
Directors Guild of the World (DGW) Awards 2026, Oakland, California



Rethink – Philosophical web series
By Olaf Lenz
BEST ORIGINAL WEB SERIES & BEST SCREENWRITER (Category: Web Series)
TinMan
By Kevin V Tudor
BEST INDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Film), BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR, BEST COSTUME DESIGNER & BEST SOUNSTRACK
Lambada The Dance Of Fate
By Kai Fischer
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: International Screenplay)
Christmas Card
By Kel Owens
BEST ORIGINAL SHORT FILM, BEST CAST, BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENPLAY SHORT & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: Narrative Short)
The Legend Of The Bum-Barian
By Kel Owens
BEST MOVIEMAKER, BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY, BEST SCREENWRITER (Category: Short Film)
Noise
By R. Scott MacLeay
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING & BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHER
Eye of the Storm
By Brooke Wolff
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY, BEST INDIE FILMMAKER, BEST AMERICAN PRODUCER & BEST POETRY DOCUMENTARY
The Little Match-Seller
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM & BEST EDITING
Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana
By Ken Kimmelman
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM OF THE YEAR & BEST ESPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Thankful
By Earnest Diaz
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT 2025 & BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER
AMERICA BOXED IN
By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams
BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST FILMMAKER (Category: Documentary Feature)
The Priory of Sion and the treasure of abbey Sauniere of Rennes the Castle France
By Florence Cazebon-Taveau
BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER & BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2025
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR & BEST AMERICAN WRITER 2025
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR, BEST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
The Mongrel
By Lynn Elliott
BEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SCRIPT & BEST PILOT TV
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST AMERICAN ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER
Doctor Hyphoteses
By Vicentini Gomez
BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTING & BEST SCREENWRITER
Credo
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST SONG WRITER, BEST GUITARIST & BEST SPIRITUAL SONG
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA
Plumeria Aesthetics
By Lilith Ivy von Satis
BEST ORIGINAL CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR & BEST AMERICAN WRITER
Malibu Madam
By Phoebe von Satis
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT
Only in Malibu
By Phoebe von Satis
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT)
Gold Glory & Nobility
By Phoebe von Satis
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT 2025
The Hallmark Couple
By Phoebe von Satis
BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST INDIE WRITER OF THE YEAR
Colombano e la 21esima Fetta
By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FILM 2025, BEST EUROPEAN FILMMAKER & BEST SCREENPLAY
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST DIRECTOR 2025, BEST INDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST PRODUCER
An Ever After Drama
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM, BEST GLOBAL ACTRESS, BEST CINEMATOGRAPH Y& BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Green Mill
By Michelle Lynn
BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2025
Secrets of Montmartre
By Michelle Lynn
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER 2025 (Category: FEATURE SCRIPT) & BEST INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE SCRIPT
Water
By Gary Beeber
BEST DIRECTOR, BEST EDITIND, BEST PRODUCER & BEST CAMERA OPERATOR (Category: International Documentary Feature)
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA 2025, BEST ORIGINAL WRINTING SYLE & BEST SCREENWRITER
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: EXPERIMENTAL)
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE ACTRESS
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL OF THE YEAR, BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Dance Film), BEST INTERNATIONAL EDITING & BEST INDIE MUSIC VIDEO
The Stones of Rome
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2025 & BEST ARTHOUSE HISTORICAL SHORT FILM
The Pathos of Hamlet
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST INSIPRATIONAL SHORT FILM, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER, ORIGINAL ACTING & BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER
The Queen of Camelot
By Roger Paradiso
BEST INDIE PRODUCER & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE MOVIEMAKER
Cassandra Venice
By Hugo Teugels
BEST INDIE FILMMAKER 2025
Wacko
By Matthew Roch
BEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR & BEST INDIE DIRECTOR (Category: Thriller)



The Arcangel Of Death
By Vincenzo Amoruso
BEST EUROPEAN ACTOR OF THE YEAR & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Experimental Short Film)
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST FIRST TIME DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR & BEST SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY 2025
Noise
By R. Scott MacLeay
BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL FILM & BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER
The Lost Village
By Roger Paradiso
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR & BEST AMERICAN INDIE PRODUCER
AMERICA BOXED IN
By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams
BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, BEST EDITING & BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Documentary)
The Dead Ringer
By Suzanne Lutas
BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Indie Screenwriter)
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE 2025, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST PICTURE, BEST EDITING, BEST ORIOGINAL CAST & BEST SOUNDTRACK
Una Luce
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO & BEST SPIRITUAL SONG 2025
Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana
By Ken Kimmelman
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER 2025, BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Fractures In Time
By Lesley Ann Albiston
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL STORY & BEST WRITING STYLE
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR & BEST INSPIRATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: EXPERIMENTAL)
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION & BEST ACTING
Brothers of Babylon
By Gabriel Womack
BEST INDIE WRITER 2025 & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: International Feature Script)
Thankful
By Earnest Diaz
BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST SOCIAL SCREENPLAY
Pirandello’s Wife
By Lynn Elliott
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR
An Ever After Drama
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT OF THE YEAR, BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT & BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Silver Lights: City of Dreams
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST AMERICAN FILMMAKER
Behind The Algorithm
By Michelle Lynn
BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)
The Little Match-Seller
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST INPIRATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST INDIE PRODUCER
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITER
Planetary Rebellion
By Fabrizio Fuochi
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER, BEST EDITING & BEST PRODUCER (Category: International Music Video)
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR, BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Dance Film), BEST INTERNATIONAL EDITING & BEST SOUND DESIGNER (Category: MUSIC VIDEO)
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA 2025, BEST ORIGINAL WRINTING SYLE & BEST SCREENWRITER
Colombano e la 21esima Fetta
By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti
BEST HISTORICAL FILM OF THE YEAR & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE DIRECTOR
Bagliori – Flashes of Light
By Mattia Paone
BEST EUROPEAN INDIE SHORT FILM 2025



Paco
By Cresencio Medina
BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST ARTHOUSE SERIES 2025
Ctabka (The Bet)
By Edward Bryson
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT THRILLER & BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT (Category: International Thriller)
Poo Pookudhu (From RAIL Movie) – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
By S. J. Jananiy
BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK & BEST INTERNATIONAL SOUND DESIGNER
Precious the baby dragon
By Dr Dawn Menge
BEST INTERNATIONAL FANTASY & BEST ARTHOUSE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Lambada The Dance Of Fate
By Kai Fischer
BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER (Category: FEATURE SCRIPT), BEST CINEMATIC WRITING & BEST BIOGRAPHICAL STORY
Noise
By R. Scott MacLeay
BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL FILM & BEST INSPIRATIONAL EDITING
The Edge “Into “The Past”
By Gary St. Martin
BEST WEB/TV SERIES, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER
Gipsy
By Anaya (AnayaMusic) Kunst
BEST VOICE, BEST DIRECTOR (Category: MUSIC VIDEO) & BEST SOUND DESIGNER
Sheldon Mashugana gets Stooged
By Dean Morgan
BEST ACTING, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR & BEST AMERICAN COMEDY
Fire Flies
By Larry Gene Fortin
BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA
Voyage In The Desert
By ΕΛΠΙΔΑ ΑΜΙΤΣΗ
BEST INDIE FILM 2025 & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature)
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE CAMERA OPERATOR
The Arcangel Of Death
By Vincenzo Amoruso
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE ACTOR & BEST ORIGINAL ACTING
AMERICA BOXED IN
By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE OF THE YEAR, BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Documentary Feature)
Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana
By Ken Kimmelman
BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM, BEST INDIE PRODUCER & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING
Cassandra Venice
By Hugo Teugels
BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Una Luce
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO
Meraviglie
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST POETRY SONG, BEST EUROPEAN SINGER 2025 & BEST SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR
Eye of the Storm
By Brooke Wolff
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY, BEST AMERICAN PRODUCER & BEST FILMMAKER
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST AMERICAN SCREENPLAY, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST HISTORICAL SCRIPT
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST DANCE FILM & BEST DIRECTOR (Category: Inspirational Music Video)
Bagliori – Flashes of Light
By Mattia Paone
BEST EUROPEAN NARRATIVE SHORT, BEST ORIGINAL MOVIEMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Category: Short Film)
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST INDIE DIRECTOR
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST PICTURE, BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST EDITING, BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Film) & BEST SOUNDTRACK
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR & BEST AMERICAN ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
The Little Match-Seller
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST DIRECTOR 2025, BEST EDITING, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT & BEST CINEMATIC NEW VISION (Category: ANIMATION)
Am I a painter?/Czy jestem malarzem?
By Michał Kucharski
BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER, BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATED SHORT & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
I Waited for You
By Jennifer Glee
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: EXPERIMENTAL FILM), BEST ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL FILM & BEST SPIRITUAL FILM
Katabasis
By Samantha Casella
BEST INDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE & BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2025
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST EUROPEAN EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATIC VISION, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST ACTRESS
The Aesthetics of Failure
By Lena Mattsson
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE INDIE DIRECTOR
The Dead Ringer
By Suzanne Lutas
BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY)
Wave Man
By Anna Morelli
BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR & BEST FANTASY SCRIPT 2025
Wacko
By Matthew Roch
BEST MAKE-UP, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST AMERICAN THRILLER OF THE YEAR

