The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has bestowed one of its most illustrious members with the prestigious role of its new president. Christopher Nolan was elected to this top position during the union’s biennial national convention, with the results unveiled on Saturday. Running unopposed for the presidency, Nolan will succeed outgoing president Lesli Linka Glatter, who steered the 19,500-strong union—comprising directors, associate and assistant directors, unit production managers, and stage managers—through the tumultuous 2023 actors' and writers' strikes.
“Being elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career,” declared the director behind acclaimed films such as *Oppenheimer* and *The Dark Knight*. “Our industry is undergoing immense transformation, and I’m deeply grateful to the Guild’s membership for entrusting me with this responsibility. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to President Glatter for her exemplary leadership over the past four years. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with her and the newly elected Board to secure vital creative and economic protections for our members.”
This marks a significant milestone for the DGA, as Nolan stands among the most recognizable directors of his era, renowned for crafting intricate, puzzle-box narratives that delve into themes of time and memory. His 2000 film *Memento*, starring Guy Pearce, catapulted him into Hollywood’s spotlight, while his reinvention of the Batman franchise, beginning with 2005’s *Batman Begins*, garnered him a devoted fanbase. Over the years, as Nolan cemented his status as a box office powerhouse, he has leveraged his influence to advocate for the cinematic experience in theaters and championed the use of the 70mm film format.
Film enthusiasts beyond the thirty-mile zone of Hollywood may be less acquainted with Nolan’s extensive contributions to the union, which have intensified over the past decade. A DGA member since 2001, Nolan has served on the union’s national board and Western Directors Council since 2015. Currently, he chairs the union’s Theatrical Creative Rights Committee and its Artificial Intelligence Committee.
During the convention, the union’s 167 delegates also re-elected veteran television directors Laura Belsey (*The Walking Dead*) as national vice president and Paris Barclay (*Doctor Odyssey*) as secretary-treasurer. CBS associate director Joyce Thomas was elected assistant secretary-treasurer, *Malcolm in the Middle* director Todd Holland as first vice president, *Apollo 13* helmer Ron Howard as second vice president, and *The Woman King* director Gina Prince-Bythewood as third vice president.
The Guild’s newly elected leaders will soon face their first major test as the DGA prepares to enter negotiations over its basic agreement with studios and streamers next year. On Saturday, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers—which represents these major employers in collective bargaining—issued a statement congratulating Nolan.
“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 evolving industry,” the group said.
