Christopher Nolan, the acclaimed director behind films such as Oppenheimer, Inception, and The Dark Knight trilogy, has been elected President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA). The announcement was made on September 20, 2025, following the DGA's biennial national convention. Nolan, who ran unopposed, succeeds Lesli Linka Glatter, who served as president for the past four years.
In a statement, Nolan expressed his gratitude and excitement for the new role, calling it "one of the greatest honors of my career". He acknowledged the "tremendous change" occurring within the industry and thanked the Guild's membership for entrusting him with this responsibility. He also expressed his appreciation for Glatter's leadership and his eagerness to collaborate with her and the newly elected Board to champion "important creative and economic protections" for the DGA's members.
The DGA, founded in 1936, represents more than 19,500 directors, assistant directors, unit production managers, and stage managers. It stands as one of Hollywood's most influential labor organizations, setting standards for creative and economic rights within the industry. The DGA presidency is therefore a key role in shaping the future of filmmaking.
Nolan has been a member of the DGA since 2001 and has been actively involved, serving on the National Board and Western Directors Council since 2015. He is also the Chair of the Guild's Theatrical Creative Rights Committee and its Artificial Intelligence Committee. In 2024, he received the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for Oppenheimer. He had previously been nominated for Dunkirk (2017), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight (2008), and Memento (2001).
Nolan's election comes at a crucial time for Hollywood, with the industry facing challenges such as the rise of artificial intelligence, the dominance of streaming services, and evolving global labor demands. The DGA, under Nolan's leadership, will need to navigate these shifts while ensuring fair compensation, creative control, and favorable working conditions for its members. The Guild successfully navigated the 2023 contract negotiations without a strike, securing wins related to AI and streaming residuals. Nolan's well-known advocacy for traditional theatrical exhibition and large-format filmmaking suggests that these issues may also take center stage in future industry negotiations.
Alongside Nolan, other officers were elected or re-elected to leadership positions within the DGA:
Nolan will work alongside National Executive Director Russell Hollander and chief negotiators Jon Avnet and Karen Gaviola.
Past presidents of the DGA include notable names such as King Vidor, Frank Capra, George Stevens, Robert Wise, and Martha Coolidge, the first female president. Nolan's election places him among these influential figures who have shaped the course of the Directors Guild of America and the wider film industry. As Christopher Nolan steps into this new role, the industry will be watching to see how his vision and leadership will guide the DGA through the evolving landscape of entertainment.
