2023 Emmy Predictions: Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

The directing nominees in the Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category this year have turned in work that has ranged from a queer romantic comedy that swept audiences off their feet to helming episodes of a series about the effects of obsessive fan culture. No matter what the story is, these directors make choices that lift the words off the page and bring the world to life that a writer has imagined. 

With 121 submissions into the category this year, there will be room for six nominees to stake their claim for the gold in September. Movies and limited series, especially, have grown in popularity over the past decade, giving audiences stories they crave in a shorter amount of time than a regular long-running show. The two films that will be the biggest competition versus these limited series this year will be Fire Island and Reality, directed by Andrew Ahn and Tina Satter, respectively. These two films generated buzz around themselves, with Fire Island going above and beyond to make its own community feel represented and loved, while also having the ability to laugh. It will be a huge contender in both this and the writing categories.

Daisy Jones & the Six has been submitted for three episodes in this category, a bigger likelihood going to James Pondsoldt for directing the first episode of the series. Beef has submitted two episodes, but there is a bigger chance this series could land both of those nominations when they’re announced. The series was hotly discussed when it came out and, although it has faced some interesting press in the past month, the TV Academy will likely remember that when voting (the FYC campaigning has been pretty tough from Netflix as well). AppleTV+’s Black Bird has three episodes vying for one of the spots, the pilot included. Even with limited series, most series will attempt to submit their pilot episodes for consideration in the writing and directing categories, with a smattering of finales as well. Mrs. Davis also submitted three and it’s proven that voters love Damon Lindelof shows, so expect at least one nomination for Peacock’s original series when they’re announced. 

Ms. Marvel has a couple of episodes competing for a slot, but Marvel has a bigger hill to climb than the rest of their competition. Voters presumably go in with preconceived notions about these series and there could be a lack of interest due to comic book fatigue. While the series isn’t bad, it likely will not find itself amongst the six nominees. Donald Glover could grab another directing nomination at the Emmys for his direction of Swarm’s pilot episode, “Stung,” a truly insane thirty minutes of TV. Obi Wan Kenobi has its pilot under consideration in the category; voters have proven they love The Mandolorian, will this prove to be similar?

My predictions for Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie:

• Beef – “Figures of Light” (Netflix)
• Beef – “The Great Fabricator” (Netflix)
• Black Bird – “Pilot” (AppleTV+)
• Fire Island (Hulu) 
• Reality (HBO)
• Swarm – “Stung” (Prime Video)

Other contenders: Black Bird – “The Place I Lie” (AppleTV+), Daisy Jones & the Six – “Come And Get It (Pilot)” (Prime Video), Mrs. Davis – “Great Gatsby 2001: A Space Odyssey” (Peacock)