Directors Guild of America (DGA) Nominations: Edward Berger, James Mangold, Jacques Audiard Lead All-Male Lineup, Blockbuster Directors Miss Out

Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024.

Making the cut are Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown. This is the first DGA nomination for all five directors, setting up the potential for the first all first-time set of Best Director nominees at the Oscars since 1997. Some noticeable misses today that were on the periphery and forefront of predictions include blockbuster directors Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two (the only who can keep the streak going) and Jon M. Chu for Wicked as well as Coralie Fargeat for The Substance, a box office hit in its own right. While the DGA often goes 3/5 or 4/5 with Oscar, who replaces who – or if – is an open call.

For DGA First Time Director we have Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfman Ullmann Tøndel for Armand (Norway’s Oscar submission) and Sean Wang for Dìdi. Kapadia recently received a Golden Globe nomination in Best Director for her work.

“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling – and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”

The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8, 2025. Here is the list of nominees.

THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM

The nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are (in alphabetical order):

JACQUES AUDIARD

Emilia Pérez (Netflix)

SEAN BAKER

Anora (Neon)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Olivia Kavanaugh
• First Assistant Director: Liza Mann
• Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco
• Second Second Assistant Director: Steve Coleman
• Location Manager: Ross Brodar

EDWARD BERGER

Conclave (Focus Features)

BRADY CORBET

The Brutalist (A24)

JAMES MANGOLD

A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Michael Bederman
• First Assistant Director: Douglas Torres
• Second Assistant Director: Brad Robinson
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Billy Brennan, Veronica Grant
• Location Manager: Anthony Pisani

MICHAEL APTED FIRST-TIME THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM

In addition, Glatter also announced five nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film.

PAYAL KAPADIA

All We Imagine as Light (Sideshow & Janus Films)

MEGAN PARK

My Old Ass (Amazon MGM Studios)

RAMELL ROSS

Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Kenneth Yu
• First Assistant Director: James Roque
• Second Assistant Director: Jonathan M. Warren
• Second Second Assistant Director: Thalia Skaleris
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Zachery Scherer
• Location Manager: Batou Chandler

HALFDAN ULLMANN TØNDEL

Armand (IFC Films)

SEAN WANG

Dìdi (Focus Features)