Dear Members:
As we enter 2026, we do so with gratitude for how far we have come, and determination for the work still ahead. The past year tested our industry in both familiar and new ways. The LA fires and continued decline in global production over the past year are a sobering reminder of how fragile our industry can be, but they also reinforce what we in Guild leadership already know: the strength of our community lies in our unity, resilience, and shared purpose.
It’s no secret that the last several years have reshaped the entertainment landscape. From the aftershocks of the pandemic, to the impact of the strikes, to rapid technological changes, the challenges we have been facing together have been immense. But even in the face of adversity, we have been able to achieve major milestones that will have lasting benefits for our members — starting with the expansion of key tax incentive programs.
The long overdue modernization and expansion of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit, the renewal of the New York Film Tax Credit program and the improvements in the programs in other states including Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois, were critically important wins and the result of years of persistent advocacy by the DGA and our labor partners. And the effects of these programs are already paying off. Productions are returning. Feature films and series that might have gone elsewhere are now being made here at home. And that means jobs for our members and for the crews, craftspeople, and communities that make our dynamic production centers throughout the U.S. thrive.
Together, these programs demonstrate what can be achieved when labor and government work in partnership to keep our industry strong from coast to coast. But while these victories are critical, they are part of a larger mission: to ensure that DGA members can build sustainable, creative careers in an ever-changing landscape.
The battleground now moves to Washington. With more international locations offering generous production incentives, our legislative team is working on the federal front to level the playing field, pushing for a national incentive that when stacked with the state incentives, will keep the U.S. at the forefront of film and television production. Our industry is one of America’s most powerful cultural exports and sustaining it is vital not only for our members, but for the nation’s creative leadership in the world.
As we enter a negotiations year, our focus remains squarely on protecting the pillars of economic and creative rights for Directors and directorial team members. That means fighting for an environment where jobs can flourish, wages and residuals are strengthened, and your comprehensive health and pension benefits are protected. Our Health Plan is not immune to the health care crisis confronting our nation, as evidenced by its role in the longest federal government shutdown in history. Medical expenses continue to increase annually by double-digits, prescription drug costs continue to mount, and our nation continues to age. We, like other industry and non-industry health plans, are continuously challenged by this double-digit increase in medical expenses, as well as changes in employment patterns and our own growing retiree population. The Health Plan has run negative for the past two years, and those losses are projected to increase significantly in the future. While the Health Plan presently has significant reserves, stabilizing the Plan for the future is of vital importance and will need to be addressed both in negotiations and through changes in benefits.
We will also need to address the ongoing challenges related to inadequate theatrical windows, the creative and legal issues raised Artificial Intelligence, the contraction in television production, and the ongoing fight related to Studio self-licensing of film and TV programs to their affiliated streaming platforms at below market rates.
We must also remain vigilant in our efforts to enforce existing contracts and ensure that members receive the compensation they are owed. So far this year, DGA efforts through audits, arbitrations, contracts department review and residuals enforcement have secured millions of dollars that studios would not have paid without Guild intervention. When members are compensated fairly for their work, it reinforces the principle that creative labor has lasting value.
As we close 2025, we want to once again extend our deepest gratitude to Lesli Linka Glatter, whose four years as DGA President were defined by vision, strength, and a tireless commitment to the membership. Lesli’s legacy is one of collaboration, inclusion, and a deep respect for the craft of directing. As we look ahead, we are confident that together with the dedication of our National Board, Councils, and staff, we will be able to create for the Guild and our members a new era of progress.
The year ahead will mark the Guild’s 90th anniversary — a remarkable milestone that reminds us of the courage and conviction of those who first stood up for their craft. Their efforts built the foundation of fairness and solidarity that continues to define who we are.
Thank you for your continued trust, your resilience, and your dedication to the art and craft of storytelling. Together, we will meet the challenges of 2026 with the same creativity, strength, and solidarity that have defined the DGA for nearly a century.
Sincerely,
Christopher Nolan Russell Hollander
DGA President National Executive Director
