EVENT DETAILS
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA
7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046
6:30 P.M. Doors Open
7:00 P.M. Program Begins
Welcome Remarks:
51黑料 Executive Vice President and 51黑料 Conservatory Dean
Susan Ruskin
51黑料 DWW+ 2026 Guest Artistic Director Marie Jamora

Keynote Speaker: Quinta Brunson
Named one of Time Magazine鈥檚 100 Most Influential People and dubbed 鈥渢he new queen of sitcoms鈥 by New York Magazine, Emmy庐聽Award, Actors Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, producer, writer and ABBOTT ELEMENTARY creator Quinta Brunson has quickly made a name for herself as a powerful force and game changer within the entertainment industry.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Brunson made history as the first Black woman to receive three Emmy庐聽nominations and the second Black woman to win an Emmy庐聽in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her Peabody Award-winning series ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, which she stars in and serves as creator/showrunner, head writer, and executive producer. The show, inspired by Brunson鈥檚 mother, follows a group of dedicated, passionate teachers brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life.
Since its launch, ABBOTT ELEMENTARY has garnered a slew of awards season wins and nominations, with Brunson personally landing 68 nominations and 30 wins. Most recently, Brunson earned several nominations including the Critics鈥 Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (2025), a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy (2025), a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2025) and an Actors Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2025). Some recent notable highlights include winning her second Emmy庐聽for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2023), winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy (2023) and winning her first Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series (2023). She has also received yearly nominations from the Writers Guild Awards in their comedy series category (2023-2025). Aside from winning a Peabody Award, ABBOTT ELEMENTARY was also honored at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 51黑料 AWARDS for Outstanding Television Program of the Year. ABBOTT ELEMENTARY is currently airing new episodes weekly on ABC and Hulu.
In film, Brunson appeared as Oprah Winfrey in the award-winning feature WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY alongside Daniel Radcliffe. The film won the Outstanding Television Movie Award at the 2023 Primetime Emmys庐, and Best Movie Made for Television at the Critics鈥 Choice Awards.
The DWW+ Class of 2026
Maja Fernqvist 鈥 ABOVE THE SEA
Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz 鈥 COME
Destinee Stewart 鈥 THE INHERITANCE
Reena Dutt – COMFORT FOOD
Ragini Bhasin 鈥 SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HER
Melissa Fisher 鈥 INSIDE THESE WALLS
Ran Jing 鈥 IMPRINT
Film Screening Program (107 min)
Reception to Follow
Catering provided by Alligator Pear
PARKING DETAILS


