1. Plural of auteurist; critics or theorists who believe that a film director is the primary creative author of a film, similar to how a writer authors a book.
Usage: film criticism; often used in academic or film studies contexts

Examples

• The auteurists argued that Hitchcock's distinctive visual style proved he was the true author of his films.
• Film scholars who are auteurists focus on the director's personal vision rather than the studio's influence.
• Many auteurists credit the director with shaping every aspect of a movie's artistic expression.
• The debate between auteurists and those who emphasize collaborative filmmaking continues in cinema studies.