Christopher Nolan has a new title in the world of film. He was elected president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), taking over as the union prepares for a new set of negotiations with major studios.
Learn more about the appointment here, and what’s in store for the guild as negotiations loom.
Changing of the Guard
Christopher Nolan is an Oscar winner and one of the most successful directors of his generation. He takes over the presidential position from Lesli Linka Glatter, who served two terms after first being elected in 2021.
Nolan has been an active member within the guild and is currently a member of the national board of directors.
“To be elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career, Nolan commented. “Our industry is experiencing tremendous change, and I think the Guild’s membership for entrusting me with this responsibility. I also want to thank President Glatter for her leadership over the past four years. I look forward to collaborting with her and the newly elected Board to achieve important creative and economic protections for our members.”
The Guilds Current and Past Efforts
The Guild has pushed its lobbying efforts on set safety issues for the past four years. The union wanted a pilot program that requires a safety supervisor on sets of productions supported by the California film and TV tax incentive.
The union was also entangled with expanding the California tax credit and including a broader range of productions. Within the Guild’s negotiations, they have focused on expanding foreign streaming residuals.
As the next set of negotiations comes up, so too does another tradition. The DGA will have initial conversations with the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) next year.
An interesting tidbit to note is that the DGA was the only one of the Big Three unions in 2023 to reach a new contract without work stoppage. Their current contract runs out on June 30th, 2026.
The DGA and the AMPTP
The DGA and AMPTP consistently talk together during negotiation years, however, this one is a little different. The 2026 negotiations will be the first time in more than 15 years that the AMPTP will have a new leader.
Greg Hessinger became president in March, succeeding longtime leader Carol Lombardini.
In a statement, the AMPTP commented about Nolan’s appointment.
“The AMPTP congratulates Christopher Nolan on his election as president of the Directors Guild of America. We look forward to partnering with President Nolan to address the issues most important to DGA members while ensuring our member companies remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.”
Christopher Nolan’s Impact
Nolan’s impact on Hollywood is immense. The A-list player has earned two Oscars for directing 2023’s Oppenheimer. He is one of the most versatile directors out there, working on genre pics (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), dramas (Inception, Memento), and historical dramas (Dunkirk, Oppenheimer).
His next big project? An adapatation of The Odyssey. The adventure film premieres in July from Universal Pictures.
Other Election Results
Re-elections include Laura Belsey and Paris Barclay. Others elected that night include Todd Holland, Ron Howard, Gina Prince-Bythwood, Seith Mann, Millicent Shelton, Lily Olszewski, and Joyce Thomas.
167 delegates representing more than 19,5000 guild members during the DGA’s biennial national convention elected the new members.