The race for one of filmmaking's most prestigious honours has intensified with the announcement of the Directors Guild of America's feature film nominees. The shortlist for the 78th annual DGA Awards, revealed on Thursday, 8th January 2026, spotlights five acclaimed directors and their works, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive awards season.
The Contenders for the Top Honour
Nominated for the DGA's outstanding directorial achievement in feature film are Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle After Another," Ryan Coogler for "Sinners," Guillermo del Toro for "Frankenstein," Chloé Zhao for "Hamnet," and Josh Safdie for "Marty Supreme." Intriguingly, the nominated films perfectly mirror the ensemble cast nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, announced just a day earlier, sharply defining the current frontrunners ahead of the Golden Globe Awards.
This nomination marks a first-time recognition for both Safdie and Coogler at the DGA. For Anderson, it is his third nomination, following previous nods for "There Will Be Blood" and "Licorice Pizza." Meanwhile, both Zhao and del Toro are previous winners, having claimed the guild's top prize for "Nomadland" and "The Shape of Water," respectively. A victory for Ryan Coogler would be a historic moment, making him the first Black filmmaker to win the DGA's feature film award.
First-Time Directors and Documentary Recognition
The guild also celebrated outstanding debut work, announcing nominees for first-time feature film director. This category includes Eva Victor for "Sorry, Baby," Alex Russell for "Lurker," Charlie Pollinger for "The Plague," Harry Lighton for "Pillion," and Hasan Hadi for "The President's Cake."
In the documentary field, nominees were unveiled on Wednesday. The shortlist features Mstyslav Chernov for the AP and PBS Frontline co-production "2000 Meters to Andriivka," Geeta Gandbhir for "The Perfect Neighbor," Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni for "Cutting Through the Rocks," Elizabeth Lo for "Mistress Dispeller," and Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus for "Cover-Up."
Oscar Implications and Ceremony Details
The DGA Awards are widely regarded as the most reliable predictor of success at the Academy Awards. Over the past twenty years, the winner of the guild's feature film award has almost invariably gone on to win the Best Director Oscar. This pattern held last year when Sean Baker won both for "Anora." With Oscar nominations not due until 22nd January, the DGA list provides a crucial indicator of the films gaining the most momentum within the industry.
DGA President Christopher Nolan extended congratulations to all nominees, stating on behalf of the guild community: "We could not be prouder to recognize the incredible work of this year’s nominees for their dedication to the art of filmmaking." The winners across all categories will be announced at a private, untelevised ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, 7th February 2026.
