John G. Avildsen – Rocky

• Sidney Lumet – Network
• Alan J. Pakula – All the President's Men
• Martin Scorsese – Taxi Driver
• Lina Wertmüller – Seven Beauties

Glenn Jordan – Family for "Rites of Friendship"

• Bill Bixby – Rich Man, Poor Man Book II for "Chapter III"
• James Cellan Jones – The Adams Chronicles for "Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat"

Alan Alda – M*A*S*H for "Dear Sigmund"

• Hal Cooper – Maude for "Vivian's First Funeral"
• Jay Sandrich – Mary Tyler Moore for "Murray Can't Lose"

Tony Charmoli – Shirley Maclaine: Gypsy in My Soul

• Dwight Hemion – The Dorothy Hamill Special
• David Powers – Sills and Burnett at the Met

Arthur Bloom – Democratic and Republican National Convention

• Vernon Diamond – In Celebration of U.S.
• Marty Pasetta – 48th Academy Awards

Daniel Petrie – Eleanor and Franklin

• Thomas Gries – Helter Skelter
• Dwight Hemion – America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music