The first major test of the balance between One Battle and Sinners.
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA AWARDS
Legend:
Winner Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Runner-Up Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another WL PP TL
Ryan Coogler – Sinners WL PP TL
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Nil
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Nil
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet Nil
Wesley Lovell: There are only two contenders. One (Paul Thomas Anderson) is a legend and should be the expected winner. The other (Ryan Coogler) could benefit from his film’s technical accomplishments and, if he wins, will upset the Oscar calculus.
Pete Patrick: Paul Thomas Anderson not winning would be a major shock. That’s not going to happen. Ryan Coogler is the likely distant runner-up.
Best First Feature
Hasan Hadi – The President’s Cake PP
Harry Lighton – Pillion WL TL
Charlie Polinger – The Plague Nil
Alex Russell – Lurker Nil
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby WL PP TL
Wesley Lovell: Eva Victor has dominated the precursors so her victory seems assured but Harry Lighton shouldn’t be underestimated.
Pete Patrick: Eva Victor seems like a solid choice with Hasan Hadi right behind her.
Thomas La Tourrette: It would be fun to see Harry Lighton win for Pillion, but Eva Victor will likely win.
Best Documentary Director
Mstyslav Chernov – 2000 Meters to Andriivka TL
Geeta Gandbhir – The Perfect Neighbor WL PP TL
Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni – Cutting Through Rocks Nil
Elizabeth Lo – Mistress Dispeller Nil
Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus – Cover-Up WL PP
Wesley Lovell: This one is a little more difficult to parse. The Perfect Neighbor was the most honored documentary of this bunch but Laura Poitras is a well known and admired documentarian so she could be a spoiler.
Pete Patrick: I think Geet Gandbhir is a solid choice for this one with Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ collaboration on Cover-Up perhaps pulling an upset.
Thomas La Tourrette: Gandbhir is the likely winner for The Perfect Neighbor.
