The Directors Guild of America unveiled the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2015: Alejandro G. Iรฑรกrritu for The Revenant (Twentieth Century Fox); Tom McCarthy for Spotlight (Open Road Films); Adam McKay for The Big Short (Paramount Pictures); George Miller for Mad Max: Fury Road (Warner Bros.); and Ridley Scott for The Martian (Twentieth Century Fox).
“What makes this year different is the unbridled ambition of the five nominated films – in theme, in production, in visual imagination,” said Paris Barclay, president of the DGA. “What makes this year the same is that the films were all chosen by the directors’ peers, and it’s clear our members love when people use their vision and skill to push the media to new heights. Congratulations to all of the nominees for their incredible work.”
The Revenant marks Iรฑรกrritu’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2014 for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). He was also nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Procter & Gamble) in 2012.
Scott now also has four career DGA nominations. He was nominated in this category in 1991 for Thelma and Louise, in 2000 for Gladiator, and in 2001 for Black Hawk Down.
McCarthy, McKay and Miller are first-time DGA Award nominees.
Here’s a rundown of nominees (and their directing teams) for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM FOR 2015:
ALEJANDRO G. IรรRRITU
The Revenant
(20th Century Fox)
Mr. Iรฑรกrritu’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Drew Locke, James W. Skotchdopole, Doug Jones
First Assistant Director: Scott Robertson
Second Assistant Directors: Megan M. Shank, Matthew Haggerty, Jeremy Marks
Unit Production Manager: Gabriela Vazquez (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
First Assistant Director: Adam Somner (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Trevor R. Tavares, Jasmine Marie Alhambra (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Brett Robinson, Kasia Trojak (Argentina, California, and Montana Unit)
TOM MCCARTHY
Spotlight
(Open Road Films)
Mr. McCarthy’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: D.J. Carson, Michael Bederman
First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic
Second Assistant Director: Penny Charter
Assistant Unit Production Manager: Danielle Blumstein (Boston Unit)
First Assistant Director: Christo Morse (Boston Unit)
Second Assistant Directors: Conte Matal, Kristina Mariko Peterson, Annie Tan, Andrea O’Connor (Boston Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Phil Robinson, Mark Romanelli (Boston Unit)
Additional Second Assistant Director: Scooter Perrotta (Boston Unit)
ADAM MCKAY
The Big Short
(Paramount Pictures)
Mr. McKay’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Louise Rosner
First Assistant Director: Matt Rebenkoff
Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
Second Second Assistant Director: Cali Pomรฉs
Second Second Assistant Director: Josh Muzaffer (New York Unit)
Location Manager: Michael Kriaris
GEORGE MILLER
Mad Max: Fury Road
(Warner Bros.)
Mr. Miller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Dean Hood
First Assistant Director: PJ Voeten
Second Assistant Directors: Samantha Smith, Wendy Croad, Chris O’Hara
Second Assistant Directors: Eddie Thorne (Syndey Unit), Emma Jamvold (Syndey Unit)
Second Second Assistant Directors: Danielle Blake (Syndey Unit), Joshua Watkins (Syndey Unit)
RIDLEY SCOTT
The Martian
(20th Century Fox)
Mr. Scott’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Managers: Francesca Cingolani, Miklรณs Tรณth
First Assistant Director: Raymond Kirk
Second Assistant Directors: Sarah Hood, Bogi Mรณricz
Second Second Assistant Director: Nick Thomas
Winners will be announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday evening, February 6, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.