What a year it’s been for writer-director Denis Villeneuve. Following the one-two punch of Prisoners and Sicario, in 2016 the filmmaker crafted a stunning, cerebral sci-fi in the form of Arrival, and will remain in the genre for not only Blade Runner 2049, but also Legendary’s embryonic Dune reboot.
For Villeneuve, it’s Arrival that has fired his name directly into the Oscar race, and while we wait patiently for The Academy to select its nominees (keep your peepers peeled on January 24), the latest round of nominations are in. This time, it’s the Directors Guild of America’s turn to announce their candidates for this year’s ceremony and sure enough, Denis Villeneuve is among the nominees. He’s in the running for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film, a title Damien Chazelle (La La Land), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Garth Davis (Lion) and Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea) will also be lobbying for in a few weeks’ time.
Meanwhile, Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen) and Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) are just some of the names competing in the First-Time Feature Film bracket.
The full list of nominees can be found below, with the winners expected to be announced at the 69th Annual DGA Awards on February 4, 2017.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film:
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Garth Davis – Lion
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve – Arrival
First-Time Feature Film:
Garth Davis – Lion
Kelly Fremon Craig – The Edge of Seventeen
Tim Miller – Deadpool
Nate Parker – The Birth of a Nation
Dan Trachtenberg – 10 Cloverfield Lane
