Christopher Nolan becomes president of the American directors

The Englishman was elected at the head of the powerful directors Guild of America, the union of Hollywood filmmakers.

Christopher Nolan was elected this weekend president of Directors Guild of America (DGA), taking up the reins of the union when he is preparing for the next negotiations with the major studios.

Oscar winner in 2024 for Oppenheimerthe 55 -year -old Englishman is one of the most powerful directors of his generation. He succeeds Lesli Linke Glatter, elected in 2021 and which has completed two terms. Long -time active in the DGA, Nolan was already sitting on the National Council of the Syndicate.

Its election is a rare case because few superstars directors have taken the lead. We can note the legendary Frank Capra in the 1940s and 1950s, or more recently Taylor Hackford (director of Ray Or Devil’s lawyer). But never Spielberg, Coppola or Scorsese. It should also be noted that Christopher Nolan is not the first English to take the job. Before him, Michael Apted (Gorillas in the mist,, The world is not enough), for example, had already held the function.

“Being elected president of Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career”was delighted Chris Nolan. “”Our industry is going through deep changes and I thank the members of the union for their confidence. I also want to thank President Glatter for her leadership over the past four years. I can’t wait to collaborate with her and the new advice to guarantee significant creative and economic protections for our members. “

In the past four years, the DGA has focused on filming security, pushing in particular for a pilot program imposing a security supervisor on productions benefiting from the Californian tax credit for cinema and television. The union was also very active to extend the tax credit and include a wider range of productions.

During negotiations, the DGA sought to increase residues related to international streaming. According to tradition, the first discussions with the studios of the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) should start in early 2026. During the last cycle in 2023, the DGA was the only major union to conclude a new contract without strike. The current contract runs until June 30, 2026.

“The AMPTP congratulates Christopher Nolan for his election to the presidency of the DGA. We are looking forward to collaborating with him to respond to the priority challenges of members while maintaining the competitiveness of our studios in a changing industry”.