Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”

James Cameron, “Avatar: The Way of Water”

Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Guillermo del Toro, “Pinocchio”

There are seven finalists fighting for five spots. Spielberg, Cameron, McDonagh and Daniels seem immovable. That leaves Del Toro, Todd Field, Baz Luhrmann, Sarah Polley for the last slot.