Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”

Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Ruben Östlund, “Triangle of Sadness”

Todd Field, “Tár”

Sarah Polley, “Women Talking”

The tony directors branch is unlikely to put forward such deserving filmmakers as S.S. Rajamouli (“RRR”) but could advance Ruben Östlund’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness” or Oscar perennial Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin.”