Academy Awards: best picture not nominated for best director?

[livelove]

I struggle to fully grasp how the director of a best picture nominee might not be nominated for best director ?

And incidentally: Why isn't the director of the best picture automatically best director ?

Thanks for any explanation.

(These are general questions and not related to the 95th Academy Awards.)

[iconogassed]

I struggle to fully grasp how the director of a best picture nominee might not be nominated for best director ?

You struggle to fully grasp how a category with more than five nominations isn't duplicated in a category with exactly five nominations?

Additionally, the nominees for best director are decided on through just the directors' branch.

[livelove]

You struggle to fully grasp

yes, why else would I ask ?

how a category with more than five nominations isn't duplicated in a category with exactly five nominations?

yes, but that's seen from an organizational/housekeeping point of view. I am rather wondering about the artistic point of view if you can understand me. If not I can try to explain.

[ehk2]

the first and maybe the easiest answer that I thought is that movies are not solely the products of directors. just think of all the creative process and so different motivations and considerations behind the productions (+among so diverse genres)... unless you have a very strict "auteur" view of cinema?

[howler19]

yes, but that's seen from an organizational/housekeeping point of view. I am rather wondering about the artistic point of view if you can understand me. If not I can try to explain.

But the answer to your first question is organizational. It's impossible to nominate all directors of a best picture nominee under the current rules, no matter what artistic view you take. The second question is debatable however and I think iconogassed and ehk2 provided good answers for it.

[coffee]

Think of it as armies and war. You can be an amazing leader and commander and still lose the war. And you can be a mediocre general yet still win anyway.

[Malcym]

The whole membership selects the Best Picture nominees. Best Director nominees are only chosen by the Directors' branch, so there will always be discrepancies.