A mode-selectable backlight and display employ a plurality of directional scattering features to provide emitted light. The mode-selectable backlight includes a light guide, a first directional scattering feature to provide first emitted light from guided light having a first propagation direction within the light guide in a first operational mode, and a second directional scattering feature to provide second light from guided light having a second propagation direction within the light guide in a second operational mode. The second emitted light comprises a plurality of directional light beams having different principal angular directions from one another and the first propagation direction differing from the second propagation direction. The mode-selectable display further includes a plurality of light sources to provide the guided light and an array of light valves configured to modulate the emitted light as a displayed image.