David di Donatello for Best Director

The David di Donatello for Best Director is a film award presented annually by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano to recognize the outstanding direction of a film director who has worked within the Italian film industry during the year preceding the ceremony. The award was first given in 1956, and became competitive in 1981.
Nominees and winners are selected via runoff voting by all the members of the Accademia.
Francesco Rosi is the record holder with six awards in the category, received from 1965 to 1997, followed by Marco Bellocchio, Mario Monicelli and Giuseppe Tornatore with four.
Maura Delpero became the first woman to win in 2025.

Winners and nominees

Below, winners are listed first in the colored row, followed by other nominees.

The following individuals have won multiple Best Director awards:

The following directors have received three or more Best Director nominations :