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D G A M O N T H L Y
Protecting Yourself from Email Scams
Recently, the DGA was made aware that a handful of members received
scam emails supposedly from the Guild. Out of an abundance of caution, we
want to remind you about these types of scams and others like it — which are
unfortunately becoming increasingly more common.
Often, scammers scour social media sites to determine an individual's affiliation to
organizations like the DGA and then search the web for their contact information and
attempt to impersonate the organization or leaders of the organization to get them to
divulge personal data or make purchases on their behalf. When receiving email, it is
important to always use common sense, keen observation and healthy skepticism to make
informed decisions regarding the validity of messages. Never open attached files unless you were expecting them, or click on web links
in an unexpected or suspect email. Remember, email accounts can be stolen or hijacked by malicious users so exercise caution if you
notice the following:
• Overly vague subject matter or unusual phrasing and/or multiple grammatical and spelling errors.
• An email that is missing a subject line or only containing a hyperlink or attachment.
• Questions regarding account details or contact information. Spoof emails may appear associated with legitimate websites or contain
recognizable names and "phishing" emails can originate from stolen or spoofed email accounts, and "fish" for personal information
or security credentials.
Legitimate DGA emails will only come from a dga.org email address, and you can call the Guild directly if you receive any suspicious
inquiries. For more information on how to recognize and avoid email and text phishing scams please visit the Federal Trade Commission's
Consumer Advice page: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams.
On October 3, the DGA announced changes to
the organization's initiative to highlight student
filmmakers from marginalized communities.
Formerly known as the DGA Student Film
Awards, the title of the program has been
changed to the DGA Student Spotlight Awards
for Underrepresented Directors.
The Guild has also expanded the number of eligible
institutions to include community colleges and technical
schools with film coursework while also expanding the pool
of eligible applicants to include any student from marginalized
communities attending U.S. based post-secondary
institutions with film curriculum.
"These Awards have a long-standing tradition of spotlighting emerging talent and providing a platform for these filmmakers to showcase
their creativity and storytelling prowess," said Breannah Oppenhuizen, Executive in Charge of DEI at the DGA. "The program has been a
springboard for many successful Directors in the industry, and this cycle promises to be no different."
Students enrolled in (or graduated within the last year from) post-secondary institutions during 2025/2026 with film coursework are invited
to submit their short films for consideration in the following categories: Narrative and Documentary. Submissions must be work done under
the supervision of a post-secondary faculty member from the institution of record. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major
crew position.
The submission period will start November 1, 2025, and close April 1, 2026.
Winners will receive a $2,500 grand prize and their work will be screened at the DGA Theaters in Los Angeles and New York. The winners
will be announced at the awards ceremony taking place in June 2026.
DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors
If you believe you have received a suspicious email from the Guild, please contact the Communications Dept. at 310-289-5333. For a list of
practical suggestions for your protection, visit the Email Safety and Cyber Security page in the Additional Resources area of www.dga.org.
For more information about the 2026 DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors, visit www.dga.org/Awards/Students.
