The Directors Guild of America has announced that comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani will host its 78th annual awards ceremony next month, succeeding Judd Apatow who held the role for the past five years. The event is scheduled for February 7 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Nanjiani expressed honor in celebrating directors' work through the ceremony.
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) revealed on January 26 that Kumail Nanjiani, known for his roles in film and television, will emcee the 78th annual DGA Awards. This marks a change from Judd Apatow, who hosted the event for the past five consecutive years and six out of the last seven, including 2018.
Nanjiani, an Oscar nominee for co-writing the 2017 romantic comedy The Big Sick, brings experience from co-hosting the 2016 Independent Spirit Awards and presenting at various ceremonies. His recent projects include the stand-up special Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts, which premiered on Hulu last month, and acting roles in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and the upcoming Ella McCay. He gained prominence as a series regular on HBO's Silicon Valley from 2014 to 2019.
In a statement, Nanjiani said: “I am honored to host the DGA Awards and celebrate the incredible work done across the art form. A director’s dedication, leadership and creativity are what bring the most powerful stories – the ones that truly need to be told – to life.”
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 7, at the Beverly Hilton. Beth McCarthy-Miller returns as chair of the awards for her fifth consecutive year. Apatow, a three-time Emmy winner, recently presented at the Golden Globes and is currently directing an untitled film starring Glen Powell and Cristin Milioti, while developing a romantic comedy with Nikki Glaser at Universal.
This transition highlights the DGA's tradition of selecting hosts with strong comedic backgrounds to engage audiences in honoring directorial achievements.
