New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News
Protest against NYU Langone Health denying gender-affirming care to children on Feb. 3, 2025. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Justice Department blocked from NYU Langone’s records on transgender youth
(Zara Surti for WSN)
NYU fraternity suspended following allegations of sexual assault, hazing
(Ivy Chan for WSN)
Former Gallatin student pleads guilty to choking charge
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Judge extends NYU Langone’s deadline to share records on transgender youth
A blue flag with two swastikas, a Star of David and the letters “NYU” flies above the Steinhardt building on May 13. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)
Steinhardt community member arrested for raising swastika flag during Grad Alley
Lisa White, a longtime ER nurse at NYU Langone Health, battled cancer for eight months. (Courtesy of Brooke Kesselring)
NYU Langone fired a nurse battling cancer. Her story isn’t the only one.
Inside one of NYU’s prominent antisemitism consultants
Inside one of NYU’s prominent antisemitism consultants
N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine building. It is a red brick building. People are walking outside the building and a large sign with “NYU Grossman School of Medicine'' is in the front.
NYU Grossman rescinds program acceptances after losing federal grant
At least 2 NYU affiliates involved in organizations that promote anti-trans practices
At least 2 NYU affiliates involved in organizations that promote anti-trans practices
A cardboard sign taped to a metal barricade with the words “WE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH ZIONISTS! WE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE!”
‘A chilling effect’: Conduct guidelines cast shadow of concern over faculty
(Ivy Chan for WSN)
Former Gallatin student pleads guilty to choking charge
(Maryam Lootah for WSN)
City Scoop: Cartel drug conspiracy, and other top stories across NYC
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
NYU orgs join thousands for May Day protests
Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a March 2025 forum at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts. (Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Campus groups demand Mamdani outlaw 24-hour workday
(Maryam Lootah for WSN)
City Scoop: Train ticket prices skyrocket for World Cup, and other top stories across NYC
Protest against NYU Langone Health denying gender-affirming care to children on Feb. 3, 2025. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Justice Department blocked from NYU Langone’s records on transgender youth
(Zara Surti for WSN)
NYU fraternity suspended following allegations of sexual assault, hazing
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Judge extends NYU Langone’s deadline to share records on transgender youth
A blue flag with two swastikas, a Star of David and the letters “NYU” flies above the Steinhardt building on May 13. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)
Steinhardt community member arrested for raising swastika flag during Grad Alley
A graduate holds up a keffiyeh during the 2026 Tisch graduation. (Allina Xiao for WSN)
NYU challenges keffiyehs across graduation ceremonies
In October 2024, a group of pro-Palestinian Jewish students and faculty built a Gaza Solidarity Sukkah in Schwartz Plaza. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
NYU investigates Instagram post advertising anti-Zionist Passover Seder
(Zara Surti for WSN)
Pro-Israel student rave disrupted by ultra-Orthodox Jews
NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine members David Ludden, Sara Pursley, Sonya Posmentier and Kathy Engel, from left to right. (Krish Dev for WSN)
‘The Palestine exception’: Faculty launch probe into NYU’s protest response
Members of NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine joined protesters at Gould Plaza on April 22, 2024. (Krish Dev for WSN)
Faculty group to investigate NYU’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech
(Ivy Chan for WSN)
Students and faculty commence ‘solidarity fast’ in Bobst
Protest against NYU Langone Health denying gender-affirming care to children on Feb. 3, 2025. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
NYU Langone subpoenaed for records on gender-affirming care
NYU Grossman School of Medicine. (Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)
Grossman joins RFK Jr.’s nutrition education initiative
(Kevin Wu for WSN)
NYU Law dropped from US military scholarship
Gays Against Guns president Jay W. Walker speaks during the protest. (Jason Alpert-Wisnia for WSN)
Hundreds protest Trump administration’s pride flag removal at Stonewall Inn
(Soham Makkena for WSN)
‘Fucking disgusting’: ICE shootings spur protests, walkout on campus
(Courtesy of Barbara Cittadino, illustration by Maryam Lootah)
Beyond NYU: Leaving law for a career in photography
(Courtesy of Kenzi Crash, illustration by Maryam Lootah)
Beyond NYU: Changing the narrative on illness in literature
(Courtesy of Diane Hodson, illustration by Maryam Lootah)
Beyond NYU: Balancing teaching with podcast production
(Courtesy of Amy Gabrielle, illustration by Maryam Lootah)
Beyond NYU: Rewriting life after loss
(Courtesy of Ken Schneck, illustration by Maryam Lootah)
Beyond NYU: Amplifying LGBTQ+ stories in the Midwest
A graduate holds up a keffiyeh during the 2026 Gallatin graduation. (Neil Tawney for WSN)
Guest Essay: NYU’s graduation rules are worth breaking
Letter from the Editor: My addiction to student journalism
Letter from the Editor: My addiction to student journalism
NYU’s 2024 commencement at Yankee Stadium. (Jason Alpert-Wisnia for WSN)
Opinion: Defend student speech at graduation before it disappears
(Lianna O’Grady for WSN)
Opinion: D-III sports deserve your attention
(Kaleo Zhu for WSN)
Opinion: NYC’s lines aren’t worth a surveillance network
Graduates waved keffiyehs and walked out during President Linda Mills’ 2025 commencement address. (Julia Smerling for WSN)
Editorial: Let graduates celebrate
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Editorial: The work has just begun
(Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)
Editorial: Students deserve clarity from NYU leadership
Editorial: Who to vote for in the NYC primaries
Editorial: Who to vote for in the NYC primaries
(Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)
Editorial: Linda Mills, where are you?
A graduate holds up a keffiyeh during the 2026 Gallatin graduation. (Neil Tawney for WSN)
Guest Essay: NYU’s graduation rules are worth breaking
In October 2024, a group of pro-Palestinian Jewish students and faculty built a Gaza Solidarity Sukkah in Schwartz Plaza. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Guest Essay: All Jews must commit to anti-Zionism
(Courtesy of the YeCao Collective)
Guest Essay: You can’t police universities into freedom
Guest Essay: During authoritarian times, the university needs to fight back
Guest Essay: During authoritarian times, the university needs to fight back
(Courtesy of Christian Howze)
Guest Essay: From goals to action — Christian Howze for SGA Chair
Letter from the Editor: My addiction to student journalism
Letter from the Editor: My addiction to student journalism
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Letter from the Editor: My goodbye to WSN
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Letter from the Editor: In the age of Trump, student journalism is more vital than ever.
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Letter from the Editor: A reflection on WSN’s mission
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Letter from the Editor: Welcome to the Washington Square News
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: 94 LS faculty members approve statement to WSN
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: Silver School dean on the case for a tuition-free social work education
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: Wasserman Center director on the Handshake job search platform
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: CWS director on suicide response and mental health resources
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: NYU remains committed to NYU Tel Aviv
(Lauren Ng and Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Off-Third: Aspiring architect named this year’s best applicant
(Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
Off-Third: Mills rebrands Campus Cash as Linda Lira
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Off-Third: The Washington Square Park fountain deserves to drown
(Noelle Darts for WSN)
Off-Third: NYU must establish a universitywide uniform
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Off-Third: NYU must bring back the Tisch scaffolding
(Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
Off Topic: Violence has left America too disconnected between power and reality
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Off Topic: Skinny sells — what’s the harm?
(Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)
Off Topic: Trump’s Vietnam War doesn’t need a draft
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Off Topic: Green energy is not driving up costs — corporations are
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Off Topic: OpenAI’s latest acquisition is merely to save face
An illustration of a woman screaming and text that reads “STAFF RANTS.”
Staff Rants: Post-election feelings
An illustration of a black megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in white letters. There are black and white lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is red.
Staff Rants: Springing in and out of spring
An illustration of a black megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in white letters. There are black and white lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is red.
Staff Rants: New beginnings or old complaints?
An illustration of a megaphone with the phrase “Staff Rants” written on it. The megaphone wears a red Santa hat and the background is white with blue snowflakes.
Staff Rants: Holiday Overload
An illustration of a purple and orange megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in green letters. There are purple and green lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is black.
Staff Rants: Spooky season
(Lianna O’Grady for WSN)
Opinion: D-III sports deserve your attention
(Photo by Neil Tawney, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
In the Huddle: Emma Grunin on her track and field career
(Soham Makkena for WSN)
The unsung efforts of student team managers
NYU women’s basketball at the 2026 NCAA Final Four. (Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
Women’s basketball turns a new page
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Women’s golf sweeps Liberty League, baseball and softball finish seasons and other news
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Women’s golf sweeps Liberty League, baseball and softball finish seasons and other news
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Track & field thrower wins UAA Championship, golf dominates Liberty League and other news
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Men’s volleyball falls out of NCAA tournament, baseball and women’s tennis celebrate seniors and other news
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Golf takes first place, men’s volleyball falls out of UVC tournament and other news
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Women’s golf dominates the week, volleyball closes out regular season and other news
(Photo by Neil Tawney, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
In the Huddle: Emma Grunin on her track and field career
(Photo by Kiran Komanduri, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
In the Huddle: Katie Antosiewicz on her first year pitching at NYU
(Photo by Neil Tawney, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
In the Huddle: Cooper Kline on his senior year and captaincy with the men’s tennis team
(Photo by Kiran Komanduri, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
In the Huddle: Tiya Chowdary on her golf career
(Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
In the Huddle: Alexa McMillian on her first season with NYU
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Out of Bounds: A historic first for female soccer coaches in Berlin, and other major sports news from London and Shanghai
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Buenos Aires, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Ghana, Spain and Oklahoma
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Accra, Los Angeles and Sydney
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Australia, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Manhattan’s last queer bookstore was about to disappear — now, it’s got a bright future
Stargazy pie. (Lauren Ng for WSN)
New eats near NYU: A British pub finds success in nonchalance
(Courtesy of Dorothy Bailey)
This Tandon student project asks, ‘What is accessible fashion?’
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
‘I knew what I was signing up for’: The high price of sisterhood
(Courtesy of the Center for Collaborative Indigenous Research With Communities and Lands)
‘You have a home here’: How NYU’s Indigenous research center reminds us whose land we’re on
(Courtesy of Dorothy Bailey)
This Tandon student project asks, ‘What is accessible fashion?’
(Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
How Stern is bringing luxury fashion to NYC and beyond
(Grady Rajagopalan for WSN)
Clearing your closet? Here’s where to donate near NYU
(Courtesy of Sarah Shalan)
From NYC to Gaza, Thrift4Gaza converts used clothes to mutual aid
(Soham Makkena for WSN)
A popular Nordic brand is foregrounding sustainability
Stargazy pie. (Lauren Ng for WSN)
New eats near NYU: A British pub finds success in nonchalance
(Zara Surti for WSN)
24 hours at Veselka
(Krish Dev for WSN)
This 30-year-old Indian deli is a haven for cab drivers
(Ivanka Sun for WSN)
Queer joy and budget-friendly service collide at this East Village fine dining spot
(Zara Surti for WSN)
How NYU handles its food waste
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Manhattan’s last queer bookstore was about to disappear — now, it’s got a bright future
(Courtesy of the Center for Collaborative Indigenous Research With Communities and Lands)
‘You have a home here’: How NYU’s Indigenous research center reminds us whose land we’re on
(Lauren Ng for WSN)
Your next semester belongs in Accra
(Zara Surti for WSN)
‘Support is all-inclusive’: Students and faculty honor sexual assault awareness
(Courtesy of Gayatri Gopinath)
‘A way out of no way’: How this NYU professor centers queer activism in New York
(Krish Dev for WSN)
WSN at NYFW
(Sophia Rivera-Korver for WSN)
Veejay Floresca pushes for inclusivity and advocates for immigrants at NYFW
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Raul Peñaranda writes an NYFW love letter to his Latin heritage with ‘Bolero Nights’
(Yasseen Ashri, Suditi Sircar and Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
Global Fashion Collective blends culture and couture at NYFW
(Zara Surti for WSN)
At NYFW, Chuks Collins bridges African heritage with the future
Lorde headlining the festival on June 5. (Courtesy of The Governors Ball and Rich Fury)
At this year’s Gov Ball, weather setbacks and mosh pits flood the festival
(Courtesy of Amanda M Hatfield)
Phoebe Bridgers unplugs Madison Square Garden for intimate sold-out show
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Manhattan’s last queer bookstore was about to disappear — now, it’s got a bright future
(Dani Biondi for WSN)
Staff recs: Goodbye
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
What your most-anticipated summer release says about you
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Manhattan’s last queer bookstore was about to disappear — now, it’s got a bright future
(Courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire, Random House Trade Paperbacks, Villard and HarperCollins)
5 books we read when we’re homesick
(Courtesy of Penguin Random House)
Review: ‘Famesick’ is not your average celebrity memoir
(Courtesy of New York Review of Books, Spiegel & Grau, Crown Publishing Group and Ballantine Books)
Books beyond Bobst: A novella in Sudan, a debut memoir and more
(Amy Wang for WSN)
4 books to grow your green thumb this Earth Day
(Courtesy of 20th Century Studios)
Review: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ lays out the blueprint for a new world
Nico Carney and Misha Osherovich star in director Siobhan McCarthy's coming-of-age trans comedy “She's the He.” (Courtesy of Obscured Releasing)
Q&A: Laughing at the absurdity of anti-trans bigotry
(Courtesy by Marcel Hartmann for The Independent Film Channel, illustration by Suditi Sircar)
Off the Radar: ‘The Time That Remains’ is a quintessential retelling of the Nakba
(Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)
Review: Bloodshed and resilience dominate ‘Invincible’ season 4
(Zara Surti for WSN)
What NYU taught me about the arts
Lorde headlining the festival on June 5. (Courtesy of The Governors Ball and Rich Fury)
At this year’s Gov Ball, weather setbacks and mosh pits flood the festival
(Courtesy of Amanda M Hatfield)
Phoebe Bridgers unplugs Madison Square Garden for intimate sold-out show
(Julianna Lindo for WSN)
5 unconventional contenders for your summer playlist
(Courtesy of Epic Records)
Review: Meghan Trainor’s ‘Toy With Me’ is a failed attempt at TikTok virality
(Courtesy of Polyvinyl Record Co.)
Review: American Football finds light in the dark of ‘LP4’
Zia Lawrence in “Oversized Suits.” (Courtesy of Page 8 Pictures)
Q&A: MFA Tisch alum on touring Shakespeare across NYC
(Courtesy of The Public Theater)
Q&A: MFA Tisch alum on bringing Shakespeare to Central Park
(Courtesy of Matthew Murphy)
Review: ‘The Lost Boys’ soars on spectacle but lacks substance
(Courtesy of Maria Baranova)
Review: A mother and son experiment with death in ‘Rheology’
(Krystal Khine for WSN)
4 theater gems that never made it to Broadway
(Ethan Li for WSN)
Review: ‘Raphael: Sublime Poetry’ reminds that simplicity is the most radical art
(Noelle Darts for WSN)
The case against the Instagrammable museum
(Sophia Graves for WSN)
Review: The Clive Davis Gallery’s latest exhibition instills hope
(Neil Tawney for WSN)
Review: ‘Act Black’ unmasks the high stakes of Black stardom
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
In Brooklyn, a printmaking fair returns with a bang
(Courtesy of Ouat Media)
The case for ‘Jane Austen’s Period Drama’
Animated short film “Butterfly.” (Courtesy of Sacrebleu Productions and XBO Films)
WSN’s favorite Oscar-nominated short films of 2026
(Susan Behrends Valenzuela for WSN)
6 historic Oscar snubs
(Courtesy of Focus Features)
The case against ‘Hamnet’
(Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
The case for Paul Thomas Anderson
The Graduation Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
The Graduation Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
(Zara Surti for WSN)
The 2026 Housing Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
(Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
The Literacy Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
The Health Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
The Beverage Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
The Beverage Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
(Suditi Sircar, Azelin Chen, Kiran Komanduri and John Bush for WSN)
On the Street: Celebration
(Kyra Reilley for WSN)
In Photos: Thousands of students swarm Strawberry Fest
(Krish Dev, Kaleo Zhu, Saya Quisbert and Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
On the Street: After hours
Bargaining committee member Jacob Remes embraced a contract faculty member at the end of the strike’s second day. (Alex Woodworth for WSN)
In Photos: Contract faculty’s long journey to a deal
(Meera Gupta for WSN)
The business keeping hand-painted advertisements alive
(Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
ICE and DHS in their own words
(Julianna Lindo for WSN)
What’s for lunch at NYU?
(Kyra Reilley for WSN)
Tandon floods force students to take a shower
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
NYC during a snowstorm
Cartoon: The 'enlightened' centrist
Cartoon: The ‘enlightened’ centrist
(Suditi Sircar, Azelin Chen, Kiran Komanduri and John Bush for WSN)
On the Street: Celebration
(Krish Dev, Kaleo Zhu, Saya Quisbert and Jada Nakagawa for WSN)
On the Street: After hours
(Yasseen Ashri, Kiran Komanduri, Suditi Sircar and Eva Mundo for WSN)
On the Street: Color
(Natalie Deoragh, Krish Dev, Kyra Reilley and Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
On the Street: Spring break travels
On the Street: Architecture
On the Street: Architecture
(Kyra Reilley for WSN)
In Photos: Thousands of students swarm Strawberry Fest
Bargaining committee member Jacob Remes embraced a contract faculty member at the end of the strike’s second day. (Alex Woodworth for WSN)
In Photos: Contract faculty’s long journey to a deal
(Julia Smerling for WSN)
Emerging artists reimagine tradition at Paris Fashion Week
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
In Photos: Chinatown parade welcomes Year of the Fire Horse
In Photos: Social media post spurs chaotic snowball fight
In Photos: Social media post spurs chaotic snowball fight
(Meera Gupta for WSN)
The business keeping hand-painted advertisements alive
Valentine’s Day: Stories of love
Valentine’s Day: Stories of love
(Meera Gupta for WSN)
A talk with competitive rock climber Nasif Kabir
Beverage Bundling
Beverage Bundling
(Meera Gupta for WSN)
Canines in costumes return to Washington Square Park
(Courtesy of Skinny Louie)
SPONSORED: Flat out delicious: Smash burger chain Skinny Louie opens in the West Village
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News
An illustration of a man with red skin wearing a pair of goggles with the text “Ready Player One” printed on it.

‘Ready Player One’ is a cinematic masterpiece, actually

Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” is often maligned as pure commercial noise by hoity-toity cinephiles. Despite the criticism, Spielberg’s love letter to the gaming community upholds the essence of fun action films in the face of pretentious cinema.
Andre Garcia, Contributing Writer • March 31, 2023

Every decade has a defining film that taps precisely into the zeitgeist. For American audiences, the ’60s had “The Graduate,” the '70s had “Apocalypse Now” and the '80s...

A family — including a mother with a blonde bob haircut who is wearing a white shirt and a black dress, a son, and a father wearing a gray, plaid three-piece suit — watches a movie in the theater.

Review: ‘The Fabelmans’ is Spielberg at his most vulnerable

In a career notable for poignant moments, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg gets more personal than ever in this Oscar-nominated, semi-autobiographical tale. 
Madeline Kane, Staff Writer • March 8, 2023

In a career spanning over half a century, Steven Spielberg has tackled a wide array of subjects in his movies: dinosaurs, archaeologists, aliens, combat soldiers, sharks, rebelling...

Actors Kristen Cui, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge in the film “Knock at the Cabin.” They are hiding behind a corner in a cabin and looking anxiously to the right.

Review: ‘Knock at the Cabin’ is an apocalyptic test of belief

M. Night Shyamalan’s latest continues a string of fascinating, mostly-solid thrillers.
Ethan Beck, Contributing Writer • February 15, 2023

A new M. Night Shyamalan movie evokes many feelings these days. For years, he was the Spielberg-in-waiting, who built up his name and future with “The Sixth Sense,” a haunting...

An illustration of three Oscar awards, with one placed further in front of the other two to create a triangle.

This year’s Oscars hit different

The 94th Academy Awards were a harrowing milestone for streaming services, an ultimate victory for “CODA” and the slap heard around the world. Also: a full list of winners.
JP Pak, Film & TV Editor • March 29, 2022

On Sunday, 15.4 million viewers tuned in for one of the wildest nights in Oscars history. The night marked a historic rebound for the Academy, with the show drawing in a 30% bump...

‘The Post’ stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. The film tells the story of the Pentagon Papers scandal, and the journalists who challenged the Nixon administration in order to expose government corruption.

A Tale of Two Administrations

Ryan Mikel, Arts Editor • January 22, 2018
The Golden Globe-nominated biopic "The Post" reveals unsettling parallels between the political administrations of then and now.
via flickr.com

Oscars 2013: Best Director

February 21, 2013
With unexpected snubs, newcomers and seasoned veterans, is there a front-runner in the Best Director category?