DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for the year 2008

January 8, 2009

"A film is a collaboration, but it is the director's energy and vision that brings the elements of script, performance and production into a satisfying totality.  Today's nominees demonstrate how vision, combined with skill and talent, creates magic on the screen," said Hackford.  "What makes this award truly meaningful to directors is the knowledge that only this award is decided solely by their peers – the men and women who live the passion, sweat and fear that goes into creating feature films."

The winner will be named at the 61st Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 31 2009, at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2008:

DANNY BOYLE

Slumdog Millionaire

(Fox Searchlight Pictures
and Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Boyle's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Sanjay Kumar
• First Assistant Director: Raj Acharya
• Second Assistant Director: Avani Batra
• Second Second Assistant Director: Sonia Nemawarkar

This is Mr. Boyle's first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination.

DAVID FINCHER

The Curious Case
of Benjamin Button

(Paramount Pictures and
Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Fincher's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Daniel Stillman
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
• Second Assistant Director: Allen Kupetsky
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Pete Waterman, Stephen F. Lonano

This is Mr. Fincher's first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination. He previously won the DGA Commercial Award for Speed Chain (Nike), Gamebreakers (Nikegridiron.com), and Beauty for Sale (Xelibri Phones) in 2003.

RON HOWARD

Frost/Nixon

(Universal Pictures)

Mr. Howard's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Kathleen McGill
• First Assistant Director: William M. Connor
• Second Assistant Director: Kristen Ploucha
• Second Second Assistant Director: Scott R. Meyers

This is Mr. Howard's fourth DGA Feature Film Award Nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Cocoon in 1985, and won the Award in 2001 for his direction of A Beautiful Mind, and in 1995 for Apollo 13.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

The Dark Knight

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Nolan's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Kevin De La Noy, Susan Towner, Jan Foster
• First Assistant Director: Nilo Otero
• Second Assistant Director: Brandon Lambdin
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Jessica Franks
• Second Second Assistant Director: Greg Pawlik 
• Location Manager: James R. McAllister

This is Mr. Nolan's second DGA Feature Film Award nomination.  He was previously nominated for Memento in 2001.

GUS VAN SANT

Milk

(Focus Features)

Mr. Van Sant's Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Barbara A. Hall
• First Assistant Director: David Webb
• Second Assistant Director: John R. Saunders
• Second Second Assistant Director: Ian Calip
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Cindy A. Taylor     

This is Mr. Van Sant's second DGA Feature Film Award nomination.  He was previously nominated for Good Will Hunting in 1997.