Chloé Zhao – Nomadland

• Lee Isaac Chung – Minari
• Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
• David Fincher – Mank
• Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw – The Truffle Hunters

• Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed – My Octopus Teacher
• David France – Welcome to Chechnya
• Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss – Boys State
• Benjamin Ree [nb] – The Painter and the Thief

Darius Marder – Sound of Metal

• Radha Blank – The 40-Year-Old Version
• Fernando Frías de la Parra – I'm No Longer Here
• Regina King – One Night in Miami...
• Florian Zeller – The Father

Lesli Linka Glatter – Homeland for "Prisoners of War"

• Jason Bateman – Ozark for "Wartime"
• Jon Favreau – The Mandalorian for "Chapter 9: The Marshal"
• Vince Gilligan – Better Call Saul for "Bagman"
• Julie Anne Robinson – Bridgerton for "Diamond of the First Water"

Susanna Fogel – The Flight Attendant for "In Case of Emergency"

• Zach Braff – Ted Lasso for "Biscuits"
• MJ Delaney – Ted Lasso for "The Hope that Kills You"
• Erin O'Malley – Curb Your Enthusiasm for "The Surprise Party"
• Jeff Schaffer – Curb Your Enthusiasm for "The Spite Store"

Scott Frank – The Queen's Gambit

• Susanne Bier – The Undoing
• Thomas Kail – Hamilton
• Matt Shakman – WandaVision
• Lynn Shelton – Little Fires Everywhere for "Find a Way"

Don Roy King – Saturday Night Live for "Dave Chappelle/Foo Fighters"

• Paul G. Casey – Real Time with Bill Maher for "#1835"
• Jim Hoskinson – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for "#1025 Live Show Following Capitol Insurrection"
• David Paul Meyer – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah for "President Obama: Inspiring Future Leaders & 'A Promised Land'"
• Christopher Werner – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for "Trump & Election Results"

Thomas Schlamme – A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote

• Stacey Angeles – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents "Remembering RBG: A Nation Ugly Cried with Desi Lydic"
• Marielle Heller – What the Constitution Means to Me
• Jim Hoskinson – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for "Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020"
• Spike Lee – David Byrne's American Utopia

Joseph Guidry – Full Bloom for "Petal to the Metal"

• David Charles – Eco Challenge for "3, 2, 1...Go!"
• Jon Favreau – The Chef Show for "Tartine"
• Ken Fuchs – Shark Tank for "1211"
• Rich Kim – Lego Masters for "Mega City Block"

Amy Schatz – We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest

• Kabir Akhtar – High School Musical: The Musical: The Series for "Opening Night"
• Larissa Bills – On Pointe for "Showtime!"
• Dean Israelite – The Astronauts for "Countdown"
• Richie Keen – The Healing Powers of Dude for "Second Step: Homeroom"

Melina Matsoukas – Beats by Dre's "You Love Me"

• Steve Ayson – Nike's "The Great Chase"
• Nisha Ganatra – Bodyform/Libresse's "#wombstories"
• Niclas Larsson – VW Touareg's "See the Unseen," Volvo XC60's "The Parents"
• Taika Waititi – Coca-Cola's "The Letter"