Best director academy award in 1975?

In 2002, Roman Polanski won the Oscar.

Best Picture winner The Sound of Music (1965) was directed by George Wise, who won his second Best Director Oscar for the movie.

There were two categories in the first Academy Awards show. Frank Borzage won as Best Director (Drama) for 7th Heaven. Lewis Milestone won as Best Director (Comedy) for Two Arabian Knights.

A director is considered for an Oscar nomination if he invokes the best performances out of every cast and crew member. That not just being the acting and visual effects but every aspect of the film.

Kevin Costner, who also starred in the 1990 movie.