2026 Academy Awards Director Series

Nominee: Paul Thomas Anderson
Picture for Nomination: One Battle After Another
Age: 55
From: United States
Filmography: Licorice Pizza (2021), Phantom Thread (2017), Junun (2015), Inherent Vice (2014), The Master (2012), There Will Be Blood (2007), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Magnolia (1999), Boogie Nights (1997), Hard Eight (1996)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2022 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for Licorice Pizza
2018 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for Phantom Thread
2008 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for There Will Be Blood

Achievements in Directing:
2026 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for One Battle After Another
2026 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for One Battle After Another
2026 Golden Globes Best Director for One Battle After Another
2022 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Nomination for Licorice Pizza
2022 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Licorice Pizza
2012 Venice Film Festival Best Director for The Master
2008 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for There Will Be Blood
2008 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for There Will Be Blood
2008 Berlin International Film Festival Best Director for There Will Be Blood
2002 Cannes Film Festival Best Director for Punch-Drunk Love

Nominee: Ryan Coogler
Picture for Nomination: Sinners
Age: 39
From: United States
Filmography: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Black Panther (2018), Creed (2015), Fruitvale Station (2013)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2026 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Nomination for Sinners
2026 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Sinners
2026 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Sinners

Nominee: Josh Safdie
Picture for Nomination: Marty Supreme
Age: 41
From: United States
Filmography: Uncut Gems (2019), Good Time (2017), Heaven Knows What (2014), Lenny Cooke (2013), Buttons (2011), Daddy Longlegs (2009), The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2008)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2026 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Nomination for Marty Supreme
2026 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Marty Supreme

Nominee: Joachim Trier
Picture for Nomination: Sentimental Value
Age: 51
From: Denmark
Filmography: The Worst Person in the World (2021), The Other Munch (2018), Thelma (2017), Louder Than Bombs (2015), Oslo, August 31st (2011), Reprise (2006)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2026 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Sentimental Value
2026 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Sentimental Value

Nominee: Chloé Zhao
Picture for Nomination: Hamnet
Age: 43
From: China
Filmography: Eternals (2021), Nomadland (2020), The Rider (2017), Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2021 Best Achievement in Directing for Nomadland

Achievements in Directing:
2026 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Nomination for Hamnet
2026 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Hamnet
2026 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Hamnet
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Nomadland
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for Nomadland
2021 Golden Globes Best Director for Nomadland

Conclusion:
2 March 2026
Who Will Win Likely: c
Who May Be Alternate: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

23 February 2026
Who Will Win Likely: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Who May Be Alternate: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

9 February 2026
Who Will Win Likely: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Who May Be Alternate: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

28 January 2026
Who Will Win Likely: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Who May Be Alternate: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

25 January 2026
Who Will Win Likely: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Who May Be Alternate: Ryan Coogler for Sinners

Who Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
Who Got Snubbed: Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein, Kleber Mendonça Filho for The Secret Agent
Personal Favorite: Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value
Who Wins? Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another

2021 Academy Awards Director Series

Nominee: Lee Isaac Chung
Picture for Nomination: Minari
Age: 42
From: United States
Filmography: I Have Seen My Last Born (2015), Abigail Harm (2012), Lucky Life (2010), Munyurangabo (2007)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Minari
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Minari

Nominee: Emerald Fennell
Picture for Nomination: Promising Young Woman
Age: 35
From: England
Filmography: This is her directorial debut.

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is her first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Promising Young Woman
2021 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Promising Young Woman

Nominee: David Fincher
Picture for Nomination: Mank
Age: 58
From: United States
Filmography: Gone Girl (2014), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Social Network (2010), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), The Game (1997), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
2011 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for The Social Network
2009 Best Achievement in Directing Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for Mank
2021 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Mank
2015 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for Gone Girl
2012 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2011 Directors Guilds of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Social Network
2011 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for The Social Network
2011 Golden Globes Best Director for The Social Network
2009 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009 Golden Globes Best Director Nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Nominee: Thomas Vinterberg
Picture for Nomination: Another Round
Age: 51
From: Denmark
Filmography: The Command (2018), The Commune (2016), Far from the Madding Crowd (2015), The Hunt (2012), Submarino (2010), When a Man Comes Home (2007), Dear Wendy (2005), It's All About Love (2003), The Celebration (1998), The Biggest Heroes (1996), Sneblind (1990)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is his first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director Nomination for Another Round

Nominee: Chloé Zhao
Picture for Nomination: Nomadland
Age: 38
From: China
Filmography: The Rider (2017), Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

Academy Awards History in Directing:
This is her first nomination in Directing.

Achievements in Directing:
2021 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Nomadland
2021 BAFTA Film Awards Best Director for Nomadland
2021 Golden Globes Best Director for Nomadland

Conclusion:
16 April 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Lee Isaac Chung for Minari

5 April 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Lee Isaac Chung for Minari

21 March 2021
Who Will Win Likely: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Who May Be Alternate: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman

Who Should Win: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman
Who Got Snubbed: Regina King for One Night in Miami..., Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7
Personal Favorite: Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman
Who Wins? Chloé Zhao for Nomadland