The Directors Guild of America has announced the five nominees for a new category recognizing the achievement of first-time feature film directors. Up for the inaugural honor are: Fernando Coimbra for A Wolf at the Door (Outsider Pictures), Joel Edgerton for The Gift (STX Entertainment); Alex Garland for Ex Machina (A24); Marielle Heller for The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Sony Pictures Classics) and Laszlo Nemes for Son of Saul (Sony Pictures Classics).
“There’s a first time for every feature filmmaker, but not every first time offers fresh viewpoints in storytelling that are imperative in this industry,” said Paris Barclay, DGA president. “The first-time feature directors we’re recognizing with this inaugural award we hope will develop successful and lengthy careers. We are excited and invigorated by all they have to offer.”
First announced by Steven Spielberg at last year’s DGA Awards, the Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director honor was created to showcase the feature film talent of the future. Eligible directors for this award must have released his or her first feature-length film theatrically in Los Angeles or New York in 2015. Foreign films are eligible and the director does not need to be a DGA member.
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.
Here’s a rundown of nominees (and their directing teams) for OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT OF A FIRST-TIME FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR FOR 2015:
FERNANDO COIMBRA
A Wolf at the Door
(Outsider Pictures)
Mr. Coimbra’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Clara Machado
First Assistant Director: Suzy Milstein
Second Assistant Director: Raquel Toledo
JOEL EDGERTON
The Gift
(STX Entertainment)
Mr. Edgerton’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Luc Etienne
First Assistant Director: Michael J. Moore
Second Assistant Director: Matt Haggerty
Second Second Assistant Director: Dillon Neaman
ALEX GARLAND
Ex Machina
(A24)
Mr. Garland’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Sara Desmond
First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall‑Smith
Second Assistant Director: Ray Kenny
MARIELLE HELLER
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Ms. Heller’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Molly Salz
First Assistant Director: Brian Benson
Second Assistant Director: Jerremy Stewart
Second Second Assistant Director: Alex Gilbert
LÁSZLÓ NEMES
Son of Saul
(Sony Pictures Classics)
Mr. Nemes’s Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Gábor Szántó
First Assistant Director: István Kolos
Second Assistant Directors: Zoltán Gyovai, Edina Galgócz