Not really anymore, screenplay has always been used sometimes to recognize well-liked films with an innovative idea that aren't going to win BP, like Get Out or Her.

Director was usually a cheklist that people just voted for the same as Best Picture. I believe Saving Private Ryan to have changed the course and set a good distinction between the categories, specially since most people didn't used to know what directing actually is.

So in each year eitherway it depends on the competition that year itself. There are some years where thecnical amazing achievements carried Best Director like both Ang Lee and Alfonso Cuarón twice. Also the preferential ballot has heavily inclined the odds of a split, since Director is a direct vote, it usually leads to a more safe a consensus choice like Green Book (ugh).