'Birdman' Continues Awards Season Flight With DGA Win

Birdman

Well, the writing is pretty much on the wall: "Birdman" is headed for some serious Oscar glory in a couple of weeks. It has been a juggernaut with the guilds, swooping in and pickup up trophies at the PGA and SAG awards. The industry is clearly in love with the film and they threw more garlands on it this weekend.

The DGA gave the top prize to Alejandro G. Inarritu‘s film this weekend. "Birdman" took Outstanding Directorial Achievement In Feature Film, and at this point, unless there is truly a massive shock on Oscar night, everyone involved in the film will be walking up to the stage at the Dolby Theatre to collect the little golden statue. Like "The Artist" a few years back, it seems Hollywood loves movies about themselves, even if it’s not the most flattering portrait.

Other wins of note including the documentary prize going to "Citizenfour," "Transparent" taking the Comedy Series win, and "Olive Kitteridge" earning the mini-series victory. Full list of winners below.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM

 
ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
 
Mr. Iñárritu’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: James W. Skotchdopole, Robert Graf
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Directors: Amy Lauritsen, Tim Price
Second Second Assistant Director: Catherine Feeny
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Gabrielle Mahon
Location Manager: Joaquin Prange
 
This is Mr. Iñárritu’s second DGA Award. He was previously nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Proctor and Gamble) in 2012.
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES
 
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, "From A to B and Back Again"
(Showtime)
 
Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Angela Phillips, Michael Klick
First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall-Smith
Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe
 
This is Ms. Glatter’s second DGA Award. She previously won in this category in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES
 
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, "Best New Girl"
(Amazon Prime)
 
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
First Assistant Director: Bill Purple
Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes
Second Second Assistant Director: Anna Vogt
 
This is Ms. Soloway’s first DGA Award.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND MINI-SERIES
  
LISA CHOLODENKO
Olive Kitteridge
(HBO)
 
Ms. Cholodenko’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: David Coatsworth
First Assistant Director: Jesse Nye
Second Assistant Director: Mark Constance
Second Second Assistant Director: Elizabeth MacSwan
 
This is Ms. Cholodenko’s first DGA Award.
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SERIES
 
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, "Episode #1"
(NBC)
 
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Maureen Smith, Mark Jankeloff
Stage Managers: Nicka Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
 
This is Mr. Diomedi’s first DGA Award. He was also nominated in this category last year for Late Night Starring Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
 
GLENN WEISS
The 68th Annual Tony Awards
(CBS)
 
Mr. Weiss’s Directorial Team:
Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Robin Abrams, Stefani Cohen, Ricky Kirshner
Stage Managers: Garry Hood, Phyllis Digilio-Kent, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Doug Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Arthur Lewis, Jeffrey M. Markowitz, Joey Meade, Seth Mellman, Cyndi Owgang, Jeff Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider
 
This is Mr. Weiss’s sixth DGA Award. He was also nominated this year for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series, together with Rob Ashford, for Peter Pan Live! He previously won the DGA Award in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMS
 
ANTHONY B. SACCO
The Chair, "The Test"
(Starz)
 
This is Mr. Sacco’s second DGA Award. He previously won in this category in 2006 for Treasure Hunters, “Episode #101” and was nominated in 2007 for Project Runway, “Fashion Giant #403.”
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
 
JONATHAN JUDGE
100 Things To Do Before High School, "Pilot"
(Nickelodeon)
 
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Debra Spidell
First Assistant Director: Julian Petrillo
Second Assistant Director: Katey Wheelhouse
Second Second Assistant Director: Ceci Mak
 
This is Mr. Judge’s first DGA Award. He was previously nominated in this category in 2013 for Swindle and in 2012 for Camp Fred.
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMMERCIALS
NICOLAI FUGLSIG
(MJZ)
 
Sapeurs, Guinness ‑ AMV BBDO
First Assistant Director: Bob Wilkins
 
Waiting, FEMA ‑ Deutsch NY
First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
Second Assistant Director: Rafa Sanz
 
This is Mr. Fuglsig’s second DGA Award. He previously won in this category in 2007 for Tipping Point (Guinness), It’s Magic (JC Penney), and Journey (Motorola).
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DOCUMENTARY
LAURA POITRAS
Citizenfour
 
RADiUS
Praxis Films
Participant Media
HBO Documentary Films
Bertha Foundation | BRITDOC Circle | Channel 4
Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR
Bayerischer Rundfunk BR

Deutscher Filmförderfonds

This is Ms. Poitras’s first DGA Award.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT & SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
 
James Burrows and Robert Butler – Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Television Direction:
James Burrows and Robert Butler were honored with the DGA’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Television Direction, in honor of each director’s groundbreaking career.  The new award, created by the DGA’s National Board of Directors last year, joins the Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction in being the two highest creative honors bestowed by the DGA.  The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Direction are nominated by a blue ribbon committee of prominent television directors and approved by the present and past presidents of the Guild.
 
Phillip Goldfarb – Frank Capra Achievement Award:
Given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
 
Julie Gelfand – Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award:
Given to an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.