Best Director

Mike Figgis

“Leaving Las Vegas”

The British filmmaker with roots in experimental theater and music earns his first two nominations as the director and writer of the bleak, downbeat drama. Figgis, 46, won the Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics honors as best director and was nominated for a Golden Globe. He also wrote the film’s music.

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Mel Gibson

“Braveheart”

The popular actor earns his first two Oscar nominations for his epic about Scottish hero William Wallace, as both director and as one of the producers of the best picture nominee. Gibson, 40, who starred in his movie, won the Golden Globe and is nominated for a DGA Award for this, the second movie he directed.

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Chris Noonan

“Babe”

The comedic fable about a pig who thinks he’s a sheep dog is the Australian director’s feature film debut. Noonan, 42, who also co-wrote the Oscar-nominated script for the summer’s sleeper hit, previously made documentaries and directed the Aussie telefilm “The Riddle of Stinson.”

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Michael Radford

“Il Postino”

The bittersweet Italian romantic comedy delivers a best director nod to the British director, who also shares the film’s screenplay nomination. Radford, 45, who directed “1984” and “White Mischief,” is nominated for a DGA Award for the art-house hit that stars the late Italian comedian Massimo Troisi.

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Tim Robbins

“Dead Man Walking”

The politically outspoken actor-director receives his first nomination for directing this apolitical look at capital punishment. His screenplay was nominated for a Golden Globe. Robbins, 37, received the 1992 best actor honors at Cannes and a Golden Globe for his starring role in Robert Altman’s “The Player.”