The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Director Bassam Tariq discusses his new film, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, with fellow Director Walter Thompson-Hernandez in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses drawing on his own experiences as a father in crisis, shooting the film and its large fight sequences within a 30 day schedule, and how a previous project he was tied to with Actor Mahershala Ali led to the materialization of this project.

The film tells the story of Latif, a devoutly religious hitman, who embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children after his wife dies. As he confronts forces closing in on him, he finds his beliefs threatening to unravel.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/yourmother_qna_1026

Director Cristian Mungiu discusses his new film, Fjord, with fellow Director Ira Sachs in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses drawing inspiration for the plot from real-world events, casting Actors Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan, and deliberately not seeking to take a side in the narrative.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Global Cinema Series, the film tells the story of the Gheorghiu family, who have recently relocated to Norway from Romania. Still adjusting to their new home, their life soon unravels when their young daughter shows up to school one day covered in bruises.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/gcs_fjord_1026

Director Lance Oppenheim discusses his new film, Primetime, with fellow Director Molly Gordon in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how he slowly enticed Actor Robert Pattinson to get involved and play the lead role, how he studied past episodes of To Catch a Predator to capture the surreal horror in the show’s set for his own production design, and how he gained insight into Hansen’s person through numerous tv appearances and his Cameo recordings.

Inspired by true events, the film dramatizes the production of “Dateline NBC’s To Catch a Predator” and follows its host, journalist Chris Hansen, as his quest for continued ratings success and making television history straddles the line between righteous and ethical.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/primetime_qna_1026

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu discusses his new film, Digger, with fellow Director Denis Villeneuve in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses using theater as a meta layer to reflect the truth of reality in another light, utilizing miniatures and old theater tricks in his production design, and working with Actor Tom Cruise to capture the bravado he was aiming for in the title character.

The film tells the story of Digger Rockwell, a rich oil tycoon and the most powerful man in the world. After his company’s drilling in Greenland dislodges a giant ice shelf, he embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the catastrophic tsunami he caused hits Europe.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/digger_qna_0926

Director Don Scardino discusses his new film, A Break in the Rain, with fellow Director Laura Belsey in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses working with Actor Elizabeth Davis when writing the songs of the film, casting Actor Michael O’Keefe in the leading role, and recording the score of the movie himself with a guitar.

The film tells the story of Jake, a widower who returns home when his son passes from cancer. Intending to help support his daughter-in-law, he takes a job driving for a limo service and meets a country singer who ultimately changes his life during a musical road trip.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/abreakintherain_qna_0926

Director Chris Rock discusses his new film, Misty Green, with fellow Director Spike Lee in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how lead Actor Rosalind Eleazar was selected for the part, finding which scenes worked and what didn’t through his rehearsal process, and approaching the edit of the film like he would a standup special.

The film tells the story of Misty, a talented actress years after her Hollywood breakthrough. Finding her career stalled, she fights for a second chance at returning to the spotlight.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/mistygreen_qna_0926

Director Alex Stapleton discusses her new film, The Brittney Griner Story, with fellow Director Laura Belsey in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses her process of shooting master interviews first to find a foundation for her story, interviewing former President Joe Biden, and how she obtained footage of Russian prisons.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows WNBA star Brittney Griner, who, while playing abroad in Russia, was seized and placed into detention. Fighting for freedom, she is finally released and makes it her mission to help other wrongfully detained Americans seek justice.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/nov2026/docseries_brittneygrinerstory-0926

Director Michael Russell Gunn discusses his new film, The Brink of War, with fellow Director Rawson Marshall Thurber in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses using transcripts from the real event as reference for the film, utilizing the authentic locations and furniture that were used by the figures depicted in the film, and casting Actor Jeff Daniels as the lead from their past working on The Newsroom together.

The film follows U.S. President Ronald Reagan as he races against time to salvage a deal with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that could dismantle nuclear arsenals. With pressure mounting on all sides, every word spoken brings the world closer to peace or to the brink of destruction.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/Events/2026/Oct2026/BrinkOfWar_QnA_0926

Directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss discuss their new film, Teenage Wasteland, with fellow Director Alice Gu in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss poring through 500 hours of archival footage to find the film’s heart, recreating the school’s classroom from the 1990s to make a “portal of recollection”, and taking consideration into finding era-appropriate music for the film.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows a group of 1990s teenagers who made a student documentary about a mysterious brown muck surfacing at the local dump in their town. Thirty years later, they revisit their film and the transformative experience that uncovered a vast conspiracy poisoning their community.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/oct2026/docseries_teenagewasteland-0926

Director Dave Green discuss his new film, Coyote vs. Acme, with fellow Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses the story behind the film’s distribution, his on-set tactics for shooting a mixed live action/animation film, and working with animators from a variety of backgrounds to capture the energy of the Looney Tunes series.

The film tells the story of Wile E. Coyote, who, after decades of enduring catastrophic product failures at the hands of ACME Inc., decides to finally fight back. Teaming up with a billboard accident lawyer, he takes on the company and their slick corporate counsel, exposing a cover-up that’s been blowing him up in the name of profit.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/oct2026/coyotevacme_qna_0826

Director Adam Shankman discuss his new film, Stop! That! Train!, with fellow Director Nzingha Stewart in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how films like Airplane! and Hot Shots! influenced the style of comedy, how shooting limitations led to inventive workarounds, and finding opportunities for a joke in every corner of the film.

The film tells the story of best friend stewardesses Tess and DeeDee, out of a job after their train line is discontinued. After sneaking aboard the luxurious Glamazonian Express where they are constantly upstaged by the snooty first-class crew, a massive storm arises, and they must all work together to prevent disaster.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/august2026/stopthattrain_qna_0626

Director Michael Sarnoski discuss his new film, The Death of Robin Hood, with fellow Director Drew Pearce in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses juxtaposing themes of violence and serenity for a fresh take on the Robin Hood myth, how he worked with Actor Hugh Jackman when filming gritty setpieces and action scenes, and discovering Composer Jim Ghedi who scored the old folk sound of the film.

The film tells the story of the famed thief, grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder. Finding himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last, he ends up in the hands of a mysterious woman and is offered an opportunity at salvation.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/august2026/thedeathofrobinhood_qna_0626

Director Olivia Wilde discuss her new film, The Invite, with fellow Directors Matt and Ross Duffer in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angles. In the conversation, she discusses choosing the project from a want to tell a stripped down story with no gloss, her roles Directing and Acting in the film, and the origin of Actor Edward Norton’s memorable monologue.

The film tells the stories of Joe and Angela - their marriage on thin ice - as they decide to invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors over for a dinner party. As the event unfolds, the night spirals into unexpected places, potentially reigniting the spark in their marriage or lighting the match that could burn it all down.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/august2026/theinvite_qna_0626

Director Julian Schnabel discuss his new film, In the Hand of Dante, with fellow Director Benny Safdie in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses his spontaneous approach to his directing style, casting Actors in double roles between the film’s two time periods, and his choice to shoot the two settings in a mixture of black and white and color film.

Based on the 2002 novel by Nick Tosches, the film tells the story of a 21st Century scholar, on the run after stealing a rumored original manuscript of The Divine Comedy from a mafia don. Meanwhile, in the 14th Century, Dante himself navigates political exile and undergoes a spiritual awakening while trying to write his masterpiece.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/august2026/inthehandofdante_qna_0626

Director Simon McQuoid discuss his new film, Mortal Kombat II, with fellow Director David Sandberg in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he worked with the stunt team to make the action scenes advance the story, his preference for practical sets and effects where he could use them, and referencing the video game to fill in little details in the lore across the film.

The sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat follows Johnny Cage, a martial arts actor who is recruited to join a group of fighters in an interdimensional tournament. Fighting against supernatural foes and alien warriors alike, he moves up in the ranks, aiming to stop a tyrannical emperor who threatens the very existence of Earth.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/july2026/mortalkombatii_qna_0526

Director Kyle Balda discuss his new film, The Sheep Detectives, with fellow Director Jonathan Goldstein in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses making the jump from animation directing to live-action directing for the first time, carefully balancing the tone with humor while handling themes of grief, and studying the movement of real sheep to recreate body language that could be used in the visual effects.

The film tells the story of a shepherd named George, whose only friends are the sheep to which each night he reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending that they can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep suspect murder, and attempt to guide a bumbling policeman into solving the crime.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/july2026/sheepdetectives_qna_0526

Directors Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff discuss their new film, Give Me The Ball!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss collaborating with Billie Jean King to open up about some of the more intimate and uncomfortable moments of her life, reflecting on Billie Jean’s impact through her 1970s archival materials compared to her modern day interview, and working as a co-directing pair for the first time.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film takes a look at world champion tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King and her game-changing impact on culture and sports. Rare archive footage and candid interviews reveal how one woman put changing the world ahead of saving herself.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/june2026/docseries_givemetheball-0526

Director Mariska Hargitay and Producer Trish Adlesic discuss their new film, My Mom Jayne, with fellow Director Lisa Cortés in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, they discuss how Mariska knew she was ready to take on the film, working with 18,000 photos and 2,500 videos worth of archival materials, and how Mariska came to learn more of the mother who was gone too soon.

The film navigates Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield’s public and private legacy through interviews, and a collection of never-before-seen photos and home movies as Hargitay sought to know, understand and embrace her mother for the first time.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/june2026/docseries_mymomjayne-0426

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller discuss their new film, Project Hail Mary, with fellow Director Guillermo del Toro in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss finding depth in their characters by trying to see the good intentions is everyone including antagonists, the casting and puppeteering processes that helped realize the alien character of Rocky, and bringing their philosophy of trying to make encouraging films to this feature.

The film tells the story of scientist Ryland Grace, who wakes up on a spaceship as part of a desperate mission to stop the Earth’s sun from dying. On his own and millions of miles from home, he has a chance meeting with an alien on the same mission, forming a friendship that may prove to be the key to success.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/june2026/projecthailmary_qna_0426

Director Visar Morina discusses his new film, Shame and Money, with fellow Director Valerie Weiss in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses how he experiments with scenes and leaves time for discovering natural moments on set, some of his filmic influences that contributed to specific scenes, and his strategic use of staging and tension in the film.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Global Cinema Series, the film tells the story of Shaban, a proud family man struggling to provide as financial pressures mount. Embarrassed about accepting the support of his family, he faces tough choices about pride versus survival.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://www.dga.org/events/2026/june2026/gcs-shameandmoney_0426