Ariel Award for Best Director

In 1947, the 1st and 2nd Ariel Awards were held, with Roberto Gavaldón and Emilio "El Indio" Fernández winning for the films La Barraca and Enamorada, respectively.

[1] Nominees and winners are determined by a committee formed every year consisting of academy members (active and honorary), previous winners and individuals with at least two Ariel nominations; the committee members submit their votes through the official AMACC website.

[2] In 1953, filmmakers Luis Buñuel, Alfredo B. Crevenna and Gavaldón were nominated, but no winner was declared.

[3] Carerra's El Crimen del Padre Amaro was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003.

[3] Buñuel and Amat Escalante won the Ariel for Best Director and the same award at the Cannes Film Festival for Los Olvidados and Heli, respectively.

Black-and-white photo of Luis Buñuel, 1968.
Spanish director Luis Buñuel won twice, for Los Olvidados (1951) and Robinson Crusoe (1956).
Color image of Arturo Ripstein.
Arturo Ripstein has received the award twice for Cadena Perpetua (1979) and El Imperio de la Fortuna (1987).
Color image of Felipe Casalz.
Felipe Cazals won three times, for El Año de la Peste (1980), Bajo la metralla (1984) and Las Vueltas del Citrillo (2006).
Color image of Carlos Carrera.
Carlos Carrera has won four times, and is tied with Emilio "El Indio" Fernández for the most wins in the category.
Color image of Jaime Humberto Hermosillo.
Jaime Humberto Hermosillo has been nominated five times, winning twice for La Pasión Según Berenice (1977) and Naufragio (1978).
Color image of Miguel Littin.
Miguel Littín won for Actas de Marusia (1976).
Color image of Guillermo del Toro.
Mexican director Guillermo del Toro has won twice, for the films Cronos (1993) and El Laberinto del Fauno (2007).
Black-and-white photo of Alberto Isaac.
Alberto Isaac won for Mariana, Mariana (1988).
Color photo of Alfonso Arau, 2016.
Mexican actor and director Alfonso Arau was nominated twice and won once in 1992 for Como Agua Para Chocolate .
Color photo of Rafael Montero.
Rafael Montero won for Cilantro y Perejil (1997).
Alejandro González Iñárritu in 2017.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu won this award twice for Amores Perros (2001) and Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades (2023).
Color image of Fernando Eimbcke.
Fernando Eimbcke received the award twice, for the films Temporada de Patos (2005) and Lake Tahoe (2009).
Color image of Carlos Reygadas.
Carlos Reygadas received the award for Luz Silenciosa in 2008.
Color image of Rodrigo Plá.
Rodrigo Plá has been nominated twice, winning for La Demora in 2013.
Color image of Amat Escalante.
Amat Escalante received the award twice for Heli and La Región Salvaje .
Color image of David Pablos.
David Pablos won the award for Las Elegidas in 2016.
Color image of Lila Avilés.
Lila Avilés won the award for Tótem in 2024.