Murkier still are the waters of this year’s Oscar race. Clint Eastwood wasn’t much in the conversation this year, but with a nomination from the DGA, he suddenly launches into contention. Whether he can muster a nod at the Oscars is uncertain. The Academy’s directing branch have gone weird ways in recent years, ignoring both Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow when the DGA gave them mentions. This is good news for Damien Chazelle. That was the year that Benh Zeitlin nabbed a shock Best Director nomination without a DGA precursor.

David Fincher and James Marsh are the others who may be worried now. It’s also now safe to assume that Ava DuVernay is not going to make the cut, but what a wonderful surprise that would be. Does this mean a guarantee for these five? Hardly. While the non-Eastwood nominations were all widely predicted, the DGA and Academy rarely cross-over five-for-five.

The Nominations

Best Director

Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Clint Eastwood – American Sniper
Alejandro G. Inarritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game

Directors Guild of America Data

Year Founded: 1936
First Awards: 1948 (67)