The field of feature film nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards is set. Nominees for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2021 are: Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza; Kenneth Branagh for Belfast; Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog; Steven Spielberg for West Side Story; and Denis Villeneuve for Dune.

Campion becomes only the second woman to be nominated twice for the honor, the first nod coming for The Piano (1993). Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to garner a pair of DGA feature nods, winning for The Hurt Locker in 2010 and three years later again nominated for Zero Dark Thirty. Just yesterday (1/26), Bigelow garnered her third career DGA nomination, which came in the commercials category for an Apple iPhone  piece she directed via production company SMUGGLER.

DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter said of this year’s lineup of nominees, “The power of film, in all its many facets, shines through in the work of these exceptional directors representing the highest standards of filmmaking, artistic achievement and innovative storytelling,” said Glatter. “Being nominated by one’s peers – who understand on the deepest level what it takes to bring one’s vision to life – makes this award so very special, and we congratulate all of our nominees for their truly outstanding work.”

The feature nominees for the DGA Award historically carry significance relative to the Oscars race. Only eight times in the DGA’s 73-year history has the Guild winner not gone on to take the Best Director Oscar.

Meanwhile there were six nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2021. They are:  Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter; Rebecca Hall for Passing; Tatiana Huezo for Prayers for the Stolen; Lin-Manual Miranda for tick, tick...Boom!; Michael Sarnoski for Pig; and Emma Seligman for Shiva Baby.

Glatter stated, “New voices, fresh storytelling and unique perspectives bring exciting energy to our craft, and keep our industry evolving into the future. That’s what this award is all about and we’re so proud to shine a spotlight on the directorial achievements of these remarkable first-time directors. We can’t wait to see what’s next from these profoundly talented filmmakers.”

The winners will be announced at the 74th Annual DGA Awards which will take place on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.  

The nominees for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM FOR 2021 are (in alphabetical order):

Paul Thomas Anderson
Licorice Pizza
(Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Mr. Anderson’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Sue McNamara
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares
Second Second Assistant Directors: Kasia Trojak, Bob Riley, David Marnell

Kenneth Branagh
Belfast
(Focus Features)

Jane Campion
The Power of the Dog
(Netflix)

Steven Spielberg
West Side Story
(20th Century Studios)
Mr. Spielberg’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Carla Raij, Daniel Lupi
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Robert T. Striem
Second Second Assistant Director: Josh Muzaffer
Additional Second Assistant Director: Billy Brennan
Location Managers: Robert T. Striem, Katherine Delaney

Denis Villeneuve
Dune
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mr. Villeneuve’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Joe Caracciolo, Jr., James Grant
First Assistant Director: Chris Carreras
Second Assistant Director: Tom Rye

The nominees for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR FOR 2021 are (in alphabetical order):

Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Lost Daughter
(Netflix)

Rebecca Hall
Passing
(Netflix)

Tatiana Huezo
Prayers for the Stolen
(Netflix)

Lin-Manuel Miranda
tick, tick… Boom!
(Netflix)
Mr. Miranda’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Deb Dyer
First Assistant Director: Mariela Comitini
Second Assistant Directors: Josh A. Muzaffer, Luca Waldman
Second Second Assistant Directors: Melissa Morphet, Lincoln Major
Additional Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
Location Manager: Ryan Smith

Michael Sarnoski
Pig
(NEON)

Emma Seligman
Shiva Baby
(Utopia)