The Goya Award for Best Director (Spanish: Premio Goya a la mejor dirección) is one of the Goya Awards presented annually by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain (AACCE) since the awards debuted in 1986. It is given in honor of a film director or directing team that has demonstrated outstanding directing ability in making a Spanish film.
History The category has been presented ever since the first edition of the Goya Awards. Fernando Fernán Gómez was the first winner of this award for his film Voyage to Nowhere.
Pedro Almodóvar holds the record of most wins and nominations for this category, with three wins out of twelve nominations, winning for All About My Mother (1999), Volver (2006) and Pain and Glory (2019). Fernando León de Aranoa, who won for Barrio (1998), Mondays in the Sun (2002) and The Good Boss (2021), and J. A. Bayona, who won for The Impossible (2012), A Monster Calls (2015), and Society of the Snow (2023), share the record of most wins. Directors Fernando Trueba, Alejandro Amenábar, Isabel Coixet, and Rodrigo Sorogoyen have received this award twice. As of 2025, only three female directors have received the award: Pilar Miró, Icíar Bollaín and Isabel Coixet, the latter being the only woman to win the award twice.
In 2024, Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez became the first directing duo to win the award, for their work in Saturn Return. In 2025, with his nomination for Afternoons of Solitude, Albert Serra became the first director to be nominated for the award for a non-fiction film.
In the list below the winner of the award for each year is shown first, followed by the other nominees.
Winners and nominees
+ Table key Indicates the winner
1980s YearDirectorEnglish titleOriginal title1986(1st)Fernando Fernán Gómez Voyage to NowhereEl viaje a ninguna parte Emilio Martínez LázaroLulu by NightLulú de nochePilar MiróWerther1987(2nd)José Luis GarciCourse CompletedAsignatura aprobadaBigas LunaAnguishAngustiaVicente ArandaEl Lute: Run for Your LifeEl Lute: camina o revienta1988(3rd)Gonzalo SuárezRowing with the WindRemando al vientoPedro AlmodóvarWomen on the Verge of a Nervous BreakdownMujeres al borde de un ataque de nerviosRicardo Franco Berlin BluesAntonio MerceroWait for Me in HeavenEspérame en el cieloFrancisco Regueiro Winter Diary Diario de invierno1989(4th)Fernando TruebaTwisted ObsessionEl sueño del mono locoVicente ArandaIf They Tell You I FellSi te dicen que caíFernando Fernán GómezThe Sea and the WeatherEl mar y el tiempoJosefina MolinaEsquilacheAgustí VillarongaMoon ChildEl niño de la luna
1990s YearDirectorEnglish titleOriginal title1990(5th)Carlos Saura¡Ay, Carmela!Pedro AlmodóvarTie Me Up! Tie Me Down!¡Átame!Montxo ArmendárizLetters from AlouLas cartas de Alou 1991(6th)Vicente ArandaLoversAmantesPilar MiróPrince of ShadowsBeltenebrosImanol UribeThe Dumbfounded KingEl rey pasmado1992(7th)Fernando TruebaBelle ÉpoqueBigas LunaA Tale of Ham and PassionJamón, jamónPedro OleaThe Fencing Master El maestro de esgrima 1993(8th)Luis García BerlangaEveryone to JailTodos a la cárcelVicente ArandaIntruderIntruso Juanma Bajo UlloaThe Dead MotherLa madre muerta 1994(9th)Imanol UribeRunning Out of TimeDías contadosVicente ArandaTurkish PassionLa pasión turcaJosé Luis GarciCradle SongCanción de cuna 1995(10th)Álex de la IglesiaThe Day of the BeastEl día de la bestiaPedro AlmodóvarThe Flower of My Secret La flor de mi secreto Manuel Gómez PereiraMouth to MouthBoca a boca1996(11th)Pilar MiróThe Dog in the MangerEl perro del hortelanoJulio MedemEarthTierra Imanol UribeBwana1997(12th)Ricardo FrancoThe Lucky StarLa buena estrellaAdolfo AristarainMartín (Hache)Montxo ArmendárizSecrets of the HeartSecretos del corazón 1998(13th)Fernando León de AranoaBarrio Alejandro AmenábarOpen Your EyesAbre los ojosJosé Luis GarciThe Grandfather El abueloFernando TruebaThe Girl of Your DreamsLa niña de tus ojos 1999(14th)Pedro AlmodóvarAll About My MotherTodo sobre mi madreJosé Luis CuerdaButterfly's Tongue La lengua de las mariposasGracia QuerejetaBy My Side Again Cuando vuelvas a mi ladoBenito ZambranoSolas
2000s YearDirectorEnglish titleOriginal title2000(15th)José Luis BorauLeo Jaime Chávarri Kisses for Everyone Besos para todos Álex de la Iglesia Common Wealth La comunidad José Luis GarciYou're the One Una historia de entonces 2001(16th)Alejandro AmenábarThe OthersLos OtrosVicente ArandaMad LoveJuana la LocaAgustín DíazDon't Tempt MeSin noticias de DiosJulio MedemSex and LuciaLucía y el sexo2002(17th)Fernando León de AranoaMondays in the SunLos lunes al sol Pedro AlmodóvarTalk to HerHable con ella Antonio HernándezIn the City Without LimitsEn la ciudad sin límites Emilio Martínez LázaroThe Other Side of the BedEl otro lado de la cama 2003(18th)Icíar BollaínTake My EyesTe doy mis ojos Isabel CoixetMy Life Without MeMi vida sin mí Cesc GayIn the CityEn la ciudadDavid TruebaSoldiers of SalaminaSoldados de Salamina 2004(19th)Alejandro AmenábarThe Sea InsideMar adentro Pedro AlmodóvarBad EducationLa mala educaciónAdolfo AristarainRoma Carlos SauraThe Seventh DayEl séptimo día 2005(20th)Isabel CoixetThe Secret Life of WordsLa vida secreta de las palabrasMontxo ArmendárizObabaAlberto Rodríguez7 Virgins7 vírgenesBenito ZambranoHabana Blues2006(21st)Pedro AlmodóvarVolverAgustín DíazAlatriste Manuel HuergaSalvadorGuillermo del ToroPan's LabyrinthEl laberinto del fauno 2007(22nd)Jaime RosalesSolitary FragmentsLa soledadIcíar BollaínMataharis Emilio Martínez Lázaro13 RosesLas 13 rosas Gracia QuerejetaSeven Billiard TablesSiete mesas de billar francés2008(23rd)Javier FesserCamino José Luis CuerdaThe Blind SunflowersLos girasoles ciegosAgustín DíazJust WalkingSólo quiero caminar Álex de la IglesiaThe Oxford Murders2009(24th)Daniel MonzónCell 211Celda 211 Juan José CampanellaThe Secret in Their EyesEl secreto de sus ojosAlejandro AmenábarAgoraÁgora Fernando TruebaThe Dancer and the ThiefEl baile de la victoria
2010s YearDirectorEnglish titleOriginal title2010(25th)Agustí VillarongaBlack BreadPa negre (Pan negro)Rodrigo CortésBuriedÁlex de la Iglesia The Last CircusBalada triste de trompeta Icíar BollaínEven the RainTambién la lluvia 2011(26th)Enrique Urbizu No Rest for the WickedNo habrá paz para los malvadosPedro AlmodóvarThe Skin I Live InLa Piel que habito Mateo GilBlackthornBenito Zambrano The Sleeping Voice La voz dormida 2012(27th)J. A. BayonaThe ImpossibleLo imposiblePablo BergerBlancanievesAlberto RodríguezUnit 7Grupo 7Fernando TruebaThe Artist and the ModelEl artista y la modelo2013(28th)David TruebaLiving Is Easy with Eyes ClosedVivir es fácil con los ojos cerradosGracia Querejeta15 Years and One Day15 años y un díaManuel Martín CuencaCannibalCaníbalDaniel Sánchez ArévaloFamily UnitedLa gran familia española2014(29th)Alberto RodríguezMarshlandLa isla mínimaDaniel MonzónEl NiñoCarlos VermutMagical GirlDamián SzifrónWild TalesRelatos salvajes2015(30th)Cesc GayTruman Paula Ortiz The BrideLa noviaIsabel CoixetNobody Wants the NightNadie quiere la nocheFernando León de AranoaA Perfect DayUn día perfecto2016(31st)J. A. BayonaA Monster CallsPedro AlmodóvarJulietaAlberto RodríguezSmoke & MirrorsEl hombre de las mil carasRodrigo SorogoyenMay God Save UsQue Dios nos perdone2017(32nd)Isabel CoixetThe BookshopLa libreríaAitor Arregi and Jon GarañoGiantHandiaManuel Martín CuencaThe MotiveEl autor Paco PlazaVeronicaVerónica2018(33rd)Rodrigo SorogoyenThe RealmEl reino Javier FesserChampionsCampeones Isaki LacuestaBetween Two WatersEntre dos aguasAsghar FarhadiEverybody KnowsTodos lo saben2019(34th)Pedro AlmodóvarPain and GloryDolor y gloria Alejandro AmenábarWhile at WarMientras dure la guerra Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño and José Mari GoenagaThe Endless TrenchLa trinchera infinitaOliver LaxeFire Will ComeO que arde
2020s YearDirectorEnglish titleOriginal title2020(35th)Salvador CalvoAdúJuanma Bajo UlloaBabyIcíar Bollaín Rosa's WeddingLa boda de Rosa Isabel CoixetIt Snows in BenidormNieva en Benidorm 2021(36th) Fernando León de Aranoa The Good Boss El buen patrón Manuel Martín Cuenca The Daughter La hija Icíar Bollaín Maixabel Pedro Almodóvar Parallel Mothers Madres paralelas2022(37th) Rodrigo Sorogoyen The Beasts As bestasCarla Simón Alcarràs Pilar Palomero Motherhood La maternal Carlos Vermut Manticore Mantícora Alberto Rodríguez Prison 77 Modelo 772023(38th) J.A. Bayona Society of the Snow La sociedad de la nieve Víctor Erice Close Your Eyes Cerrar los ojos Isabel Coixet Un amor David Trueba Jokes & Cigarettes Saben aquell Elena Martín Creatura2024(39th) Isaki Lacuesta, Saturn Return Segundo premioPedro Almodóvar The Room Next Door La habitación de al lado Arantxa Echevarría Undercover La infiltrada Paula Ortiz The Red Virgin La virgen roja Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño Marco, the Invented Truth Marco, la verdad inventada2025(40th) Alauda Ruiz de Azúa Sundays Los domingos Aitor Arregi, Maspalomas Carla Simón Romería Oliver Laxe Sirāt Albert Serra Afternoons of Solitude Tardes de soledad
Multiple nominations The following 37 directors have received multiple Best Director nominations.
Name Awards NominationsPedro Almodóvar312Fernando León de Aranoa34J. A. Bayona33Isabel Coixet26Fernando Trueba25Alejandro Amenábar25Rodrigo Sorogoyen23Vicente Aranda16Icíar Bollaín15Alberto Rodríguez15José Luis Garci14Álex de la Iglesia14Pilar Miró13Imanol Uribe13David Trueba13Fernando Fernán Gómez12Ricardo Franco12Carlos Saura12Agustí Villaronga12Daniel Monzón12Cesc Gay12Javier Fesser12Isaki Lacuesta12Aitor Arregi04Jon Garaño04Montxo Armendáriz03Agustín Díaz Yanes03Emilio Martínez Lázaro03Gracia Querejeta03Benito Zambrano03Manuel Martín Cuenca03Adolfo Aristarain02José Luis Cuerda02Bigas Luna02Julio Medem02Juanma Bajo Ulloa02Carlos Vermut02Paula Ortiz02Carla Simón02Oliver Laxe02
References
External links Official site IMDb: Goya Awards