Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director is presented by Filmfare in its annual Filmfare Awards, to the directors who step into the Hindi film industry with a laudable debut Hindi film. The award is presented to honour the work of these debut directors and thus give them further impetus to make bold, offbeat, evocative and impactful film projects and continue contributing to the industry.
The category was inaugurated in the year 2010.
Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director at 61st Filmfare Awards
In the 61st Filmfare Awards of 2016, the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director was presented to Neeraj Ghaywan for his directed film "Masaan", an Indo-French co-production drama film, produced by Drishyam Films, Macassar Productions, Phantom Films, Sikhya Entertainment, Arte France Cinema and Pathé Productions. The film received an overwhelming critical appraisal, crediting Neeraj Ghaywan for making an absolute engaging debut motion picture. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and won 2 awards. Neeraj Ghaywan had previously worked as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap, on the film "Gangs of Wasseypur".
List of Winners of Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director
The following is the list of winners of Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director, since the category"s introduction in 2010 to date.
| Year | Winning Debut Director | Film |
| 2016 | Neeraj Ghaywan | Masaan |
| 2015 | Abhishek Varman | 2 States |
| 2014 | Ritesh Batra | The Lunchbox |
| 2013 | Gauri Shinde | English Vinglish |
| 2012 | Abhinay Deo | Delhi Belly |
| 2011 | Maneesh Sharma | Band Baaja Baaraat |
| 2010 | 1. Zoya Akhtar | 1. Luck By Chance |
| 2. Ayan Mukerji | 2. Wake Up Sid |
