The day many of us feared has come and the fear seems to have been unfounded (largely). Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele earned nominations for Best Director after the Golden Globes and BAFTA both shut them out in their citations. There had been some concern that the DGA would continue its all-white, all-male tradition, but their selections are notably progressive. That the only major gay director in the competition this year, Luca Guadagnino, wasn’t nominated for Call Me by Your Name is a different issue that will eventually need to be resolved. It is highly unlikely that this list 100% translates over to the Oscars as this slate would result in the first time the Best Director nomination slate at the Academy had been comprised entirely of first-time directors.

Of the Oscar hopefuls that missed out on this list, there’s Guadagnino, plus Steven Spielberg, Denis Villeneuve (who was nominated at BAFTA alongside Guadagnino), Joe Wright, and Paul Thomas Anderson. It’s possible that Spielberg or Anderson could be the ones to replace one form this list, but this might be good news for Christopher Nolan who has, in spite of three prior DGA nominations, never been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars. Of course, that would also make him one of the directors most likely dropped from this list.

The Awards

Best Director

Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird
Martin McDonagh – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Nolan – Dunkirk
Jordan Peele – Get Out

Best First Feature

Geremy Jasper – Patti Cake$
William Oldroyd – Lady Macbeth
Jordan Peele – Get Out
Taylor Sheridan – Wind River
Aaron Sorkin – Molly’s Game

Directors Guild of America Data

Year Founded: 1936
First Awards: 1948 (70)