DGA Awards 2025: Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ Wins Top Prize as ‘Emilia Perez’ Director Stuns with Karla Sofia Gascon Shout-Out

Sean Baker Wins Top Honor at 77th DGA Awards
Sean Baker’s Anora continued its awards season momentum by claiming the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for Theatrical Feature Film on Saturday. The indie director, 53, accepted the prize at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, calling himself “the luckiest guy in the world” to pursue filmmaking since childhood. Fresh off a Critics Choice Award win, Baker triumphed over nominees including Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown).

Anora director Sean Baker, 53, accepted the top prize at the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.

Gascon Controversy Overshadows Audiard’s Nomination
Audiard, 72, sparked surprise by praising embattled Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón during his DGA medallion acceptance speech. Despite his recent criticism of her offensive past tweets—deemed Islamophobic and racist—the French filmmaker thanked his “beloved actresses,” including Gascón, via a translator. This came days after he told Deadline, “I haven’t spoken to her, and I don’t want to,” accusing her of self-sabotage.

Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard, 72, acknowledged Karla Sofía Gascón despite their strained relationship.

Gascón, 52, recently vowed to “let the work speak for itself” after apologizing for the tweets, which risk derailing her historic bid as the first transgender Oscar nominee for Best Actress. Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, a musical crime comedy following a cartel leader’s gender transition, has shifted focus to co-star Zoë Saldaña in its Oscar campaign.

Key Moments & Attendees
Michelle Yeoh presented Ang Lee with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while The Brutalist director Brady Corbet and star Adrien Brody celebrated their DGA honors. Presenters included Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Bowen Yang (SNL), who awarded Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted directors.

The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri and SNL’s Bowen Yang presented the Reality Programs award.

Other attendees included Elle Fanning, Sebastian Stan, and Demi Moore, who turned heads in a sheer gown. Judd Apatow hosted the ceremony for the sixth time.

Full List of Major Winners

• Theatrical Feature Film: Sean Baker, Anora
• First-Time Theatrical Feature: RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
• Dramatic Series: Frederick E.O. Toye, Shōgun
• Lifetime Achievement: Ang Lee
• Reality Programs: Neil DeGroot, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Michelle Yeoh honored Ang Lee with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Baker’s Anora, starring Mikey Madison as a dancer entangled with a Russian oligarch’s family, remains a strong Oscar contender. Meanwhile, Audiard’s fraught ties with Gascón highlight the tension between art and controversy in Hollywood’s awards race.

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