Christopher Nolan Named President of Directors Guild of America
Los Angeles, CA – Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan has been elected President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the union announced Saturday. Nolan, known for directing blockbusters like Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight, ran unopposed and will succeed outgoing president Lesli Linka Glatter, who guided the 19,500-member union through the 2023 actors and writers strikes.
“To be elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career,” Nolan said in a statement. “Our industry is experiencing tremendous change, and I thank 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 collaborating with her and the newly elected Board to achieve critically important creative and economic protections for our members.”
Nolan’s election marks a significant moment for the DGA, given his prominence as one of the leading directors of his generation. He first gained recognition with the 2000 film Memento, starring Guy Pearce, and subsequently built a dedicated following with his reimagining of the Batman franchise, beginning with 2005’s Batman Begins. He has become a vocal advocate for theatrical film experiences and the use of the 70mm format.
Beyond his filmmaking, Nolan has been actively involved with the DGA for over two decades. A member as 2001, he has served on the union’s national board and Western directors council since 2015. He currently chairs the union’s theatrical creative rights committee and its artificial intelligence committee.
Alongside Nolan’s election, the DGA’s 167 delegates re-elected laura Belsey (The Walking Dead) as national vice president and Paris Barclay (doctor Odyssey) as secretary-treasurer. Joyce Thomas (CBS associate director) was elected assistant secretary treasurer, Todd Holland (Malcolm in the middle) as first vice president, Ron Howard (Apollo 13) as second vice president, and Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) as third vice president.
The newly elected leadership will soon face negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) regarding the DGA’s basic agreement with studios and streamers next year. the AMPTP released a statement Saturday congratulating Nolan and expressing a desire to “partner…to address the issues moast important to DGA members while ensuring our member companies remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.”
