David di Donatello for Best Director

The David di Donatello Award for Best Director (Italian: David di Donatello per il miglior regista) is a film award presented annually by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano (ACI, Academy of Italian Cinema) to recognize the outstanding direction of a film director who has worked within the Italian film industry during the year preceding the ceremony.[1] The award was first given in 1956, and became competitive in 1981.[2]

David di Donatello Award for Best Director
Awarded forBest director of an Italian film
CountryItaly
Presented byAccademia del Cinema Italiano
First awarded1956 (for direction in films released during the 1955/1956 film season)
Currently held byGiorgio DirittiHidden Away (2020)
Websitedaviddidonatello.it

Nominees and winners are selected via runoff voting by all the members of the Accademia.[3][4]

Francesco Rosi is the record holder with six awards in the category, received from 1965 to 1997, followed by Mario Monicelli and Giuseppe Tornatore with four.

Winners and nominees

Below, winners are listed first in the colored row, followed by other nominees.[1]

Gianni Franciolini (right) was the first holder of the award, winning in 1956 for Roman Tales.
Federico Fellini won the award three times from 1957 to 1974, for Nights of Cabiria, La dolce vita, and Amarcord.
Michelangelo Antonioni won in 1961 for La notte.
Ermanno Olmi was nominated five times, winning three times over a span of four decades.
Vittorio De Sica won twice, in 1963 and 1965.
Pietro Germi (left) won twice for Seduced and Abandoned and The Birds, the Bees and the Italians.
Franco Zeffirelli won in 1969 for Romeo and Juliet and in 1972 for Brother Sun, Sister Moon.
Luchino Visconti won twice, for Death in Venice in 1971 and Ludwig in 1974.
Dino Risi won in 1975 for Scent of a Woman.
Mario Monicelli won four times from 1976 to 1990, every year he was nominated.
Ettore Scola won three times from 1978 to 1987, being nominated six times.
Marco Bellocchio won twice in 1980 and 2010.
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani won twice in 1983 and 2012.
Bernardo Bertolucci won in 1988 for The Last Emperor.
Giuseppe Tornatore won four times from 1996 to 2013, being nominated six times.
Roberto Benigni won in 1998 for Life is Beautiful.
Pupi Avati won in 2003 after six nominations.
Paolo Sorrentino won in 2005 for The Consequences of Love and in 2014 for The Great Beauty.
Nanni Moretti won in 2006 for The Caiman, after seven nominations.
Matteo Garrone won three times, in 2009, 2016 and 2019, for Gomorrah, Tale of Tales and Dogman.

1950s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1955/56
(1st)
Gianni FrancioliniRoman Tales
1956/57
(2nd)
Federico FelliniNights of Cabiria
1958/59
(4th)
Alberto LattuadaTempest

1960s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1959/60
(5th)
Federico FelliniLa dolce vita
1960/61
(6th)
Michelangelo AntonioniLa notte
1961/62
(7th)
Ermanno OlmiIl posto
1962/63
(8th)
Vittorio De SicaThe Condemned of Altona
1963/64
(9th)
Pietro GermiSeduced and Abandoned
1964/65
(10th)
Vittorio De SicaMarriage Italian-Style
Francesco RosiThe Moment of Truth
1965/66
(11th)
Alessandro BlasettiMe, Me, Me... and the Others
Pietro GermiThe Birds, the Bees and the Italians
1966/67
(12th)
Luigi ComenciniMisunderstood
1967/68
(13th)
Carlo LizzaniBandits in Milan
1968/69
(14th)
Franco ZeffirelliRomeo and Juliet

1970s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1969/70
(15th)
Gillo PontecorvoBurn!
1970/71
(16th)
Luchino ViscontiDeath in Venice
1971/72
(17th)
Sergio LeoneDuck, You Sucker!
Franco ZeffirelliBrother Sun, Sister Moon
1972/73
(18th)
Luchino ViscontiLudwig
1973/74
(19th)
Federico FelliniAmarcord
1974/75
(20th)
Dino RisiScent of a Woman
1975/76
(21st)
Mario MonicelliMy Friends
Francesco RosiIllustrious Corpses
1976/77
(22nd)
Mario MonicelliAn Average Little Man
Valerio ZurliniThe Desert of the Tartars
1977/78
(23rd)
Ettore ScolaA Special Day
1978/79
(24th)
Francesco RosiChrist Stopped at Eboli

1980s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1979/80
(25th)
Marco BellocchioA Leap in the Dark
Gillo PontecorvoOgro
1980/81
(26th)
Francesco RosiThree Brothers
Luigi ComenciniVoltati Eugenio
Ettore ScolaPassion of Love
1981/82
(27th)
Marco FerreriTales of Ordinary Madness
Salvatore PiscicelliThe Opportunities of Rosa
Carlo VerdoneTalcum Powder
1982/83
(28th)
Paolo and Vittorio TavianiThe Night of the Shooting Stars
Gianni AmelioBlow to the Heart
Ettore ScolaThat Night in Varennes
1983/84
(29th)
Ettore ScolaLe Bal
Federico FelliniAnd the Ship Sails On
Nanni LoyWhere's Picone?
1984/85
(30th)
Francesco RosiCarmen
Pupi AvatiBank Clerks
Paolo and Vittorio TavianiKaos
1985/86
(31st)
Mario MonicelliLet's Hope It's a Girl
Federico FelliniGinger and Fred
Nanni MorettiThe Mass Is Ended
1986/87
(32nd)
Ettore ScolaThe Family
Pupi AvatiChristmas Present
Francesco MaselliA Tale of Love
1987/88
(33rd)
Bernardo BertolucciThe Last Emperor
Federico FelliniIntervista
Nikita Sergeevič MikhalkovDark Eyes
1988/89
(34th)
Ermanno OlmiThe Legend of the Holy Drinker
Marco RisiForever Mery
Giuseppe TornatoreCinema Paradiso

1990s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1989/90
(35th)
Mario MonicelliDark Illness
Gianni AmelioOpen Doors
Pupi AvatiThe Story of Boys & Girls
Federico FelliniThe Voice of the Moon
Nanni LoyScugnizzi
Nanni MorettiRed Wood Pigeon
1990/91
(36th)
Marco RisiBoys on the Outside
Ricky TognazziUltrà
Francesca ArchibugiTowards Evening
Daniele LuchettiThe Yes Man
Gabriele SalvatoresMediterraneo
1991/92
(37th)
Gianni AmelioThe Stolen Children
Marco RisiThe Rubber Wall
Carlo VerdoneMaledetto il giorno che t'ho incontrato
1992/93
(38th)
Roberto FaenzaJonah Who Lived in the Whale
Ricky TognazziThe Escort
Francesca ArchibugiThe Great Pumpkin
1993/94
(39th)
Carlo VerdoneLet's Not Keep in Touch
Nanni MorettiCaro diario
Pasquale PozzessereFather and Son
1994/95
(40th)
Mario MartoneNasty Love
Gianni AmelioLamerica
Alessandro D'AlatriNo Skin
1995/96
(41st)
Giuseppe TornatoreThe Star Maker
Bernardo BertolucciStealing Beauty
Carlo LizzaniCelluloide
Paolo VirzìAugust Vacation
1996/97
(42nd)
Francesco RosiThe Truce
Roberto FaenzaMarianna Ucrìa
Wilma LabateMy Generation
Gabriele SalvatoresNirvana
Maurizio ZaccaroThe Game Bag
1997/98
(43rd)
Roberto BenigniLife Is Beautiful
Mario MartoneRehearsals for War
Paolo VirzìOvosodo
1998/99
(44th)
Giuseppe TornatoreThe Legend of 1900
Bernardo BertolucciBesieged
Giuseppe PiccioniFuori dal mondo

2000s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
1999/00
(45th)
Silvio SoldiniBread and Tulips
Marco BechisOlympic Garage
Ricky TognazziCanone inverso
2000/01
(46th)
Gabriele MuccinoThe Last Kiss
Marco Tullio GiordanaOne Hundred Steps
Nanni MorettiThe Son's Room
2001/02
(47th)
Ermanno OlmiThe Profession of Arms
Giuseppe PiccioniLight of My Eyes
Silvio SoldiniBurning in the Wind
2002/03
(48th)
Pupi AvatiIncantato
Marco BellocchioMy Mother's Smile
Matteo GarroneThe Embalmer
Gabriele MuccinoRemember Me, My Love
Ferzan ÖzpetekFacing Windows
2003/04
(49th)
Marco Tullio GiordanaThe Best of Youth
Pupi AvatiChristmas Rematch
Marco BellocchioGood Morning, Night
Sergio CastellittoDon't Move
Matteo GarroneFirst Love
2004/05
(50th)
Paolo SorrentinoThe Consequences of Love
Gianni AmelioThe Keys to the House
Davide FerrarioAfter Midnight
Andrea and Antonio FrazziA Children's Story
Ferzan ÖzpetekCuore Sacro
2005/06
(51st)
Nanni MorettiThe Caiman
Antonio CapuanoMario's War
Michele PlacidoRomanzo Criminale
Sergio RubiniOur Land
Carlo VerdoneMy Best Enemy
2006/07
(52nd)
Giuseppe TornatoreThe Unknown Woman
Marco BellocchioThe Wedding Director
Emanuele CrialeseNuovomondo
Daniele LuchettiMy Brother is an Only Child
Ermanno OlmiOne Hundred Nails
2007/08
(53rd)
Andrea MolaioliThe Girl by the Lake
Cristina ComenciniBlack and White
Antonello GrimaldiQuiet Chaos
Carlo MazzacuratiThe Right Distance
Silvio SoldiniDays and Clouds
2008/09
(54th)
Matteo GarroneGomorrah
Pupi AvatiGiovanna's Father
Fausto BrizziMany Kisses Later
Giulio ManfredoniaSi può fare
Paolo SorrentinoIl Divo

2010s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
2009/10
(55th)
Marco BellocchioVincere
Giorgio DirittiThe Man Who Will Come
Ferzan ÖzpetekLoose Cannons
Giuseppe TornatoreBaarìa
Paolo VirzìThe First Beautiful Thing
2010/11
(56th)
Daniele LuchettiLa nostra vita
Marco BellocchioSorelle Mai
Saverio CostanzoThe Solitude of Prime Numbers
Claudio CupelliniA Quiet Life
Michelangelo FrammartinoLe Quattro Volte
Paolo GenoveseThe Immature
Mario MartoneNoi credevamo
Luca MinieroBenvenuti al Sud
2011/12
(57th)
Paolo and Vittorio TavianiCaesar Must Die
Emanuele CrialeseTerraferma
Marco Tullio GiordanaPiazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy
Nanni MorettiWe Have a Pope
Ferzan ÖzpetekMagnificent Presence
Paolo SorrentinoThis Must Be the Place
2012/13
(58th)
Giuseppe TornatoreThe Best Offer
Bernardo BertolucciMe and You
Matteo GarroneReality
Gabriele SalvatoresSiberian Education
Daniele VicariDiaz – Don't Clean Up This Blood
2013/14
(59th)
Paolo SorrentinoThe Great Beauty
Carlo MazzacuratiThe Chair of Happiness
Ferzan ÖzpetekFasten Your Seatbelt
Ettore ScolaHow Strange to Be Named Federico
Paolo VirzìHuman Capital
2014/15
(60th)
Francesco MunziBlack Souls
Saverio CostanzoHungry Hearts
Mario MartoneLeopardi
Nanni MorettiMia Madre
Ermanno OlmiGreenery Will Bloom Again
2015/16
(61st)
Matteo GarroneTale of Tales
Claudio CaligariDon't Be Bad
Paolo GenovesePerfect Strangers
Gianfranco RosiFire at Sea
Paolo SorrentinoYouth
2016
(62nd)
Paolo VirzìLike Crazy
Marco BellocchioSweet Dreams
Edoardo De AngelisIndivisible
Claudio GiovannesiFiore
Matteo RovereItalian Race
2017
(63rd)
Jonas CarpignanoA Ciambra
Gianni AmelioTenderness
Paolo GenoveseThe Place
Manetti Bros.Love and Bullets
Ferzan ÖzpetekNapoli velata
2018
(64th)
Matteo GarroneDogman
Valeria GolinoEuphoria
Luca GuadagninoCall Me By Your Name
Mario MartoneCapri-Revolution
Alice RohrwacherHappy as Lazzaro
2019
(65th)
Marco BellocchioThe Traitor
Matteo GarronePinocchio
Claudio GiovannesiPiranhas
Pietro MarcelloMartin Eden
Matteo RovereThe First King: Birth of an Empire

2020s

YearDirectorFilmRef.
2020
(66th)
Giorgio DirittiHidden Away
Gianni AmelioHammamet
Emma DanteThe Macaluso Sisters
Damiano and Fabio D'InnocenzoBad Tales
Susanna NicchiarelliMiss Marx
2021
(67th)
Paolo SorrentinoThe Hand of God
Leonardo Di CostanzoThe Inner Cage
Giuseppe TornatoreEnnio
Gabriele MainettiFreaks Out
Mario MartoneThe King of Laughter

Multiple wins and nominations


Francesco Rosi won the award six times, more than everyone else, from 1965 to 1997.
Ferzan Özpetek is the most nominated director without any wins, being nominated six times from 2003 to 2017.

The following directors have received three or more Best Director nominations (* indicates no wins):

NominationsDirector
7Gianni Amelio
Marco Bellocchio
Federico Fellini
Nanni Moretti
6Pupi Avati
Matteo Garrone
Ferzan Özpetek*
Francesco Rosi
Ettore Scola
Giuseppe Tornatore
5Mario Martone
Ermanno Olmi
Paolo Sorrentino
Paolo Virzì
4Bernardo Bertolucci
Mario Monicelli
Carlo Verdone
3Paolo Genovese*
Marco Tullio Giordana
Daniele Luchetti
Marco Risi
Gabriele Salvatores*
Silvio Soldini
Taviani brothers
Ricky Tognazzi

See also

References

External links