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Which qualities identify a director as an auteur according to auteur theory?

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Director Sir David Lean sits atop a ladder beside a film camera, surrounded by crew and equipment on the set of Doctor Zhivago (1965) under a blue sky. — film David Lean (sitting atop a ladder) during the filming of *Doctor Zhivago* (1965).

According to auteur theory, a director is considered an auteur when they function as the primary creative force behind a motion picture, acting as the film's "author" rather than merely a translator of a screenplay.1

To be identified as an auteur, a director typically demonstrates the following qualities:

Personal Vision: The director possesses a well-defined, consistent worldview and a unique aesthetic that is recognizable across their body of work.2
Creative Control: The director exerts significant influence over all audio and visual elements of the production, including camera placement, blocking, lighting, and scene length.12
Technical Mastery: Auteurs are characterized by solid technique and an ingenious approach to the medium, often using consistent stylistic solutions to address dramatic or visual challenges.2
Unmistakable Stamp: Successful films directed by an auteur bear an unmistakable personal signature, allowing the popular art of cinema to achieve the authentic expression associated with fine arts.12

Ultimately, the theory posits that even when working within restrictive studio systems, an auteur imbues their films with a consistent, personal aesthetic that distinguishes their output from that of directors who merely follow routine industry conventions.2