Danny Boyle (center right) with presenter Ethan Coen First Assistant Director Raj Acharya and presenter Joel Coen

DANNY BOYLE Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Boyle's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Sanjay Kumar
  
• First Assistant Director: Raj Acharya
  
• Second Assistant Director: Avani Batra
  
• Second Second Assistant Director: Sonia Nemawarkar

This is Mr. Boyle's first DGA Feature Film Award.

• 1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!
  
• 1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA's nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret.
  
• 1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa.
  
• 1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters selected Mel Gibson for Braveheart.
  
• 2000: Ang Lee won the DGA Award for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon while Steven Soderbergh won the Academy Award for Traffic.
  
• 2002: Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago at the 55th Annual DGA Awards while Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist.
  

The 62nd Annual DGA Awards will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted and DGA Awards Chair Howard Storm today announced the recipients of four special DGA Awards recognizing lifetime career achievement and extraordinary contributions to the Guild.

2009 DGA Special Award Recipients
Hon. Life Member	Aldrich Award	Capra Award	Schaffner Award
Roger Ebert	William M. Brady	Kim Kurumada	Scott Berger

• Film Critic/Author Roger Ebert will receive the DGA’s 2009 Honorary Life Member Award for recognition of outstanding creative achievement, or contribution to the Guild, or the profession of Directing.
• DGA Second Vice-President/Director William Brady will receive the 2009 Robert B. Aldrich Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and to its membership.
• DGA Board Member/Unit Production Manager Kim Kurumada will receive the 2009 Frank Capra Achievement Award, which is given to an Assistant Director or Unit Production Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.
• DGA Assistant Secretary/Treasurer/Associate Director Scott Berger will receive the 2009 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award for an Associate Director or Stage Manager in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the Directors Guild of America.

 “From the blockbuster to the tiny independent film, Roger Ebert has devoted his career to sharing his love of film with generations of moviegoers," said Apted, regarding Honorary Life Member Roger Ebert. "In doing so, he's kept directors on their toes for more than 40 years. I am very pleased to welcome him as an Honorary Life Member of the DGA.” 

Apted added, “The three Special Guild Award honorees – Bill Brady, Kim Kurumada and Scott Berger – have left an indelible mark upon this organization through their leadership, negotiating prowess, and dedication to the needs of their fellow members, the Guild, and the industry. I could not be prouder of their accomplishments nor more appreciative of their service.”

 All four awards will be presented at the 61^st Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

• DGA Announces Special Award Recipients for 61st Annual DGA Awards
  click link above for the full version of this release that includes bios for each honoree