‘Birdman’ Continues Awards Season Flight With DGA Win

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.

 

 

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.”

 

 

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.

  

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.

 

 

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.”

 

 

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.

 

 

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.”

 

 

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.

 

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).

 

LAURA POITRAS

Citizenfour

 

RADiUS

Praxis Films

Participant Media

HBO Documentary Films

Bertha Foundation | BRITDOC Circle | Channel 4

Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR

Bayerischer Rundfunk BR

 

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.