The Directors Guild of America announced its five nominees for best director of a documentary on Monday, honoring Kirby Dick, Malik Bendejelloul, Lauren Greenfield, David France and Alison Klayman.
Dick is nominated for “The Invisible War,” which examines sexual assault in the United States military. It premiered at Sundance in 2012, where it received the Documentary Audience Award. Dick has previously made several documentaries, including “This Film Is Not Yet Rated.”
Bendejelloul is nominated for “Searching for Sugar Man,” which follows two fans who track down obscure Detroit-based musician Rodriguez. The film has rejuvenated the career of the singer-songwriter, who was unknown in the United States but popular in South Africa, though he didn't know about it.
Greenfield is nominated for "The Queen of Versailles," which depicts a Florida couple that attempted to build the most lavish single-family home in the nation on the precipice of the financial crisis.
France is nominated for "How to Survive a Plague," which revisits how AIDS activism helped the disease become more manageable for those afflicted.
Alison Klayman will compete with "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry," a film about the artist and activist, and his disputes with the Chinese government.
All five are first-time nominees, and three of them — Bendjelloul, France and Klayman — received the nominations for their first features. "Sugar Man, "How to Survive a Plague" and "The Invisible War" were also nominated for Oscars in the Best Documentary Feature category; "Ai Weiwei" was shortlisted but not nominated.
The DGA awards will take place Feb. 2.
