Columbia Filmmakers Kick Off 2026 Awards Season at the Golden Globes

Columbia alums picked up several nominations and two awards at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards last night, when Hollywood celebrated the best and brightest of TV and film at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The only two television shows to win across multiple categories, The Pitt and Adolescence, feature Columbia talent in their cast and creative team.

Adolescence, a limited series from Netflix that follows the family of a boy accused of murdering a classmate, shot each episode of the series in just one take. The bold choice showcased the cast's commanding performances and made each tense episode totally breathtaking. Dede Garner CC '90 produced the show, which won not only Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television, but also swept every acting category where they received a nomination. 

The child actor at the center of the show, Owen Cooper, won Best Actor in a Television Supporting Role. Stephen Graham, who portrays the boy's father, won best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television, and Erin Doherty, who played a social worker featured in the climactic episode of the series, won Best Actress in a Television Supporting Role.

Supriya Ganesh CC '19 leads the ensemble cast of The Pitt as a third-year medical resident. The HBO Max procedural drama depicts a Pittsburgh emergency room over the course of one fifteen-hour shift. The show, which won Best Television Series, Drama, could be deemed a gritty reboot of the soap opera ER, where lead actor Noah Wyle starred alongside George Clooney in the 90s. Wyle won Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama for his performance of a senior attending physician. 

Other nominees for Best Television Series - Drama include The Diplomat and Severance. The Diplomat follows the work of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom as she manages international crises and holds onto her deteriorating marriage. The show, which was created, written and executive produced by Debora Cahn BC '93, stars Keri Russell as the eponymous diplomat. Severance, executive produced by Theatre alum Beau Willimon '03 (CC '99), is Apple TV+'s thrilling sci-fi workplace drama. The show stars Adam Scott as a man who has chosen to undergo a procedure that severs his workplace consciousness from his home persona, creating two selves and a whole lot of intrigue.

Chris Teague '06 directed two episodes of Dying for Sex, a limited series based on Molly Kochan's experience experimenting with her sexuality after a terminal cancer diagnosis, which earned a nomination for Best Television Limited Series. Michelle Williams, who stars as Molly, won Best Actress in a Limited Series for her performance. Jenny Slate CC '04 earned a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Supporting Role for her portrayal of Molly's best friend, Nikki Boyer, who in real life produced the show alongside Marshall Lewy '06 for FX.

Timothée Chalamet, onetime Columbia College student, won his first Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy with his portrayal of a ping pong champion in A24's Marty Supreme. Director, co-writer and producer Josh Safdie seemingly created the role for the young star. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, but the award went to One Battle After Another, which swept Best Screenplay and Best Director for auteur Paul Thomas Anderson.

Jennifer Lee '05, who made history as the first woman to direct a Disney feature film, executive produced Zootopia 2. The film, which stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman as unlikely crime fighting partners (because they are a bunny and a fox) earned a nomination for Best Motion Picture - Animated.

While the award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy went to another series, Jean Smart took home Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for her role as the washed-up comedy superstar Deborah Vance in Hacks. The show, which captures a rich, fraught, intergenerational friendship between comedians was created, written and directed by Lucia Anniello CC '04 and won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy last year.

Stars of Only Murders in the Building Steve Martin and Martin Short got numerous shout outs throughout the evening for their enormous legacy in comedy, both by host Nikki Glaser and by the younger stars like Seth Rogen in their acceptance speeches. The show, set on the Upper West Side, is a murder mystery vehicle for glamorous ensemble casts and stars the elder statesmen alongside pop superstar and former child actor Selena Gomez. Jamie Babbit (BC '93) directed the last two episodes of the fifth season of Only Murders, which was nominated for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. Shari Springer Berman '95 directed episodes five and six of the latest season.

Nobody Wants This, Netflix's heartwarming romantic comedy portraying a relationship between a rabbi and a raunchy gentile podcaster, was also nominated for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. The first two episodes of the series were directed and executive produced by Greg Mottola '91. Babbit directed episodes four and eight of the second season.

While the Golden Globes kicked off award season, the Emmys and Academy Awards are still ahead of us. To stay up to date on the achievements of Columbia grads, follow us for 2026 awards coverage.