BEST DIRECTOR

Joel Coen

“Fargo”

The director of such quirky films as “Raising Arizona” garners Oscar nominations for original screenplay (with brother Ethan) and director. The 42-year-old Coen is a DGA and WGA nominee and received a Golden Globe nomination. Coen also won at Cannes for “Fargo.”

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Milos Forman

“The People vs. Larry Flynt”

The Czech-born director, 64, earns his third best director nomination. Forman received the Golden Globe but was shut out of the DGA nominations. He previously won best director Oscars for 1975’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and 1984’s “Amadeus.”

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Scott Hicks

“Shine”

The Australian filmmaker, 43, is a DGA and Golden Globe nominee for his direction of the sleeper hit about Australian pianist David Helfgott. “Shine” marks Hicks’ first Oscar nomination. He was an Emmy winner for the Discovery Channel documentary “Submarines: Sharks of Steel.”

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Mike Leigh

“Secrets & Lies”

The British writer-director is an Oscar contender for best director and screenplay for his drama about a woman searching for her birth mother. Leigh, 53, is a DGA, WGA and Golden Globe nominee for “Lies.” Leigh won the best director award at Cannes for 1993’s “Naked.”

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Anthony Minghella

“The English Patient”

The British writer-director, 42, is a Golden Globe, DGA and WGA nominee for his adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s acclaimed novel. Minghella’s also an Oscar contender for his screenplay. He made his directorial debut with 1991’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply.”