Deciding that none of the nominees was ______________ the award, the film committee began reviewing a new group of candidates with better qualifications.

Choice C is the best answer. “Worthy of” means deserving respect or praise, which is consistent with the idea in the sentence that the film committee began looking for new candidates for the award when the original nominees proved unsatisfactory. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because it makes no sense in context to describe unsatisfactory nominees for an award as being “known for” or “pleased with” the award (since none of them has received it) or “interested in” the award (since the nominees’ interest is irrelevant to their qualifications).