Traditionally, only feature film directors have been considered important enough to have their names turned into adjectives. But that may be changing as TV—sorry, longform storytelling—proves itself equally viable as a means of artistic expression. So while we do not currently refer to things as “Fukunagaesque” or “Glatterian,” we might soon.
The rising profile of TV also means more exposure for female directors, who are relatively more common in TV and documentary filmmaking. Unlike the all-male gang on the DGA’s feature film nominations list, women are represented in nearly every major TV category, including two for first-time nominee Jodie Foster for her work on House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black. (The Variety/Talk/News/Sports categories, which honor the specific skill set of directing live shows, are both sausage fests.) In documentary, Laura Poitras was nominated for her work on Citizenfour, part of the doc’s critically-acclaimed march towards a presumed Oscar nomination.
A list of the nominees in major categories is below; Deadline also has the nominees for best directing in reality series, children’s programming, and commercials, if you’re interested.
DRAMATIC SERIES
Dan Attias, Homeland, “13 Hours In Islamabad”
Jodie Foster, House Of Cards, “Chapter 22″
Cary Joji Fukunaga, True Detective, “Who Goes There”
Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland, “From A To Be And Back Again”
Alex Graves, Game Of Thrones, “The Children”