LETTERMAN
Goosebumps, “Say Cheese and Die”
(Disney+)
AMY SCHATZ
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School
(HBO | MAX)
DINH THAI
American Born Chinese, “A Monkey on a Quest”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Erin O’Malley, Stacy Murphy Gold
- First Assistant Director: Michael Risoli
- Second Assistant Director: Morgan Willis
***
COMMERCIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
MARTIN de THURAH
(Epoch Films)
Fair Exchange, Levi’s 501 Jeans – Droga5
Legends Never Die, Levi’s 501 Jeans, Droga5
SEB EDWARDS
(Park Pictures)
Rumble, Battle of the Baddest – Droga5
- First Assistant Director: George Walker
KIM GEHRIG
(Somesuch)
Run This Town, Apple Music – Apple (Client Direct)
- First Assistant Director: David Webb
The Travelers, Expedia – Wieden & Kennedy
- First Assistant Director: Zaida Fakih
CRAIG GILLESPIE
(MJZ)
Waiting Room, Apple iPhone – TBWA/Media Arts Lab
- Unit Production Manager: Martha Davis
- First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
- Second Assistant Director: Gregory Moutran
ANDREAS NILSSON
(Biscuit Filmworks)
R.I.P. Leon, Apple iPhone – Apple (Client Direct)
- First Assistant Director: Gareth Moses
Action Mode, Apple iPhone14 – Apple (Client Direct)
- First Assistant Director: Gareth Moses
Choose Happy, Les Mills Fitness – Nice&Frank, San Francisco
Wait’ll You See This, Snapchat – Snapchat (Client Direct)
DOCUMENTARY
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
MOSES BWAYO & CHRISTOPHER SHARP
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
(National Geographic)
MSTYSLAV CHERNOV
20 Days in Mariupol
(PBS Distribution)
MADELEINE GAVIN
Beyond Utopia
(Roadside Attractions)
DAVIS GUGGENHEIM
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
(Apple Original Films)
Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: John Locke
- First Assistant Director: Richard Rosser
D. SMITH
Kokomo City
(Magnolia Pictures)