January 12, 2016
Nominees for Inaugural First-Time Feature Film Director Category Also Announced
Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2015.
“What makes this year different is the unbridled ambition of the five nominated films – in theme, in production, in visual imagination,” said Barclay. “What makes this year the same is that the films were all chosen by the directors’ peers, and it’s clear our members love when people use their vision and skill to push the media to new heights. Congratulations to all of the nominees for their incredible work.”
The nominees for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM FOR 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
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ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
The Revenant
(20th Century Fox)
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Mr. Iñárritu’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Drew Locke, James W. Skotchdopole, Doug Jones
- First Assistant Director: Scott Robertson
- Second Assistant Directors: Megan M. Shank, Matthew Haggerty, Jeremy Marks
- Unit Production Manager: Gabriela Vazquez (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
- First Assistant Director: Adam Somner (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
- Second Assistant Directors: Trevor R. Tavares, Jasmine Marie Alhambra (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Brett Robinson, Kasia Trojak (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
This is Mr. Iñárritu’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2014 for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). He was also nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Procter & Gamble) in 2012.
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TOM McCARTHY
Spotlight
(Open Road Films)
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Mr. McCarthy’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: D.J. Carson, Michael Bederman
- First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
- Second Assistant Director: Penny Charter
- Assistant Unit Production Manager: Danielle Blumstein (Boston Unit)
- First Assistant Director: Christo Morse (Boston Unit)
- Second Assistant Directors: Conte Matal, Kristina Mariko Peterson, Annie Tan, Andrea O’Connor (Boston Unit)
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Phil Robinson, Mark Romanelli (Boston Unit)
- Additional Second Assistant Director: Scooter Perrotta (Boston Unit)
- Location Manager: Robert Striem
This is Mr. McCarthy’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.
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ADAM McKAY
The Big Short
(Paramount Pictures)
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Mr. McKay’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Louise Rosner
- First Assistant Director: Matt Rebenkoff
- Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
- Second Second Assistant Director: Cali Pomés
- Second Second Assistant Director: Josh Muzaffer (New York Unit)
- Location Manager: Michael Kriaris
This is Mr. McKay’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.
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GEORGE MILLER
Mad Max: Fury Road
(Warner Bros.)
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Mr. Miller’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Sally French
- Production Manager: Dean Hood
- First Assistant Director: PJ Voeten
- Second Assistant Directors: Samantha Smith, Wendy Croad, Chris O’Hara
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Brett Hodgkinson, Marcy Trout
- Second Assistant Directors: Eddie Thorne, Emma Jamvold (Sydney Unit)
- Second Second Assistant Directors: Danielle Blake, Joshua Watkins (Sydney Unit)
This is Mr. Miller’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.
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RIDLEY SCOTT
The Martian
(20th Century Fox)
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Mr. Scott’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Managers: Francesca Cingolani, Miklós Tóth
- First Assistant Director: Raymond Kirk
- Second Assistant Directors: Sarah Hood, Bogi Móricz
- Second Second Assistant Director: Nick Thomas
This is Mr. Scott’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category in 1991 for Thelma and Louise, in 2000 for Gladiator, and in 2001 for Black Hawk Down.
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A New DGA Award Category Recognizing Emerging Talent in Feature Film
In addition, Mr. Barclay also announced the five nominees for a new category recognizing the achievement of first-time feature film directors. First announced by Steven Spielberg at last year’s DGA Awards, the Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director is a new DGA Award that was created to showcase the feature film talent of the future.
“There’s a first time for every feature filmmaker, but not every first time offers fresh viewpoints in storytelling that are imperative in this industry,” said Barclay. “The first-time feature directors we’re recognizing with this inaugural award we hope will develop successful and lengthy careers. We are excited and invigorated by all they have to offer.”
The nominees for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR FOR 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
FERNANDO COIMBRA
A Wolf at the Door
(Outsider Pictures)
Mr. Coimbra's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Clara Machado
- First Assistant Director: Suzy Milstein
- Second Assistant Director: Raquel Toledo
This is Mr. Coimbra's first DGA Award nomination.
JOEL EDGERTON
The Gift
(STX Entertainment)
Mr. Edgerton's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Luc Etienne
- First Assistant Director: Michael J. Moore
- Second Assistant Director: Matt Haggerty
- Second Second Assistant Director: Dillon Neaman
This is Mr. Edgerton's first DGA Award nomination.
ALEX GARLAND
Ex Machina
(A24)
Mr. Garland's Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Sara Desmond
- First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall-Smith
- Second Assistant Director: Ray Kenny
This is Mr. Garland's first DGA Award nomination.
MARIELLE HELLER
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Ms. Heller’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Molly Salz
- First Assistant Director: Brian Benson
- Second Assistant Director: Jerremy Stewart
- Second Second Assistant Director: Alex Gilbert
This is Ms. Heller's first DGA Award nomination.
LÁSZLÓ NEMES
Son of Saul
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Mr. Nemes’s Directorial Team:
- Unit Production Manager: Gábor Szántó
- First Assistant Director: István Kolos
- Second Assistant Directors: Zoltán Gyovai, Edina Galgócz
This is Mr. Nemes's first DGA Award nomination.
Eligible directors for this award must have released his or her first feature-length film theatrically in Los Angeles or New York in 2015. Foreign films are eligible and the director does not need to be a DGA member.
Winners will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday evening, February 6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.
DGA nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials, and Documentaries will be announced on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
BMW is the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of the 68th Annual DGA Awards.
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