Taika Waititi To Be Honored With the Norman Lear Award at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards for Exceptional Contributions to Television Producing
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that Taika Waititi will be recognized with the Norman Lear Achievement Award. Waititi, the Academy Award® and GRAMMY®-winning, Emmy®-nominated producer, will receive the award at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards.
The Norman Lear Award recognizes a producer or producing team for their extraordinary body of work in television. It has been awarded to individuals whose leadership and creativity have made profound contributions to the television industry. Past honorees include Mindy Kaling, Greg Berlanti, Marta Kauffman, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abrams, Lorne Michaels, Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, Gail Berman, Aaron Spelling, David E. Kelley, and the late Norman Lear himself.
"Taika Waititi has profoundly transformed the television landscape with his imaginative work as a producer, bringing to life groundbreaking series What We Do in the Shadows, Our Flag Means Death and Reservation Dogs,” said Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line. "His remarkable ability to explore cultures through a lens of humor and humanity makes these narratives not only relatable but also deeply engaging for audiences. Through his unwavering commitment to diverse narratives and the amplification of Indigenous voices, Taika redefines the art of storytelling, grounding cultural experiences in mainstream media. We are honored to recognize him for his significant contributions to television, continuing Norman Lear’s legacy of enriching the craft of producing.”
“Thank you so much to the Producers Guild of America for this incredible honor,” said Taika Waititi, “To be included alongside legends and so many I look up to, like the great Norman Lear himself, is truly humbling. My work as a producer has always been about telling stories that reflect the world as it is—messy, diverse, and full of humanity. I’m lucky to work with an amazing team of people who help bring these stories to life, and I’m grateful to be able to give a voice to storytellers that deserve to be heard. This award is for all of us—thank you for recognizing the importance of storytelling that connects us.”
As the co-founder of Piki Films, Taika Waititi has made a remarkable impact on the television landscape by producing innovative and distinctive stories. His groundbreaking work, particularly exemplified by the Indigenous American teen comedy Reservation Dogs has captivated audiences on major streaming platforms such as FX. Co-written with Sterlin Harjo, the series received widespread critical acclaim, earning accolades such as the 2021 Gotham Award for Short-Form Breakthrough Series and the 2022 Independent Spirit Award for Best New Scripted Series. Additionally, Reservation Dogs was honored with the 2022 and 2024 Peabody Award in the Entertainment category. The series garnered nominations for the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, Writers Guild of America Awards, last year’s Golden Globe Awards®, and most recently, a 2024 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. Concluding its third season, the show has been celebrated for its authentic representation and compelling narratives.
Taika Waititi's television projects consistently achieve remarkable success and resonate with audiences, establishing themselves as fan favorites. Our Flag Means Death quickly became a hit series on Max, showcasing Waititi's knack for producing engaging content. Furthermore, his critically acclaimed TV adaptation of What We Do in the Shadows has garnered both fan and critical acclaim, solidifying his reputation as a leading force in television production.
Most recently, Waititi launched the Apple TV+ Time Bandits, a creative reimagining of the 1981 film directed by Terry Gilliam, which he co-created with Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris, serving as an executive producer. Additional recent projects for Waititi include Hulu’s Interior Chinatown, for which he directed the pilot and is an executive producer, as well as the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun. Each of these projects reflects Waititi's commitment to crafting unique stories that challenge conventions and resonate with viewers.
The 2025 Producers Guild Awards Event Chairs are Mike Farah and Joe Farrell. The 2025 Producers Guild Awards are produced by Anchor Street Collective and written by Jody Lambert, Lauren Cortizo and Matt Oberg for the Producers Guild of America. Branden Chapman is the executive producer, and Carleen Cappelletti is co-executive producer. Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis is PR agency of record, and Diane Salerno manages sponsorships.
Sponsors of the 2025 Producers Guild Awards include Cadillac, the Official Vehicle, Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline, Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky, and GreenSlate.