DGA Nominations Are Announced

Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2010.

“2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the DGA, making the celebration of this year’s five nominees especially meaningful,” said Hackford. “Their inspired films radiate the passion and unique vision of each of these filmmakers, who are about to become part of our Guild’s rich history. My sincerest congratulations to all five nominees.”

The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry’s most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award; only six times since the DGA Awards began in 1948 has the Feature Film winner not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award.

The winner will be named at the 63rd Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 29, 2011, at the Grand Ballroom of Hollywood & Highland. The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

DARREN ARONOFSKY
BLACK SWAN
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Aronofsky’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Jennifer Roth
• First Assistant Director: Joseph Reidy
• Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
• Second Second Assistant Director: Travis Rehwaldt
• Location Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser

This is Mr. Aronofsky’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination.

DAVID FINCHER
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(Columbia Pictures)

Mr. Fincher’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: JoAnn Perritano
• First Assistant Director: Bob Wagner
• Second Assistant Director: Allen Kupetsky
• Second Second Assistant Director: Maileen Williams

This is Mr. Fincher’s second DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008. He previously won the DGA Commercial Award for Speed Chain (Nike), Gamebreakers (Nikegridiron.com), and Beauty for Sale (Xelibri Phones) in 2003 and was nominated in that category again in 2008.

TOM HOOPER
THE KING’S SPEECH
(The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Hooper’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Erica Bensly
• First Assistant Director: Martin Harrison
• Second Assistant Director: Chris Stoaling

This is Mr. Hooper’s first DGA Feature Film Award Nomination. He was previously nominated for the DGA Award for Movies for Television/Miniseries for John Adams in 2008.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN
INCEPTION
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Jan Foster
• First Assistant Director: Nilo Otero
• Second Assistant Director: Brandon Lambdin
• Second Second Assistant Director: Greg Pawlik
• Additional Second Assistant Director: Lauren Pasternack

This is Mr. Nolan’s third DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001.

DAVID O. RUSSELL
THE FIGHTER
(Paramount Pictures and The Weinstein Co.)

Mr. Russell’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Mark Kamine
• First Assistant Director: Michele Ziegler
• Second Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
• Second Second Assistant Director: Timothy Blockburger

This is Mr. Russell’s first DGA Feature Film Award nomination.