However Best Director shakes out when the Oscar ballot is unveiled on Jan. 23, the category features a parade of A-listers. With almost a month left until the Oscar nominations are announced, the annual debate has again emerged: Will a woman be included in the Best Director category? A respected playwright who was previously nominated for penning "In Bruges," McDonagh may have to settle for a Best Original Screenplay recognition instead. She's pretty much guaranteed a screenplay nomination -- does that mean voters will ignore her direction? And the sci-fi romance "The Shape of Water" is del Toro's best-reviewed movie since "Pan's Labyrinth," for which he received a screenplay nomination.

Source: Huffington Post December 22, 2017 10:52 UTC