As always, there’s many directors we could have mentioned, even excluding filmmakers with festival debuts in 2016 who’s films haven’t yet been released more widely. Among those we also considered were Celine Sciamma, a familiar face on the festival circuit who had her best-received movie to date with the excellent “Girlhood,” Jon Watts, who’s going from “Cop Car” to the re-rebooted “Spider-Man,” “Mediterranea” helmer Jonas Carpignano, “71” helmer Yann Demange, Josh & Bennie Safdie of “Heaven Knows What,” “Slow West” helmer John Maclean, David and Nathan Zellner, the duo behind “Kumiko The Treasure Hunter,” and “Victoria” director Sebastian Schipper.
Also among our potentials were “The Reflektor Tapes” director and music video veteran Kahlil Joseph, Leah Meyerhoff and Shira Piven, who made “I Believe In Unicorns” and “Welcome To Me” respectively, “Paddington” helmer Paul King, “The Tribe” breakout Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, Duke Johnson, who teamed with Charlie Kaufman for “Anomalisa,” Carol Morley, who did “The Falling,” Taika Waititi, who’s jumping from “What We Do In The Shadows” to “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Catch Me Daddy” director Daniel Wolfe, “Partisan” helmer Ariel Kleiman, and Pixar first-timer Peter Sohn. Anyone else we’ve forgotten? Let us know who you’re tipping in the comments.