ANI
08 Feb 2026, 14:31 GMT+10
Los Angeles [US], February 8 (ANI): Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson took home the top honor at the 2026 Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards for his critically acclaimed film 'One Battle After Another'. The ceremony, hosted by Kumail Nanjiani at the Beverly Hilton, recognised the best directors in film, television, and commercials over the past year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Anderson, competing against Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Guillermo Del Toro (Frankenstein), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), and Chloe Zhao (Hamnet), emotionally called his directing team on stage and paid tribute to first director Adam Somner, who passed away in November 2024. 'This is an incredible, incredible honor. We're going to take it with the love that it's given and the appreciation of all our comrades in this room,' the filmmaker said, but noting 'obviously we are up here minus one.' He then remembered Somner,
The evening marked the first show presided over by new DGA president Christopher Nolan, who opened the ceremony highlighting the challenges filmmakers currently face. Nanjiani joked about directors' communication skills, saying they can 'take a complex idea and turn it into something an actor can understand,' as per the outlet.
The DGA's unique format allows each theatrical feature nominee a stage moment before the winner is announced. Leonardo DiCaprio praised Anderson for giving Los Angeles 'a cinematic identity that feels almost forensic.' Michael B. Jordan celebrated Coogler's collaborative spirit, while Jacob Elordi joked with Del Toro, 'You're the greatest friend a monster could have.' Timothee Chalamet teased Safdie about his self-styling, and Steven Spielberg presented Zhao's award, commending her for bringing Hamnet to life. Zhao humorously suggested a drinking game for every mention of Spielberg throughout the night.
Additional wins included The Studio, The Pitt, Dying for Sex, SNL50, Mr. Scorsese, and 2000 Meters to Andriivka. First-time feature director Charlie Polinger (The Plague) thanked his collaborators, while female directors notably topped five categories, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 2026 DGA Awards underscored the artistry, collaboration, and diversity defining the past year in film and television direction.
Check out a complete list of this year's DGA winners below.
Theatrical Feature FilmPaul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Will WeiskeFirst Assistant Director: Adam SomnerSecond Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares, Ian StoneSecond Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti, Rafael Sanz-JimenezAdditional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy, Chunning Chang, Kit Conners, Kasia Trojak, Tyler Young (WINNER)
Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield, Kenneth YuFirst Assistant Director: Marvin WilliamsSecond Assistant Director: Amir R. KhanAdditional Second Assistant Director: Gregg Carr, Desiree Stevenson
Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein (Netflix)Directorial Team:Unit Production Manager: J. Miles DaleFirst Assistant Director: Walter GasparovicSecond Assistant Director: Chad Belair
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (A24)Unit Production Manager: Anthony Katagas, Joe GuestFirst Assistant Director: Jeremy MarksSecond Assistant Director: Zach CitarellaSecond Second Assistant Director: Kailyn DabkowskiAssistant Unit Production Manager: Max Samu, Suk Yi Mar, Samson JacobsonLocation Manager: Matthew Kania, Ross Brodar (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Los Angeles Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Los Angeles Herald.
More InformationPERTH, Western Australia: A 13-year-old boy swam for four hours to get help off the coast of Western Australia in cold and choppy waters...
FORT PIERCE, Florida: A man who attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course on September...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: One of America's most influential newspapers is undergoing a dramatic contraction, as The Washington Post began layoffs...
NEW DELHI, India: British aviation regulators are seeking answers from Air India after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed London despite...
FBI Director Kash Patel's announcement on January 23 regarding the arrest of Canadian drug trafficker Ryan Wedding in Mexico led to...
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her niece, Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker, were sentenced...
LOS ANGELES, California: Elon Musk has pushed his business empire deeper into artificial intelligence, announcing on February 2 that...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A top Justice Department official said there was little possibility of additional criminal charges arising from the...
LOS ANGELES, California: Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody on January 30 after being arrested and charged with violating...
Los Angeles [US], February 8 (ANI): Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson took home the top honor at the 2026 Directors Guild of America (DGA)...
Washington DC [US], February 8 (ANI): Adam Sandler revealed how he was introduced to director Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed him...
Washington DC [US], February 8 (ANI): Brad Arnold, lead singer, founding member, and original drummer of rock band 3 Doors Down, has...
