What to make of these nominations? The period category has a number of surprises including the omissions of both Carol and Brooklyn. It should come as little surprise that Crimson Peak showed up, but if The Danish Girl, why not those other more quaintly crafted pieces? Another entry not here that should have been considering its bump in recent weeks: The Big Short, which could easily have made it into the contemporary category in place of Sicario or Spectre. Other absent Best Picture contenders: Spotlight, Room, Beasts of No Nation, Creed, Steve Jobs and The Hateful Eight. That latter is one of the more fascinating omissions alongside Carol and Brooklyn.

The Nominations

Best Period Art Direction

Bridge of Spies
Crimson Peak
The Danish Girl
The Revenant
Trumbo

Best Fantasy Art Direction

Cinderella
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Tomorrowland

Best Contemporary Art Direction

Ex Machina
Joy
The Martian
Sicario
Spectre

Art Directors Guild Data

Year Founded: 1937
First Awards: 1996 (20)