Diverse Voices Shine in DGA Awards Nominations
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has unveiled its nominees for the upcoming DGA Awards, showcasing a blend of established names and promising newcomers. This year's list underscores a notable shift toward more diverse voices in filmmaking.
Theatrical Feature Film Category
Five directors are competing for the top prize in the theatrical feature film category. Warner Bros. leads with two nominees, while Netflix, A24, and Focus Features each have one.
- Ryan Coogler's nomination is historic. He is only the fifth Black director ever recognized by the DGA and the first since Spike Lee in 2018. No Black filmmaker has ever won the top directing prize at the DGA Awards.
- Chloé Zhao is making history as well. She is the first Asian woman to win a DGA Award and now joins a small group of women who have been nominated multiple times.
- More than half of this year's nominees come from underrepresented communities, marking a significant step forward.
Notable Mentions
- Josh Safdie's nomination for Marty Supreme is a major milestone—his first DGA nod and second solo directorial effort.
- Despite a strong year for international films, none of the acclaimed foreign directors made the cut, sparking debate over films like Sentimental Value and No Other Choice being overlooked.
Michael Apted Award
The DGA also announced nominees for the Michael Apted Award, which honors first-time feature film directors. This award has become a strong predictor of future success, with last year's winner earning an Oscar nomination.
Awards Ceremony & Predictions
Christopher Nolan, DGA president, praised the nominees for their artistry and dedication. Winners will be announced at the 78th Annual DGA Awards on February 7th.
The DGA Awards have a strong track record of predicting Oscar winners. Only a few DGA winners have failed to win the Oscar for best director. The correlation is even stronger for best picture, with only two films winning the Oscar without a DGA nomination.
