LOS ANGELES — The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has officially unveiled its nominees for the 78th Annual DGA Awards, solidifying the frontrunners in a high-stakes awards season. The list for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film features a mix of veteran Oscar winners and rising modern masters.
Leading the pack are Paul Thomas Anderson for his historical epic One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler for the supernatural thriller Sinners. They are joined by former DGA winners Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein and Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, along with Josh Safdie, who earned his first solo DGA nod for Marty Supreme.
The 2026 Theatrical Feature Film Nominees
The DGA’s top prize is historically the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award for Best Director. In the last two decades, the winner of the DGA has gone on to win the Oscar all but a handful of times.
Paul Thomas Anderson: One Battle After Another-Warner Bros.
Ryan Coogler: Sinners-Warner Bros.
Guillermo del Toro: Frankenstein-Netflix
Josh Safdie Marty: Supreme-A24
Chloé Zhao: Hamnet-Focus
Breakthrough Talent: First-Time Feature Film
The Guild also recognized emerging voices with the Michael Apted Award for first-time feature directors. The list highlights a diverse range of global storytelling, from Iraqi period drama to Sundance indie breakouts.
- Hasan Hadi – The President’s Cake (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Harry Lighton – Pillion (A24)
- Charlie Polinger – The Plague (Independent)
- Alex Russell – Lurker (MUBI)
- Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (A24)
Industry Impact
DGA President Christopher Nolan praised the nominees, stating, “We could not be prouder to recognize the incredible work of this year’s nominees for their dedication to the art of filmmaking.”
The nominations notably left out several high-profile international directors who were expected to contend, including Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value) and Park Chan-wook (No Other Choice). However, the inclusion of Safdie and Coogler—both first-time nominees in the top category—signals a shift toward recognizing contemporary genre-blending work alongside traditional prestige dramas.
What’s Next: The winners will be announced at the 78th DGA Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
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