BEST DIRECTOR

Spike Lee ( BlacKkKlansman) Pawel Pawlikowski ( Cold War) Yorgos Lanthimos ( The Favourite) Alfonso Cuarón ( Roma)

Adam McKay ( Vice)

This category in particular says it all about diversity in Hollywood today, with an AfricanAmerican, a Pole, a Mexican, an Irish-American and a Greek battling it out for the big gong. The talking point is Spike Lee, here gaining his rst Best Director nod after 30 years in the business. The favourite, though, is undoubtedly Alfonso Cuarón, whose DGA and BAFTA victories put him rmly in the box seat. Already a double Oscar-winner for Gravity (2013), Cuarón is up for four gongs this year, including Director, Producer, Editor and Original Screenplay.

Who should win: Alfonso Cuarón

Who will win: Alfonso Cuarón

Snubs? Bradley Cooper ( A Star is Born), Debra Graznik ( Leave No Trace), Barry Jenkins ( If Beale Street Could Talk), Ryan Cogler ( Black Panther)