what criteria are used when one film director [amongst all the candidates] is chosen to direct the film?

Answer 1

In these days of make-or-break blockbustering, producers usually have a specific director in mind for most any project they consider. Factors seem to include film-making style, familiarity with the genre, ability to work with actors already chosen for the roles to be played, ability to co-ordinate the kind of production that will be involved. Ofentimes, directors will bring specific scripts or projects to producers in the hopes of being chosen to direct---sometimes actors of sufficient clout will seek out directors for their own projects---the bottom line(s) seem to be, will this director make a good movie from this material, will he or she bring in the production relatively on schedule and under budget, and will the director work well with the actors and crew in creating the film.
Ideally, anyway...

Answer 2

The people fronting the money (producers) have the ultimate say so a lot depends on who they prefer.

Much has to do with the Genre of film and whether or not the film is about good film making or just another POS get a quick buck at the box office flick.

You probably wouldn't want Tarantino directing a period piece love story, nor would you want Ridley Scott directing one of those dreadful Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence fat suit movies.

Answer 3

Criteria! Are you joking? In Hollywood, it's all about who you know. Good example: my hubby used to play cricket with Sam Mendes (who won the Oscar for "American Beauty"), and when we asked him how he got chosen by Spielberg to direct "American Beauty", he said it was through an introduction by a good friend of Spielberg's. Sam just happens to be a great bloke (very non-celeb) and a brilliant theatre director who had never directed a film before he did "American Beauty". Spielberg liked his approach from talking to him and the fact that he's a very thoughtful intelligent man who always manages to get the best out of his actors/actresses.