Why the SAG Awards are Unique

Lauded by critics for its style, simplicity and genuine warmth, the Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented by SAG-AFTRA, which made its debut in 1995, has become one of the industry’s most prized honors. The only televised awards shows to exclusively honor performers, it presents thirteen awards for acting in film and television in a fast moving two hour show which airs live on TNT and TBS. The awards focus on both individual performances as well as on the work of the entire ensemble of a drama series and comedy series, and the cast of a motion picture. These honors are fundamental to the spirit of the Screen Actors Guild Awards because they recognize what all actors know – that acting is a collaborative art.

In that same spirit, the SAG Awards® also commends the outstanding performances by film and television stunt ensembles. These accolades are announced from the SAG Awards red carpet during TNT and TBS’ pre-show webcasts.

Other highlights of the Screen Actors Guild Awards include the SAG Life Achievement Award, presented to an established performer for fostering the highest ideals of the acting profession and tributes to the varied talents within SAG-AFTRA's membership. The 50th Life Achievement Award was presented to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

The Screen Actors Guild Awards are also unique in the size of its voting body. Two randomly selected panels of 2,200 members each from across the country choose the nominees for television and motion pictures.  All active members of SAG-AFTRA in the United States  -- more than 100,000 members -- receive voting information to select the outstanding performances of the year.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards is the only national network television show to acknowledge the work of union members. SAG-AFTRA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO through the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (the Four A's).

The Screen Actors Guild Awards also benefits the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, which provides opportunities for union members to contribute to the literacy of children through BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), and its online component Storyline Online. SAG Foundation programs provide emergency relief to union members in economic distress, emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of members, scholarships for performers and their children, valuable casting seminars and related professional workshops. The Foundation also operates The Actor’s Center and Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab. Details are available at www.sagfoundation.org, www.bookpals.net and www.storylineonline.net.

PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) will host the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the 19th consecutive year. This exclusive event honors the philanthropic causes and good works of the members of SAG-AFTRA. The gala, benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, will immediately follow the SAG Awards.

SAG Awards Facts

The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC will be produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment. Inc. and  will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT).  Nominations will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at  9 a.m. (ET) / 6 a.m. (PT), carried live on TNT and TBS, sagawards.tntdrama.com and tbs.com. For our other key dates, please see our full calendar.

Connect with the SAG Awards®
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Blog: http://blog.sagawards.org

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 165,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. With national offices in Los Angeles and New York, and local offices nationwide, SAG-AFTRA members work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond. 

Connect with SAG-AFTRA
Website: http://www.sagaftra.org 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sagaftra/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sagaftra/