DGA Monthly

M A R C H 2 0 2 6 I 1 1 DGA Congratulates Our Members with Films Added to the National Film Registry On January 29, 2026, Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen announced the annual selection of 25 motion pictures that have been added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. These fi lms were selected for inclusion due to their cultural, historic, and aesthetic importance to the nation's fi lm heritage. Included on this year's list are DGA Award-nominated fi lms such as The Truman Show (1998), directed by Peter Weir, The Hours (2002) directed by Stephen Daldry, The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) directed by Wes Anderson and Inception (2010) directed by DGA President Christopher Nolan. Also included are classics such as Michael Curtiz's White Christmas (1954) and John G. Avildsen's The Karate Kid (1984), both of whom served as members of the DGA National Board prior to their deaths. "When we preserve fi lms, we preserve American culture for generations to come. These selections for the National Film Registry show us that fi lms are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation's story," said Newlen. "We are proud to continue this important work, adding a broad range of 25 fi lms to the National Film Registry as a collective effort in the fi lm community to protect our cinematic heritage." Among the fi lms selected for the 2025 National Film Registry were the following directed by current or past DGA Members: (In chronological order) • White Christmas (1954) Michael Curtiz • High Society (1956) Charles Walters • The Thing (1982) John Carpenter • The Big Chill (1983) Lawrence Kasdan • The Karate Kid (1984) John G. Avildsen • Glory (1989) Edward Zwick • Philadelphia (1993) Jonathan Demme • Before Sunrise (1995) Richard Linklater* See more information about the National Film Registry at www.dga.org. • Clueless (1995) Amy Heckerling • The Truman Show (1998) Peter Weir • Frida (2002) Julie Taymor* • The Hours (2002) Stephen Daldry • The Incredibles (2004) Brad Bird* • Inception (2010) Christopher Nolan • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Wes Anderson *Filmed prior to the Director's DGA membership. Remembering the Guild's First Awards The Guild's fi rst awards show took place in 1948. The announcement in Variety ran as follows: "Effective from last May 1, the Screen Directors Guild is establishing awards to be presented quarterly for the best directed picture, and annually for the outstanding directorial achievement of the year," wrote Variety under the banner headline "SDG Gives Own Awards." A kind of Declaration of Independence from the Academy, the awards were initiated to give credit for outstanding work and enhance the image of the Director in the eyes of the industry, the press, and the public. SDG President George Marshall called it "a family affair" and said no one was more qualifi ed to judge the work of directors than Directors themselves. "It isn't that we're dissatisfi ed with the Academy Awards," said Marshall. "We just want awards of our own judged on technique only." See pages 13-25 for full coverage and photos from the 78th Annual DGA Awards

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