In the days leading up to the 89th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well know, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here is what you need to know your nominees for Best Director.
Denis Villeneuve
Nominated for: Directing humanity’s attempt to communicate with aliens in Arrival.
Other awards for directing this film:
Villeneuve has been nominated 27 times for this film, earning three awards.
Where you might know him from:
Villeneuve’s resume includes Prisoners and Sicario.
History with Oscar:
This is Denis Villeneuve’s first Oscar nomination.
Mel Gibson
Nominated for: Directing the story of a conscientious objector who becomes a medic during World War II in Hacksaw Ridge.
Other awards for directing this film:
Gibson has received 12 other nominations for directing this film, winning seven awards.
Where you might know him from:
As an actor, Gibson is best known for the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series’. As a director, he is best known for directing The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto.
History with Oscar:
Gibson was nominated for two awards in 1996, winning both.
1996: Best Director, Braveheart (Won)
1996: Best Picture, Braveheart (Won, shared with Alan Ladd, Jr. & Bruce Davey)
Damien Chazelle
Nominated for: Directing the story two aspiring artists who fall in love in Los Angeles in La La Land.
Other awards for directing this film:
Chazelle has earned 52 other directing nods for this film, and has brought home 38 awards, including the BAFTA, the Golden Globe, and the Director’s Guild.
Where you might know him from:
Chazelle also directed Whiplash and wrote Ten Cloverdale Lane & The Last Exorcism.
History with Oscar:
Damien Chazelle is also nominated this year in the Best Writing, Original Screenplay category. In addition, he has one prior nomination.
2015: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, Whiplash (Lost to Graham Moore, The Imitation Game)
Kenneth Lonergan
Nominated for: Directing the emotional tale of a man confronting his demons to help his orphaned nephew in Manchester By the Sea.
Other awards for directing this film:
Lonergan has 39 other Best Director nominations for this film, and has won 8 awards.
Where you might know him from:
Lonergan has written films such as Analyze This and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle. He has also written and directed the film Margaret.
History with Oscar:
Kenneth Lonergan is also nominated this year in the Best Writing, Original Screenplay category. In addition, he has two prior nominations.
2003: Best Writing, Original Screenplay, Gangs of New York [Shared with Jay Cocks (screenplay/story) & Steven Zaillian (screenplay)] (Lost to Pedro Almodóvar, Talk to Her)
2001: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, You Can Count on Me (Lost to Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous)
Barry Jenkins
Nominated for: Directing the coming of age story Moonlight.
Other awards for directing this film:
Jenkins has 50 other directing nominations for this film, winning 27 awards.
Where you might know him from:
Jenkins is the director behind the indie film Medicine for Melancholy.
History with Oscar:
Barry Jenkins is also nominated this year, with Tarell Alvin McCraney, for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has no prior nominations.
