Much to the relief of many in the film world, the Directors Guild of America capped off one of their most diverse slates of DGA Awards nods by including “Get Out” helmer Jordan Peele and “Lady Bird” director Greta Gerwig among the five nominees for the top award.
Peele and Gerwig earned the honor alongside Martin McDonagah (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”) and Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”).
Gerwig joins Kathryn Bigelow, Sofia Coppola, Jane Campion, Barbara Streisand, Randa Haines and Lina Wertmuller as the only women nominated for the honor. Bigelow is currently the only winner.
In terms of African-American directors nominated for the top DGA Award, Peele joins an even smaller list consisting of Lee Daniels, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins and, now, himself.
The DGA also announced the nominees for the First-Time Feature Film Director honor. Those recipients included Peele, Taylor Sheridan (“Wind River”), William Oldroyd (“Lady Macbeth”), Geremy Jasper (“Patti Cake$”), and Aaron Sorkin (“Molly’s Game”). While this was her first solo effort, the DGA had previously determined that Gerwig was not eligible in this category because of the 2008 feature “Nights and Weekends” she co-directed with Joe Swanberg.
Among the notable snubs for the honor were “Call Me By Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino, “The Florida Project” lenser Sean Baker, “Mudbound” helmer Dee Rees, “Darkest Hour” filmmaker Joe Wright, “Wonder Woman” success story Patty Jenkins and “The Post” veteran Steven Spielberg.
For a complete list of the television and documentary nominations revealed yesterday, click here.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film
GUILLERMO del TORO
The Shape of Water
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. del Toro’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale
Production Manager: Dennis Chapman
First Assistant Director: Pierre Henry
Second Assistant Director: Tyler Delben
This is Mr. del Toro’s first DGA Award nomination
GRETA GERWIG
Lady Bird
(A24)
Ms. Gerwig’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Lila Yacoub, Danielle Blumstein, Jamin O’Brien (New York Crew)
First Assistant Directors: Jonas Spaccarotelli, Cedric Vara (New York Crew)
Second Assistant Director: Brendan Lee, Dana Zolli (New York Crew)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Lillian Awa, Teri Barber
This is Ms. Gerwig’s first DGA Award nomination.
MARTIN McDONAGH
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. McDonagh’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Bergen Swanson
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Peggy Robinson
First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
Second Assistant Director: Paula Case
Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor
This is Mr. McDonagh’s first DGA Award nomination.
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
Dunkirk
(Warner Bros.)
Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: David Witz, Christine Raspillere (France Unit), Chris Brock (UK Unit), Nicky Tüske (Netherlands Unit)
First Assistant Directors: Nilo Otero, William Pruss (France Unit), Willem Quarles van Ufford (Netherlands Unit)
Second Assistant Director: Eric Lasko, Nicolas Baldino (France Unit), Alexis Chelli (France Unit), Clément Comet (France Unit)
Second Second Assistant Director: Alina Gatti
This is Mr. Nolan’s fourth DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Inception in 2010, for The Dark Knight in 2008, and for Memento in 2001.
JORDAN PEELE
Get Out
(Universal Pictures)
Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit)
First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi
Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard
Location Manager: Kurt Enger (New York Unit)
This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the First-Time Feature Film category for Get Out.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2016
GEREMY JASPER
Patti Cake$
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Mr. Jasper’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Sara Blechman
First Assistant Director: Inna Braude
Second Assistant Director: Natasha Rivera
Second Second Assistant Director: Lucas Isabella
Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Alice Johnson
This is Mr. Jasper’s first DGA Award nomination.
WILLIAM OLDROYD
Lady Macbeth
(Roadside Attractions)
Mr. Oldroyd’s Directorial Team:
Production Manager: Robert K. Harm
Unit Manager: Eugene Galbrath
First Assistant Director: George Every
Second Assistant Director: Richard Stanley Jan Harris
This is Mr. Oldroyd’s first DGA Award nomination.
JORDAN PEELE
Get Out
(Universal Pictures)
Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit)
First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi
Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard
Location Manager: Kurt Enger (New York Unit)
This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for Get Out.
TAYLOR SHERIDAN
Wind River
(Acacia Entertainment)
Mr. Sheridan’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Christopher H. Warner
First Assistant Director: Nicholas Harvard
Second Assistant Director: Jason Altieri
Second Second Assistant Director: Kristina Massie
This is Mr. Sheridan’s first DGA Award nomination.
AARON SORKIN
Molly’s Game
(STX Entertainment)
Mr. Sorkin’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Stuart M. Besser, Michael Beugg (Los Angeles Unit)
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bart Lipton (Los Angeles Unit)
First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
Second Assistant Directors: Penny Charter, Travis Rehwaldt (New York Unit), Paula Case (Los Angeles Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Conor Griff (New York Unit), Drew Ritson (New York Unit), Bryan Snodgrass (Los Angeles Unit)
Location Manager: Dena Ghieth (New York Unit)
This is Mr. Sorkin’s first DGA Award nomination.
