Directors Guild of America

"Oppenheimer" was named the best film of the year by Hollywood's directors on Saturday, boosting expectations that Christopher Nolan's long wait for success at the Oscars could soon be over.

Sci-fi epic "Dune," coming-of-age drama "Licorice Pizza" and musical remake "West Side Story" received major boosts in Hollywood's awards season race on Jan. 27 as several of the film industry's top guilds unveiled their nominees.

Chloe Zhao's "Nomadland" won this year's top Hollywood directing award on April 10 - the final major guild ceremony before the Oscars, and an important late bellwether in Tinseltown's pandemic-delayed and mainly virtual award season.

A year after omitting women entirely, Hollywood's directors on March 9 nominated two female filmmakers for their top prize for the first time in the awards' seven-decade history.

"Nomadland" director Chloe Zhao and "Promising Young Woman" helmer Emerald Fennell become the ninth and tenth women nominated for the Directors Guild of America's outstanding feature film category.

Hollywood's directors handed World War I thriller "1917" their top annual prize on Jan. 25, one of the final major award shows that typically spells success at next month's Oscars.

The win makes British auteur Sam Mendes hot favorite for the best director Oscar -- the Directors Guild of America Awards have correctly predicted the victor the past six years running.

Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's bid for Oscars glory was boosted Feb. 6 as he took top prize at the Directors Guild of America honors -- seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards.

Dark comedy "Birdman" got another pre-Oscars boost Feb. 7, winning the top prize at the Directors Guild of America honors as Hollywood gears up for the all-important Academy Awards this month.
      
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was crowned best director at the climax of the DGA show, barely two weeks before the Oscars on February 22.