The Directors Guild of America has revealed its nominees for the 2026 DGA Awards for theatrical feature film directors and first-time theatrical feature film directors.
For the first award, for outstanding directorial achievement in theatrical feature film, the nominees are Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Guillermo Del Toro (Frankenstein), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet).
Last year, Anora director Sean Baker won the DGA Awards‘ top prize ahead of winning the best director Oscar and three other awards, including best picture, for Anora.
The first-time theatrical feature film director nominees are Hasan Hadi (The President’s Cake), Harry Lighton (Pillion), Charlie Polinger (The Plague), Alex Russell (Lurker) and Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby).
Last year’s winner for outstanding directorial achievement in first-time theatrical feature film was RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys.
The guild yesterday announced the 2026 DGA Awards’ nominees in the TV, documentary and commercial categories.
The 78th annual DGA Awards is set for Feb. 7 and will be held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
A complete list of this year’s theatrical feature film nominees follows.
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
The nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2025 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
One Battle After Another
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Weiske
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner
Second Assistant Director: Trevor Tavares, Ian Stone
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Pacitti, Rafael Sanz-Jimenez
Additional Second Assistant Director: Nuekellar Hardy, Chunning Chang, Kit Conners, Kasia Trojak, Tyler Young
RYAN COOGLER
Sinners
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Will Greenfield, Kenneth Yu
First Assistant Director: Marvin Williams
Second Assistant Director: Amir R. Khan
Additional Second Assistant Director: Gregg Carr, Desiree Stevenson
GUILLERMO DEL TORO
Frankenstein
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale
First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
Second Assistant Director: Chad Belair
JOSH SAFDIE
Marty Supreme
(A24)
Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Anthony Katagas, Joe Guest
First Assistant Director: Jeremy Marks
Second Assistant Director: Zach Citarella
Second Second Assistant Director: Kailyn Dabkowski
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Max Samu, Suk Yi Mar, Samson Jacobson
Location Manager: Matthew Kania, Ross Brodar
CHLOÉ ZHAO
Hamnet
(Focus Features)
MICHAEL APTED FIRST-TIME THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
The nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film for 2025 are (in alphabetical order).
HASAN HADI
The President’s Cake
(Sony Pictures Classics)
HARRY LIGHTON
Pillion
(A24)
CHARLIE POLINGER
The Plague
(Independent Film Company)
ALEX RUSSELL
Lurker
(MUBI)
EVA VICTOR
Sorry, Baby
(A24)
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