The 36th Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards, held on February 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California, offered significant insights into this year’s Academy Awards (Oscars) race. The prestigious event, known for recognizing excellence in film and television production, brought together top Hollywood producers, industry executives, and A-list celebrities for a night of celebration and recognition.
One of the most anticipated awards of the evening, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, was won by “Anora,” further solidifying its status as a major contender for the Best Picture Oscar. This victory follows its earlier wins at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards and the Critics Choice Awards, establishing it as a film with strong industry support.
The PGA Awards are often considered a key predictor for the Oscars, especially in the Best Picture category. Since the Academy expanded its Best Picture nominations from five to ten in 2009, the PGA’s choices have aligned with Oscar nominations at an average rate of eight out of ten films per year. This year, eight of the ten PGA-nominated films also secured Best Picture Oscar nominations, reinforcing the Awards’ predictive significance.
Top Film Award Winners at the PGA Awards 2025
Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
🏆 Winner: “Anora” (Neon)
🔹 Nominees:
- “The Brutalist” (A24)
- “A Complete Unknown” (Searchlight Pictures)
- “Conclave” (Focus Features)
- “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.)
- “Emilia Pérez” (Netflix)
- “A Real Pain” (Searchlight Pictures)
- “September 5” (Paramount Pictures)
- “The Substance” (Mubi)
- “Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
The triumph of “Anora” marks another significant step in its awards season journey, placing it among the strongest contenders for the Academy Awards‘ Best Picture.
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatre Motion Pictures
🏆 Winner: “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
🔹 Nominees:
- “Flow” (Janus Films/Sideshow)
- “Inside Out 2” (Pixar)
- “Moana 2” (Walt Disney Pictures)
- “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (Netflix)
DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot” winning over Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Disney’s “Moana 2” gives it an edge in the Oscar race for Best Animated Feature. With the Annie Awards also recognizing its achievements, this win strengthens its momentum.
Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture
🏆 Winner: “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.”
🔹 Nominees:
- “Gaucho Gaucho”
- “Mediha”
- “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa”
- “Porcelain War”
- “We Will Dance Again”
Though “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” missed an Oscar nomination, its PGA victory highlights its impact within the industry, particularly in recognizing inspirational storytelling in documentary filmmaking.
Television Categories: Recognizing Excellence Across Genres
Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television—Drama
🏆 Winner: “Shōgun” (FX)
🔹 Nominees:
- “Bad Sisters” (Apple TV+)
- “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
- “Fallout” (Prime Video)
- “Slow Horses” (Apple TV+)
The highly anticipated historical drama “Shōgun” secured this award, reinforcing FX’s ability to deliver compelling storytelling and high production value.
Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television—Comedy
🏆 Winner: “Hacks” (HBO/Max)
🔹 Nominees:
- “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
- “The Bear” (FX)
- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO/Max)
- “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
Following its wins at the Critics Choice Awards and the DGA Awards, “Hacks” continued its awards streak, proving to be one of the most celebrated comedy series of the year.
Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television
🏆 Winner: “Baby Reindeer” (Netflix)
🔹 Nominees:
- “FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans” (FX)
- “The Penguin” (HBO/Max)
- “Ripley” (Netflix)
- “True Detective: Night Country” (HBO/Max)
Netflix’s psychological drama “Baby Reindeer” captivated audiences and critics alike, solidifying its status as one of the year’s best-limited series.
Other Major Wins at the PGA Awards 2025
- Outstanding Live Entertainment, Variety & Talk Television: “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
- Outstanding Game & Competition Television: “The Traitors” (Peacock)
- Outstanding Children’s Program: “Sesame Street”
- Outstanding Sports Program: “Simone Biles Rising”
- Outstanding Short-Form Program: “Shōgun—The Making of Shōgun”
- PGA Innovation Award: “Orbital”
A Call to Bring Productions Back to Los Angeles
A key theme of the evening was the push to bring film and television production back to Los Angeles. PGA co-president Donald De Line made a passionate plea, stating:
“The movies made Los Angeles, and it’s time to move the movies back.”
This message resonated with many attendees, as Hollywood continues to navigate shifting production landscapes and tax incentives offered by other states and countries.
Looking Ahead to the Oscars
With the Oscars approaching on March 10, 2025, the PGA Awards offer valuable insights into potential winners. If history is any indication, “Anora” could be a strong contender for Best Picture, and “The Wild Robot” might have an edge in the Best Animated Feature race.
The full list of winners and more details can be found on the official Producers Guild of America website.
Stay tuned for more awards season coverage!
The information is collected from Variety and Yahoo.
