Awards season just keeps getting better and better each year. And the Directors Guild of America has officially turned things up a notch with their 78th Annual Television Awards nominations. The DGA has announced the outstanding directorial achievement nominees across every major TV category from dramatic and comedy series to limited anthology and movies for television. And tv fans have so much to cheer for.
These noms honor the directors and their incredible teams (yep, that includes unit production managers, assistant directors, location managers, and more) responsible for bringing some of 2025’s biggest small-screen moments to life.
The winners will be announced at a non-televised ceremony on Saturday, February 7, 2026, but until then, here’s a full breakdown of the television nominees, organized by category.
Dramatic Series
It seems like this category never plays around, and this year is no exception. From political tension and sci-fi intrigue to emotionally heavy character work, these episodes prove drama directing is all about precision and restraint.
- Liza Johnson for The Diplomat, “Amagansett” (Netflix)
- Amanda Marsalis for The Pitt, “6:00 P.M.” (HBO Max)
- Janus Metz for Andor, “Who Are You?” (Disney+)
- Ben Stiller for Severance, “Cold Harbor” (Apple TV+)
- John Wells for The Pitt, “7:00 A.M.” (HBO Max)
Comedy Series
Comedy might make it look easy, but let’s get real… it takes serious control to balance laughs with real emotional beats. These nominees nailed tone, timing, and chaos without ever losing the heart of their shows.
- Lucia Aniello for Hacks, “A Slippery Slope” (HBO Max)
- Janicza Bravo for The Bear, “Worms” (FX on Hulu)
- Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg for The Studio, “The Oner” (Apple TV+)
- Christopher Storer for The Bear, “Bears” (FX on Hulu)
- Mike White for The White Lotus, “Denials” (HBO Max)
Limited & Anthology Series
Shorter seasons don’t mean taking less risks, and this lineup makes that crystal clear. These directors used limited runtimes to tell bold, tightly focused stories that still managed to leave a lasting impact.
- Jason Bateman for Black Rabbit, “The Black Rabbits” (Netflix)
- Antonio Campos for The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy” (Netflix)
- Lesli Linka Glatter for Zero Day, “Episode 6” (Netflix)
- Shannon Murphy for Dying for Sex, “It’s Not That Serious” (FX on Hulu)
- Ally Pankiw for Black Mirror, “Common People” (Netflix)
Movies for Television
The line between theatrical films and made-for-TV movies continues to blur, and honestly, we’re here for it. These nominations highlight projects that feel cinematic, polished, and confident in their storytelling.
- Jesse Armstrong for Mountainhead (HBO Max)
- Stephen Chbosky for Nonnas (Netflix)
- Scott Derrickson for The Gorge (Apple TV+)
- Michael Morris for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
- Kyle Newacheck for Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix)
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Live television is a whole different beast, and this category proves just how much coordination it takes to pull it off. From late-night staples to massive anniversary specials, these directors kept everything moving smoothly, which is no small thing.
- Yvonne De Mare for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Andy Fisher for Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- Beth McCarthy-Miller for SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (Peacock)
- Liz Patrick for SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
- Paul Pennolino for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
Sports
Sports directing doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it absolutely deserves it. These nominees captured high-stakes moments in real time while keeping energy, pacing, and storytelling locked in from start to finish.
- Matthew Gangl for 2025 World Series – Game 7 (Fox Sports)
- Steve Milton for 2025 Masters Tournament (CBS Sports)
- Rich Russo for Super Bowl LIX (Fox Sports)
Reality / Quiz and Game
Consistency is everything in unscripted television, and this category celebrates the directors who make that look effortless. Whether it’s competition, travel, or long-running game shows, these episodes kept viewers engaged without missing a beat.
- Lucinda M. Margolis for Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
- Adam Sandler for The Price Is Right, “10,000th Episode” (CBS)
- Mike Sweeney for Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO Max)
Documentary Film
These films remind us why documentary storytelling continues to resonate so deeply. Each nominee brings focus, care, and clarity to real-world stories that demand attention.
- Mstyslav Chernov for 2000 Meters to Andriivka (PBS)
- Geeta Gandbhir for The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
- Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni for Cutting Through Rocks
- Elizabeth Lo for Mistress Dispeller
- Laura Poitras & Mark Obenhaus for Cover-Up (Netflix)
Documentary Series / News
Long-form nonfiction takes patience and intention, and it seems like these directors understood the assignment. Their work blends access, structure, and storytelling into series that feel both informative and compelling.
- Marshall Curry for SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (Peacock)
- Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin for Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO Max)
- Rebecca Miller for Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+)
- Alexandra Stapleton for Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix)
- Matt Wolf for Pee-Wee as Himself (HBO Max)
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Sometimes the shortest stories are the hardest to tell, and this category proves that point. These directors packed creativity, emotion, and strong visual identity into just a few seconds of screen time.
- Kim Gehrig for Nike; Apple
- Miles Jay for ChatGPT | Isle of Any
- Spike Jonze for Apple AirPods 4
- Andreas Nilsson for Andrex; Apple iPhone 16 Pro
- Steve Rogers for Amazon; Squarespace; Coinbase
What’s exciting to see right away is how many different shows and genres made the cut. Whether it’s high-stakes drama, gut-busting comedy, heart-wrenching limited series, or big-screen-worthy movies for TV, directors from all corners of TV are being celebrated here. And honestly? This lineup feels like a reflection of how diverse and vibrant television storytelling has been this past year.
So stay tuned to EntertainmentNow to see who takes each win this year.
