THE 66th ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS : Best Director

Robert Altman

“Short Cuts”

The critics’ darling has never won an Academy Award. Previous nominations: 1970’s “MASH,” 1975’s “Nashville” and 1992’s “The Player.” His is the only Oscar nod for the ambitious adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short stories.

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Jane Campion

“The Piano”

The second woman to receive a best director nomination has been raking in the honors for her offbeat love story: She won best director from the Los Angeles and New York critics and earned Golden Globe and Directors Guild of America nominations.

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Jim Sheridan

“In the Name of the Father”

The Irishman won his first Oscar nomination for 1989’s “My Left Foot,” which initially paired him with actor Daniel Day-Lewis. The Oscar nod is his first major honor for the controversial tale of political prisoner Gerry Conlan.

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James Ivory

“The Remains of the Day”

Ivory and producing partner Ismail Merchant have dissected British class society in their period dramas, including Ivory’s previous nominations: 1986’s “A Room With a View” and 1992’s “Howards End.” Ivory garnered Globe and DGA nominations for “Remains.”

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Steven Spielberg

“Schindler’s List”

Spielberg has been one of Oscar’s most public non-winners: He was nominated for 1982’s “E.T.--The Extraterrestrial,” 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and 1977’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” He won the 1993 Golden Globe and is up for the DGA award.