Marielle Heller

“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

A Spirit Award winner for best first feature in 2015 for “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” Heller reaffirmed her place among the country’s brightest young directors with her sophomore feature. A strong earner in limited release, the film garnered kudos for its stars and screenplay, as well as a place on the AFI’S top 10 films of the year. But none of it would have worked without Heller, and with the helmer now directing Tom Hanks in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” voters may well want to honor her while still at the start of what is looking to be a serious career.