George Stevens – Giant

• Michael Anderson – Around the World in 80 Days
• John Ford – The Searchers
• Alfred Hitchcock – The Trouble with Harry
• John Huston – Moby Dick
• Nunnally Johnson – The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
• Henry King – Carousel
• Walter Lang – The King and I
• Joshua Logan – Bus Stop
• Daniel Mann – Teahouse of the August Moon
• Carol Reed – Trapeze
• Robert Rossen – Alexander the Great
• Roy Rowland – Meet Me in Las Vegas
• George Sidney – The Eddy Duchin Story
• King Vidor – War and Peace
• Robert Wise – Somebody Up There Likes Me
• William Wyler – Friendly Persuasion

Herschel Daugherty – General Electric Theater for "The Road That Led Afar"

• George Archainbaud – Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers for "The Traitor"
• Robert Florey – On Trial for The De Santre Affair
• Norman Foster – The Loretta Young Show for "The Cardinal's Secret"
• Lesley Selander – Lassie for "Friendship"
• Robert Stevens – Alfred Hitchcock Presents for "Never Again"