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The Directors Guild of America handed out its annual honors for 2026, and the night belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson. The veteran filmmaker took home the DGA’s top prize for outstanding directing in a feature film for One Battle After Another, capping a ceremony at the Beverly Hilton that brought together leading creatives from film, television and documentary.
Anderson’s emotional win and what it means
Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the award in a visibly moved state, thanking his core team and crew — a reminder that the DGA is not just about individual achievement but about collaborative filmmaking. Historically, a DGA win is an important bellwether for Academy voters; while not an absolute predictor, it often signals a director’s momentum heading into Oscar season. For audiences familiar with Anderson’s oeuvre — from There Will Be Blood’s brooding intensity to the intimate textures of Phantom Thread and the youthful energy of Licorice Pizza — One Battle After Another continues his exploration of character-driven, sprawling cinematic storytelling but with a fresh, more immediate urgency.
Television and other big winners
The ceremony, hosted by Kumail Nanjiani, also celebrated excellence on the small screen. Highlights included:
- Best Directing in a Dramatic Series: Amanda Marsalis — The Pitt
- Best Directing in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg — The Studio
- Best Directing in a Limited Series/Anthology: Shannon Murphy — Dying for
- Best Directing in a Television Movie: Stephen Chbosky — Nonnas
- Best Directing in Variety: Liz Patrick — SNL50: The Anniversary Special
Other categories honored work across sports broadcasting, reality and commercials — from Matthew Gengle’s direction of the 2025 World Series Game 7 to Kim Gehrig’s creative commercial I’m Not Remarkable — and showcased strong documentary direction, with Mstislav Chernov winning for 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
Context and industry takeaways
This year’s slate underlines a couple of trends: established arthouse auteurs still command awards attention when they marry risk-taking storytelling with technical polish, and television continues to be a hotbed for ambitious directors who jump between episode-based work and feature projects. The DGA’s recognition of varied formats — from sports broadcasts to longform documentaries — also reflects how directing craft is valued across platforms.
Fans and industry watchers took to social media to praise Anderson’s win and debate Oscar implications, while critics noted the DGA’s ongoing role in spotlighting directors whose visual language shapes contemporary cinema.
Full list of major winners
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another (Feature Film) Charlie Polinger — The Plague (First Feature) Amanda Marsalis — The Pitt (Drama Series) Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg — The Studio (Comedy Series) Shannon Murphy — Dying for (Limited Series) Stephen Chbosky — Nonnas (Television Movie) Liz Patrick — SNL50: The Anniversary Special (Variety) Matthew Gengle — 2025 World Series, Game 7 (Sports) Mike Sweney — Conan O’Brien Must Go (Reality/Competition) Kim Gehrig — I’m Not Remarkable (Advertising) Mstislav Chernov — 2000 Meters to Andriivka (Documentary) Rebecca Miller — Mr. Scorsese (Documentary/News series)
The DGA Awards remain one of the most closely watched markers of directorial achievement each year — a night that honors the craft, the teams behind the camera, and the directors pushing stories forward across film and television.
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