DGA 2025 Nominations Reveal Tight Race for Best Director Ahead of Oscars
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has announced its nominations for the best director of 2024. Five filmmakers are in the running, with the awards ceremony set for February 7 in Beverly Hills. The DGA Awards often signal likely winners at the Academy Awards, making this year’s competition closely watched.
The nominees include Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, a historical drama that has already drawn critical praise. Josh Safdie is recognised for Marty Supreme, his latest darkly comedic take on ambition and excess. Paul Thomas Anderson earns a nod for One Battle After Another, a sweeping period piece that has been a festival favourite.
Ryan Coogler joins the list with Blood & Sinners, a gritty crime epic set in 1970s Oakland. Guillermo del Toro rounds out the category with Frankenstein, his gothic reimagining of the classic tale. Each director brings a distinct style, from del Toro’s visual storytelling to Coogler’s intense character studies. Last year, Sean Baker took home the DGA Award—and later the Best Director Oscar—for Anora. This year, however, the spotlight remains on Christopher Nolan. He already secured both the DGA and the Oscar in 2024 for Oppenheimer, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s leading filmmakers.
The 78th DGA Awards will honour one of these five directors on February 7. Past winners like Nolan and Baker show how the prize often aligns with Oscar success. The outcome could shape predictions for the upcoming Academy Awards.
