Director Predictions: June 2025

With Cannes and Sundance behind us, the awards talk can officially begin, and whilst there are still plenty of films yet to be seen, conversations can be had surrounding a couple directors who have established themselves as early Oscar candidates. The first being Ryan Coogler, whose excellent horror/musical hybrid “Sinners” blew audiences and critics away following its release two months ago, with the established Coogler looking to get his first Director nomination.

Ryan Coogler could receive his first nomination for “Sinners”

On the award circuit, out of Cannes there are a number of filmmakers who have entered the race by either winning one of the festival’s top prizes, or by receiving Universal critical acclaim following their respective films’ premiere last month. It has been quite common as of late that at least one director from the Cannes line up gets into the five slots at the Academy Awards, with the most recent ceremony boasting two alumni from Cannes 2024, Coralie Fargeat and Jacques Audiard. Those who have made waves at Cannes include international filmmakers; Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”), Jafar Panahi (“It Was Just an Accident”), Mascha Schilinski (“Sound of Falling”) and Kleber Mendonca Filho (“The Secret Agent”).

Previous winners of this award; Chloe Zhao, James Cameron and Guillermo del Toro have new releases this year, as do past contenders and nominees; Paul Thomas Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, Jon M. Chu, Luca Guadagnino and Edward Berger. With so many of these filmmakers’ films yet to be seen it is difficult to call, but I have gone off the Academy’s tendencies historically to try and be as accurate in my predictions as I can.

Full list of Director predictions – June 2025:

Strong Contenders

  1. Ryan Coogler “Sinners”
  2. Joachim Trier “Sentimental Value”
  3. Paul Thomas Anderson “One Battle After Another”
  4. Yorgos Lanthimos “Bugonia”
  5. Josh Safdie “Marty Supreme”

Possible Contenders

  1. James Cameron “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
  2. Jon M. Chu “Wicked: For Good”
  3. Jafar Panahi “It Was Just an Accident”
  4. Chloe Zhao “Hamnet”
  5. Kleber Mendonca Filho “The Secret Agent”

Outsiders

  1. Luca Guadagnino “After the Hunt”
  2. Edward Berger “The Ballad of a Small Player”
  3. Mascha Schilinski “Sound of Falling”
  4. Guillermo del Toro “Frankenstein”
  5. Mona Fastvold “Ann Lee”

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