DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017

70th Annual DGA Monthly

January 11, 2018

Nominees for First-Time Feature Film Director Category Also Announced

Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017. 

“2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the DGA Awards, and filmmaking has reached new heights with each passing year. These nominees embody the excellence that comes to life when unique vision, craft and skill come together in pursuit of masterful storytelling,” said Schlamme. “Being nominated by their peers is what makes this award especially meaningful for directors, and I congratulate all of the nominees for their outstanding work.”


DGA Awards Medallion Small Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Feature Film

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):

70th Annual DGA Awards

GUILLERMO del TORO

The Shape of Water

(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. del Toro’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale
  • Production Manager: Dennis Chapman
  • First Assistant Director: Pierre Henry
  • Second Assistant Director: Tyler Delben

This is Mr. del Toro’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards

GRETA GERWIG

Lady Bird

(A24)

Ms. Gerwig’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: Lila Yacoub, Danielle Blumstein, Jamin O’Brien (New York Crew)
  • First Assistant Directors: Jonas Spaccarotelli, Cedric Vara (New York Crew)
  • Second Assistant Directors: Brendan Lee, Dana Zolli (New York Crew)
  • Second Second Assistant Directors: Lillian Awa, Teri Barber
  • Location Manager: Charlynne Hopson

This is Ms. Gerwig’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards

MARTIN McDONAGH

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. McDonagh’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Bergen Swanson
  • Assistant Unit Production Manager: Peggy Robinson
  • First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
  • Second Assistant Director: Paula Case
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor

This is Mr. McDonagh’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Dunkirk

(Warner Bros.)

Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: David Witz, Christine Raspillere (France Unit), Chris Brock (UK Unit), Nicky Tüske (Netherlands Unit)
  • First Assistant Directors: Nilo Otero, William Pruss (France Unit), Willem Quarles van Ufford (Netherlands Unit)
  • Second Assistant Director: Eric Lasko, Nicolas Baldino (France Unit), Alexis Chelli (France Unit), Clément Comet (France Unit)
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Alina Gatti

This is Mr. Nolan’s fourth DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Inception in 2010, for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001.


70th Annual DGA Awards

JORDAN PEELE

Get Out

(Universal Pictures)

Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit)
  • First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi
  • Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard
  • Location Manager: Kurt Enger (New York Unit)

This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the First-Time Feature Film category for Get Out.

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DGA Awards Medallion Small Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
First-Time Feature Film

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2017 are (in alphabetical order):

70th Annual DGA Awards
GEREMY JASPER

Patti Cake$

(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Jasper’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Sara Blechman
  • First Assistant Director: Inna Braude
  • Second Assistant Director: Natasha Rivera
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Lucas Isabella
  • Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Alice Johnson

This is Mr. Jasper’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards
WILLIAM OLDROYD

Lady Macbeth

(Roadside Attractions)

Mr. Oldroyd’s Directorial Team:

  • Production Manager: Robert K. Harm
  • Unit Manager: Eugene Galbrath
  • First Assistant Director: George Every
  • Second Assistant Director: Richard Stanley Jan Harris

This is Mr. Oldroyd’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards
JORDAN PEELE

Get Out

(Universal Pictures)

Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit)
  • First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi
  • Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard
  • Location Manager: Kurt Enger (New York Unit)

This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for Get Out.


70th Annual DGA Awards
TAYLOR SHERIDAN

Wind River

(Acacia Entertainment)

Mr. Sheridan’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Manager: Christopher H. Warner
  • First Assistant Director: Nicolas Harvard
  • Second Assistant Director: Jason Altieri
  • Second Second Assistant Director: Kristina Massie

This is Mr. Sheridan’s first DGA Award nomination.


70th Annual DGA Awards
AARON SORKIN

Molly’s Game

(STX Entertainment)

 Mr. Sorkin’s Directorial Team:

  • Unit Production Managers: Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Stuart M. Besser, Michael Beugg (Los Angeles Unit)
  • Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bart Lipton (Los Angeles Unit)
  • First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
  • Second Assistant Directors: Penny Charter, Travis Rehwaldt (New York Unit), Paula Case (Los Angeles Unit)
  • Second Second Assistant Directors: Conor Griff (New York Unit), Drew Ritson (New York Unit), Bryan Snodgrass (Los Angeles Unit)
  • Location Manager: Dena Ghieth (New York Unit)

This is Mr. Sorkin’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 2017. Foreign films are eligible and the director does not need to be a DGA member.


The nominees in nine categories honoring outstanding directorial achievement
in television, commercials and documentary for 2017 were announced on
January 10, 2018. Click here to see that release.

The winners in all categories will be announced at the 70th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

To apply for a press credential to cover the DGA Awards,
please go to DGA.org/Awards to download an application.

BMW is the Exclusive Automotive Sponsor of the 70th Annual DGA Awards.

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