DGA Awards 2025: Anora’s Sean Baker wins top prize while Emilia Perez director gives shock Karla Sofia Gascon shout-out

Anora director Sean Baker accepted the top prize at the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

Baker’s, 53, independent film continued to gain Oscar momentum as it won the DGA Award for Theatrical Feature.

‘I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to do thing I knew I wanted to do since I was 5 years old,’ he told the crowd as he accepted the award, as per Variety.

Anora stars Mikey Madison as an adult dancer who impetuously marries the son of a Russian oligarch, only to have his handlers go to shocking ends to annul the marriage. 

Meanwhile Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard, 72, gave a surprise shout-out to lead star Karla Sofía Gascón as he accepted the DGA medallion for his nomination in the top prize category.

Audiard thanked ‘his beloved actresses’ despite her recent controversy, as Gascón’s offensive tweets have threatened to derail the film’s awards hopes.

Anora director Sean Baker, 53, accepted the top prize at the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Saturday

Anora director Sean Baker, 53, accepted the top prize at the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Saturday

Meanwhile Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard, 72, gave a surprise shout-out to lead star Karla Sofía Gascón as he accepted the DGA medallion for his nomination in the top prize category

Meanwhile Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard, 72, gave a surprise shout-out to lead star Karla Sofía Gascón as he accepted the DGA medallion for his nomination in the top prize category

The French filmmaker said, via translator, ‘The last word is for my wonderful cast, my beloved actresses, Karla, Zoë, Selena, Adriana and Edgar, who is not an actress.’ 

The mention of Gascón was particularly surprising in light of his recent interview with Deadline, where he stated, ‘I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to.’ 

DGA Awards 2025 winners

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film

Sean Baker – Anora  

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series

Frederick E.O. Toye – Shogun, ‘Crimson Sky’ (FX)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series

Steven Zaillian – Ripley (Netflix) 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials

Beth McCarthy-Miller – The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady (Netflix) 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs

Amber Sealey – Out of My Mind (Disney+)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev -Porcelain War (Picturehouse)

Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film

Ramell Ross – Nickel Boys 

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Lucia Aniello –  Hacks, ‘Bulletproof’ (Max)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming

Liz Patrick – Saturday Night Live, “John Mulaney/Chappell Roan” (NBC)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

Neil DeGroot – Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, “The Cliffs of Ireland” (National Geographic Channel)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

Andreas Nilsson – Biscuit Filmworks

Lifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients

Ang Lee – Lifetime Achievement Award

Mary Rae Thewlis – Robert B. Aldrich Service Award

Thomas J. Whelan – Frank Capra Achievement Award 

 

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