Film Directors Who Were Oscar-Nominated for Writing Songs: Full List
Jacques Audiard, the director of Emilia Pérez, made Oscar history this year, becoming the first person to be nominated as a director and as a songwriter in the same year. He is vying for best original song for co-writing “El Mal” with Clément Ducol and Camille. Audiard is the only the third person to be nominated in both the directing and original song categories at any point in their careers. He follows Leo McCarey (who was nominated for directing in 1937, 1944 and 1945 and for song in 1957) and Spike Jonze (who was nominated for directing in 1999 and for song in 2013). And Audiard is the 15th person to receive an Oscar nod for writing or co-writing a song for a film that he or she directed. He’s the first person to do so since Ryan Coogler scored two years ago for co-writing “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Other members of this exclusive and rather eclectic club include Barbra Streisand, Mel Brooks, Spike Jonze, Seth MacFarlane and Trey Parker. Most of these people (including Audiard) wrote or co-wrote the lyrics, not the melody. This suggests that the directors know what their film is trying to say, and can help put that message across in a song. Only four of the 15 – Coogler, Parker, Streisand and Joe Brooks – contributed both music and lyrics. If Audiard wins the Oscar for best original song on March 2, he will become just the second person in Oscar history, and the first in nearly 50 years, to win an Oscar for writing or co-writing a song from a film he directed. The first was Joe Brooks (no relation to Mel Brooks), who wrote “You Light Up My Life,” which won in 1978. Here’s a complete list of everyone who has been nominated for best original song for writing or co-writing a song from a film they directed. The list is in reverse chronological order. Jacques Audiard Film: Emilia Pérez (2024) Nominated Song: “El Mal” Notes: Audiard wrote and directed Emilia Pérez, which stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. He based the film in part on a book he wrote of the same name. Audiard — the son of Michael Audiard, who was also a noted film director and screenwriter — co-wrote “El Mal” with Camille and Clément Ducol. Ryan Coogler Film: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) Nominated Song: “Lift Me Up” Notes: Coogler directed and co-wrote the film, which stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o and Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, among others. He co-wrote the melody with Rihanna, Tems and Ludwig Göransson; he co-wrote the lyrics with Tems. Rihanna’s single debuted and peaked at No. 2. The superstar, fresh off her halftime performance at the 2023 Super Bowl, performed the song on the Oscar telecast. Spike Jonze Film: Her (2013) Nominated Song: “The Moon Song” Notes: Jonze directed, wrote and co-produced the film, which starred Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde and Scarlett Johansson. In addition to best original song, Jonze was nominated for best picture (as a producer of the film) and won for writing. He co-wrote the lyric with Karen O, who also composed the melody. She and Ezra Koenig performed the song on the telecast. Seth MacFarlane Image Credit: Mark Davis/WireImage Film: Ted (2012) Nominated Song: “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” Notes: MacFarlane directed and co-wrote the comedy, in which he starred alongside Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. He wrote the “Best Friend” lyric, while Walter Murphy composed the melody. Murphy topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 as an artist with the disco instrumental “A Fifth of Beethoven.” Norah Jones performed “Best Friend” on the telecast, which MacFarlane hosted. Christophe Barratier Film: The Chorus (2004) Nominated song: “Look to Your Path” (“Vois Sur Ton Chemin”) Notes: The Frenchman directed the musical drama, known as Les Choristes in French. He wrote the lyric. The composer was Bruno Coulais. Beyoncé performed the song on the telecast, in tandem with American Boychoir. Beyoncé performed three of the five nominated songs that year. She also did the honors on “Learn to Be Lonely” from The Phantom of the Opera and “Believe” from The Polar Express – the latter in tandem with Josh Groban. Sylvain Chomet Film: The Triplets of Belleville (2003) Nominated Song: “Belleville Rendez-vous” Notes: The multi-platform French artist wrote and produced the animated comedy film. In addition to best original song, he was nominated for animated feature film. He wrote the lyric. Benoît Charest composed the melody. Charest also performed the song on the telecast, in tandem with Béatrice Bonifassi. Julie Taymor Film: Frida (2002) Nominated Song: “Burn It Blue” Notes: Taymor directed the film, which starred Salma Hayak. Taymor wrote the lyric. Elliot Goldenthal composed the melody. Lila Downs and Caetano Veloso performed the song on the telecast. Lars von Trier Film: Dancer in the Dark (2000) Nominated Song: “I’ve Seen It All” Notes: The Danish multi-hyphenate directed and wrote the film, which starred Björk, Catherine Deneuve and Joel Grey, among others. He co-wrote the lyric with Sjon Sigurdsson. Björk composed the melody and performed the song on the telecast. Trey Parker Film: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) Nominated Song: “Blame Canada” Notes: Parker directed, co-wrote and co-produced this film and was one of the voice actors. He co-wrote the music and lyric with Marc Shaiman. Robin Williams, who had won an Oscar two years previously for his role in Good Will Hunting, performed the song the telecast. Barbra Streisand Image Credit: TriStar/courtesy Everett Collection Film: The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) Nominated Song: “I Finally Found Someone” Notes: Streisand directed, co-produced and starred in the film alongside Jeff Bridges and Oscar nominee Lauren Bacall. She co-wrote the music and lyrics to this song with Bryan Adams, Marvin Hamlisch and Robert John “Mutt” Lange. She was the first female director to receive an Oscar nomination for a song she wrote or co-wrote for her film. The single by Streisand and Adams reached No. 8 on
