The five nominees include Danny Boyle (for "Slumdog Millionaire"), David Fincher (for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon"), Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") and Gus Van Sant ("Milk"). In a statement Hackford said, "A film is a collaboration, but it is the director's energy and vision that brings the elements of script, performance and production into a satisfying totality. Today's nominees demonstrate how vision, combined with skill and talent, creates magic on the screen. What makes this award truly meaningful to directors is the knowledge that only this award is decided solely by their peers – the men and women who live the passion, sweat and fear that goes into creating feature films."

The winner will be announced Jan. 31 at the 61st Annual DGA Awards Dinner, which will be held at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

For more information visit www.dga.org.