The Academy Awards are right around the corner (a few months from now). With the holiday movie season kicking into full gear, it is time to look at what film directors could be honored as nominees at the 2016 Oscar ceremony.

The list of possible candidates is rather long, but here are my projected top five:

Nominees:

• Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu – The Revenant
• Ridley Scott – The Martian
• Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
• Tom McCarthy – Spotlight
• Steven Spielberg – Bridge of Spies

Dark Horses:

• George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
• David O. Russell – Joy
• Denis Villenueve – Sicario
• Todd Haynes – Carol
• Danny Boyle – Steve Jobs

—Alex Brannan (@TheAlexBrannan)