- Title: REPEAT: FILE – A look at the 2026 Oscar nominated directors
- Date: 9th March 2026
- Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 21, 2025) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FILMMAKER, JOACHIM TRIER ON CANNES RED CARPET FOR "SENTIMENTAL VALUE" PREMIERE PHOTOGRAPHERS "SENTIMENTAL VALUE" FILM TEAM, (LEFT TO RIGHT) ACTORS ANDERS DANIELSEN LIE, ELLE FANNING, STELLAN SKARSGARD, TRIER, ACTORS RENATE REINSVE AND IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS, WALKING ON RED CARPET, THEN POS
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: 98th Academy Awards Chloe Zhao Joachim Trier Josh Safdie Oscars Paul Thomas Anderson Ryan Coogler best director
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA00D232603022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Chloe Zhao, Paul Thomas Anderson, Josh Safdie, Joachim Trier and Ryan Coogler will go head-to-head in the category for best director at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15.
Filmmaker Zhao is nominated for drama "Hamnet", which offers a fictional account of the relationship of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes and the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet in 1596. Irish actors Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley portray the playwright and his wife.
In 2021, Zhao became the first woman of colour to win an Oscar for best director for her film "Nomadland", which also claimed the esteemed best picture prize.
Safdie is nominated for "Marty Supreme," starring Timothee Chalamet as table tennis player Marty Mauser as he pursues greatness against many obstacles. The "Uncut Gems" filmmaker called the nomination "an honour" at the Oscars luncheon in February.
Anderson is nominated for action-packed dark comedy movie "One Battle After Another," featuring a star-studded cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro. Although Anderson has been nominated for an Oscar 11 times before for films such as "Licorice Pizza," "Phantom Thread," "Boogie Nights" and "There Will Be Blood," he has never taken home a golden statue. He recently triumphed in February by winning the BAFTA not only for best director, but also best film and best adapted screenplay for "One Battle After Another."
Trier is nominated for "Sentimental Value," which claimed him the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025. In the Norwegian family drama, actors Renate Reinsve and Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters Nora and Agnes respectively, opposite Stellan Skarsgard as their charismatic father Gustav, a once-famous director. The film follows the family dynamic as a young Hollywood star, Rachel Kemp played by Elle Fanning, enters the scene to be cast in Gustav's comeback movie.
"Black Panther" filmmaker Coogler is nominated for vampire thriller "Sinners," which picked up a Golden Globe award for cinematic and box office achievement in January. The film also scooped four Critics Choice awards, including best original screenplay for Coogler, as well as best casting/ensemble. Coogler also won best original screenplay at Britain's BAFTA Film Awards and the movie also claimed the Actor Award for best movie cast.
"Sinners" is set in 1932 Mississippi and follows twin brothers, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return home to open a juke joint, only for the night to spiral into violence.
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