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Oscar's Best Director: A Historic First for Black Filmmakers?
4 Feb
Summary
- Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' aims for a historic Best Director Oscar.
- Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' is a key competitor.
- The DGA Awards often predict the Best Director Oscar winner.

The race for Best Director at the upcoming Academy Awards is heating up, with strong contenders Ryan Coogler for "Sinners" and Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle After Another." Coogler's film has garnered significant Oscar nominations, highlighting its widespread appreciation within the Academy. However, it also brings attention to the fact that no Black filmmaker has ever won the Best Director Oscar in the award's 97-year history.
Coogler's peers in the Directors Guild of America (DGA) may favor him, especially given his film's critical and commercial success, which champions original IP and premium film formats. Notably, DGA President Christopher Nolan, who has advocated for similar initiatives, is a close friend of Coogler's.
Anderson, a highly respected director with 11 Oscar nominations and no wins, is a formidable opponent. His previous critically acclaimed films have earned him Best Director nods, but an Oscar win has eluded him. The DGA Awards, scheduled for Saturday, February 7, often serves as a predictor for the Best Director Oscar, making the outcome of this award particularly significant for both Coogler and Anderson.




