Awarding the American Scene

The American Scene Awards®, SAG-AFTRA’s biennial awards program that recognizes union employers’ commitment to diversity in entertainment and media, is now open for submissions.

Since its inception, the awards have brought focus to union-covered projects that display realistic portrayals of people of color, people with disabilities, women, seniors, sexual orientation and gender identity, and other under-represented groups in America.

Award categories fall under the three major areas of work for union performers: entertainment, music and sound recording, and broadcast. Nominees are considered for exemplifying authenticity and excellence in storytelling and production, as well as their impact on the industry itself, affected communities and society at large. Recipients in 2017 included the NBC television drama This Is Us, the original Broadway cast recordings and accompanying mixtape featuring various artists for Hamilton, and the San Diego State University Research Foundation for KPBS San Diego.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. PT on July 29. The awards ceremony will take place Oct. 11 during the 2019 SAG-AFTRA National Convention in Beverly Hills. To view the full eligibility requirements and to submit your nominations, click here.