The 50th Directors Guild of America Awards, honoring the outstanding directorial achievements in films, documentary and television in 1997, were presented on March 7, 1998 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and the Windows on the World.

[1][2][3] The nominees in the feature film category were announced on January 26, 1998[4][5][6] and the other nominations were announced starting on February 3, 1998.

[7][8][9][10] James Cameron – Titanic Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell – Riding the Rails Barbara Kopple – Homicide: Life on the Street for "The Documentary" Andy Ackerman – Seinfeld for "The Betrayal" John Herzfeld – Don King: Only in America Louis J. Horvitz – 1997 Kennedy Center Honors Scott McKinsey – General Hospital for "Episode #8883" Brian Robbins – Nickelodeon's Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal for "First Time" Bruce Dowad – Isuzu's "Giant", Mercedes-Benz' "Don't Fence Me In", and Coca-Cola's "World Dance"