The 57th AnnualDGA Awards dinner has been scheduled for Jan 29 2005 at the Century plaza Hotelin Los Angeles.

The deadline forreturning all film nomination ballots is Jan 5 and the five film nominees will beannounced the following day.

The deadline for returning final film ballots is Jan 28,DGA president Michael Apted and awards committee chairperson Howard Storm saidyesterday (12).

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement infilm has traditionally been one of the most reliable barometers of AcademyAward success in the best director category, with only six winners since theDGA's inception in 1949 not going on to win the Oscar.

Last year PeterJackson won both for The Lord of The Rings: The Return Of The King.