| <<< 33rd Directors Guild of America Awards (1981) >>> |
| Film |
| Feature Film |
| Robert Redford - Ordinary People | |
| Michael Apted - Coal Miner's Daughter | |
| David Lynch - The Elephant Man | |
| Richard Rush - The Stunt Man | |
| Martin Scorsese - Raging Bull |
| Television |
| Drama Series |
| Roger Young - Lou Grant for "Lou" | |
| Irving Moore - Dallas for "House Divided" | |
| Gene Reynolds - Lou Grant for "Nightside" |
| Comedy Series |
| Noam Pitlik - Barney Miller for "Fog" | |
| Mike Farrell - M*A*S*H for "Death Takes a Holiday" | |
| Burt Metcalfe - M*A*S*H for "A War of All Seasons" |
| Special Awards |
| D.W. Griffith Award |
| George Cukor |
| Frank Capra Achievement Award |
| Francisco Day |
| Honorary Life Member |
| Joseph L. Mankiewicz |