Title: 'The Substance' Director's DGA Snub, But Oscar Race Remains Uncharted Territory
Coralie Fargeat, the director of the Demi Moore-led showbiz satire/body horror movie "The Substance," was surprisingly snubbed by the DGA Awards. While this might not hinder her chances of securing a Best Director Oscar nomination, history tells us it's not a guaranteed path.
The Director's Guild of America (DGA) Awards have a strong correlation with the Academy Awards' Best Director category, but it's not an absolute guarantee. Since 1992, only eight directors who won the DGA Award have not followed up with an Oscar win. However, being nominated for a DGA Award does not necessarily mean a Best Director Oscar nomination is forthcoming.
For instance, in 2009, all five DGA nominees were Oscar contenders. However, that's only occurred nine times since 1992, and there have been years with as few as three Oscar nominees out of the five DGA nominees. The most significant disparity came in 2012 when two DGA nominees were not recognized by the Academy.
Fargeat, aware of the genre challenges "The Substance" faces, is pushing for horror films to be considered alongside other prominent genres by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The genre, known for its intense political commentary, has been sidelined in Oscar considerations for far too long.
While the Golden Globes honored Demi Moore for her performance in "The Substance" (making her the fifth actress to win a Globe for a horror movie performance in the past 51 years), the DGA Awards gave the snub. However, Fargeat remains optimistic, citing Moore's nomination for the 2025 SAG Awards as a promising sign.
The competition for the DGA Awards is always fierce, and the nomination votes remain a closely guarded secret. Worldwide, organizations like the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA, and more provide additional context. In the case of this year's DGA nominees, only five directors — including Fargeat — secured a nomination, leaving many to question how close other strong contenders were to making the cut.
So, while the snub by the DGA Awards is disappointing, it's not the end of the road for Fargeat and "The Substance." Their chances at the 97th Annual Academy Awards, on January 19, 2025, remain promising, with the Academy's recent efforts towards diversity and inclusion potentially giving them an edge.
Fargeat's movie, "The Substance," missed out on a DGA Award nomination, but it could still contend for the 2025 Oscars. Historically, winning a DGA Award does not guarantee an Oscar nomination, but it often correlates. Despite being snubbed at the Sag Awards 2025 golden globes, Demi Moore received a nomination, boosting Fargeat's hopes for Oscar nominations. Coralie Fargeat, a director gaining recognition for her genre-defying work, is advocating for horror movies to be considered equally with other genres at the Academy Awards.
