As the award season grows, one thing is clear: it could be a landmark year for the Oscars.
In the main film, there are more than a dozen women behind the camera. From mature Oscar winners to emerging voices, this year’s category is expected to be one of the most competitive and inclusive rosters in the college’s history.
Kathryn Bigelowshe became the first woman to win the best director in 2010, breaking the barriers Injured lockerhas been returned with House of dynamite. Netflix's high-risk political thriller is Noah Oppenheimer And a star-studded ensemble Idris Elba,,,,, Rebecca Ferguson,,,,, Tracy Lettsand Jason Clarke. The film explores the White House’s response to the nuclear missile threat targeting Chicago and unfolds through three intertwined perspectives.
House of dynamite Premiered at the Venice Film Festival, it received great reviews. David Rooney of Hollywood Reporter Praise the film, writing: “People tend to describe the director's best work to describe the director's best work – original, tough, firm, strong and documentary, to be alert to even the tiniest of drawbacks. Her muscle new movies for Netflix are certainly all of these things, but these are all of them, but it's also smart, smart, smart, smart and fusion, both masterful and firmly constructing stereotyped economy. time' Stephanie Zacharek She also praised Bigelow for writing: “Pulling the film together with the precision of a fighter pilot. Sometimes it's just her 11th full-length feature film, which seems incomprehensible; she's one of those filmmakers who carefully choose and execute her projects, which is particularly urgent.”
If Bigelow's efforts lead to another victory, she will be the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director twice.
Five years after winning Best Director and Best Picture Nomads,,,,, Chloé Zhao return HamnettShakespeare-style drama adapted from Maggie O'FarrellBest-selling novel. The film was released by Focus Features and premiered at the Tai Pian Film Festival for acclaim and has since become a major contender in multiple categories. It has 89% Rotten Tomatoes and 90 Metacritic ratings and received the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Zhao currently leads Gold Derby’s best director forecast rankings, strengthening her position as a leader and, like Bigelow, prepares for the potentially historic two.
Best Director
1.
2.
Joachim Trier
Emotional value
3.
4.
Paul Thomas Anderson
A battle
5.
Jafar Panahi
This is just an accident
Apart from Bigelow and Zhao, several other female directors should be players throughout the awards season and may be in the Oscar debate.
Lynne Ramsayfamous for its 2017 thriller You've never been herestarring Joaquin Phoenix,return Death, my lovestarring a psychological thriller Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. Although Lawrence attracted the protagonist's buzz, Ramsey's bold direction also caught people's attention.
Mona fastvold' Ann Lee's WillThe premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, it is for its evocative depiction of the 18th century religious leader who founded the Shaker movement. Movie Stars Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, and Christopher Yape. Fastvold was previously nominated for Best Original Script Barbarians But there is an outside nomination for directors in this year's competition.
Celine Song, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans
Mary Brownstein ((If I have legs, I'll kick you), Kelly Reichardt ((Planner), and Celine Song ((materialist) There are also critical films in the mix. Brownstein's drama, starring Rose Byrnepremiered in Sundance and screened in the Berlin competition, Byrne won the Silver Bears' best lead. Although most awards buzz are focused on Bourne's performance, Brownstein has also gained recognition for her work. Reichardt's Plannerand Josh O'Connornominated for Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The song's debut, Previous lifenominated for the best picture and best original script, hope to repeat it successfully materialistromantic drama starring Dakota Johnson,,,,, Chris Evansand Pedro Pascal.
Other acclaimed female filmmakers emerge from the festival tour Alice Winocour and Fashion,,,,, Rebecca Zlotowski and Private life,,,,, Nia Dacosta and Hedaand hikari and Rental family. Meanwhile, two award-winning actresses who deserve one made strong statements in their debut behind the camera: Scarlett Johnson and Eleanor and Kristen Stewart and The age of water.
This is not to say that this year the male directors and Joachim Trier ((Emotional value), Ryan Coogler ((sinner), Paul Thomas Anderson ((A battle), and Jafar Panahi ((This is just an accident) Join Zhao and enter the top five of Gold Derby's best director prediction charts. But given the category is very smooth, as many films have not been released yet, and with the overall strength of the female director field, this year’s Oscars may make history the first to compete for the best director with multiple women.
To date, only nine women have been nominated for Best Director. The first one is LinaWertmüller1976 Seven beauties. 17 years after another woman was nominated: Jane Campion In 1993 piano. Other female filmmakers nominated for over the years include Sofia Coppola ((Lost in Translation ), Greta Gerwig ((Mrs. Bird) Emerald Fennell (Promising young woman) Justine Triet ((Anatomy of autumn2023) and Coralie Fargeat ((substance2024).
Of these nominees, only three (Bigelow, Zhao and Campion) won the Oscar for Best Director. But if there are any signs of this year’s lineup, that number may grow, but with fingers crossed, it’s not only the women behind the camera, but a year of history.