Directors Guild of America Announces Nominees for 2018 Best Feature Film Director

Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2018, and the five nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2018.

“To be chosen by one’s peers in a year full of such extraordinary films is the true mark of outstanding directorial achievement,” said Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme. “In bringing all elements of the filmmaking process together, each of these directors has demonstrated an exceptional command of the medium, creating excellence for the screen. Congratulations to all of the nominees.”

The winners in all categories will be announced at the 71st Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Hollywood and Highland Center’s Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2018 are (in alphabetical order):

BRADLEY COOPER
A Star is Born(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Cooper’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Robert J. Dohrmann
First Assistant Director: Michele “Shelley” Ziegler
Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew R. Milan

This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Cooper. He is also nominated in the First-Time Feature Film category for A Star Is Born.

ALFONSO CUARÓN
Roma (Netflix)

Mr. Cuarón’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Ana Hernández
First Assistant Director: René U. Villareal
Second Assistant Director: María Dioni
Second Second Assistant Directors: Luis Fernando Vásquez, Julián ‘Chico’ Valdés

This is Mr. Cuarón’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2013 for Gravity.

PETER FARRELLY
Green Book(Universal Pictures)

Mr. Farrelly’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Managers: Alissa M. Kantrow, John Brister, Franses Simonovich (New York Unit)
First Assistant Directors: J.B. Rogers, Alejandro Ramia (New York Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Paul B. Uddo, Jack McKenna (New York Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Gerson Paz, Jonathan Warren
Location Manager: Louis Zuppardi

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

SPIKE LEE
BlacKkKlansman(Focus Features)

Mr. Lee’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Marcei A. Brown
First Assistant Director: Mike Ellis
Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds
Second Second Assistant Directors: Jason Perez, Christina Ann Walker, Anastasia Folorunso
Location Manager: Tim Stacker

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

ADAM McKAY
Vice (Annapurna Pictures)

Mr. McKay’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Managers: Julie Hartley, Jeff Waxman
First Assistant Director: Matt Rebenkoff
Second Assistant Director: Joann Connolly
Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, Dave Vogel (Washington D.C. Unit)

This is Mr. McKay’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Big Short in 2015. Mr. McKay also received a nomination this year in the Dramatic Series category for Succession.

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 2018 are (in alphabetical order):

BO BURNHAM
Eighth Grade (A24)

Mr. Burnham’s Directorial Team:

First Assistant Director: Dan Taggatz
Second Assistant Director: Vic Coram
Second Second Assistant Director: Evelyn Fogleman

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

BRADLEY COOPER
A Star is Born (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Cooper’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Robert J. Dohrmann
First Assistant Director: Michele “Shelley” Ziegler
Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew R. Milan

This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Cooper. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for A Star Is Born.

CARLOS LÓPEZ ESTRADA
Blindspotting (Summit Entertainment)

Mr. Estrada’s Directorial Team:

Assistant Director: La Mar Stewart
Second Second Assistant Director: Dominic Martin
Additional Second Assistant Director: Armin Houshmandi

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

MATTHEW HEINEMAN
A Private War (Aviron Pictures)

Mr. Heineman’s Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Louise Killin
First Assistant Directors: George Walker, Peter Freeman (Jordan Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Tom Mulberge (UK Unit), Tom Browne (Jordan Unit)
Second Second Assistant Director: Tarik Afifi (Jordan Unit)

This is Mr. Heineman’s third DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary in 2017 for City of Ghosts and in 2015 for Cartel Land.

BOOTS RILEY
Sorry to Bother You (Annapurna Pictures)

Mr. Riley’s Directorial Team: