| 2022 | Chris Kraus | |
 | 2021 | Asteris Kutulas |
 | 2020 | Emily Atef |
| 2019 | Caroline Link | |
| 2018 | Veit Helmer | |
 | 2017 | Dominik Graf |
 | 2016 | Doris Dörrie |
 | 2015 | Michael Verhoeven |
 | 2014 | Wim Wenders |
 | 2013 | Edgar Reitz |
 | 2012 | Antje Starost und Hans Helmut Grotjahn |
| 2022 | Chris Kraus | |
| 2021 | Asteris Kutulas |
| 2020 | Emily Atef |
| 2019 | Caroline Link | |
| 2018 | Veit Helmer | |
| 2017 | Dominik Graf |
| 2016 | Doris Dörrie |
| 2015 | Michael Verhoeven |
| 2014 | Wim Wenders |
| 2013 | Edgar Reitz |
| 2012 | Antje Starost und Hans Helmut Grotjahn |