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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Director David Lowery discusses his new film, Mother Mary, with fellow Director Antonio Campos in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses how the project was born from a desire to shoot a one-room film, the choreography behind the seance scene, and his influences in costume and production design that set the groundwork for the film.

The film tells the story of iconic pop star Mother Mary as she reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam. In need of a dress for her new tour, Mary asks Sam to help her, causing long-buried wounds, past traumas and specters to return to the spotlight.

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https://www.dga.org/events/2026/may2026/mothermary_qna_0426

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett discuss their new film, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, with fellow Director Jorma Taccone in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss casting Actor Kathryn Newton alongside Samara Weaving, how they film a lot of coverage in the kill sequences for story options in the edit, and their intentional methods of directing that allow them to strike a balance between comedy and horror in the final product.

This sequel to the 2019 feature Ready or Not finds Grace, the lone survivor of the first film, discovering that she’s trapped in the next level of the nightmarish game - this time with her sister along for the ride.

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https://www.dga.org/events/2026/may2026/readyornot2_qna_0326

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal discusses her new film, The Bride!, with fellow Director Greta Gerwig in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, she discusses the influence of 1930s cinema on the film’s themes, using dance sequences as a medium for her characters to express complicated emotions, and working with her Costume Designer to create striking looks for the cast.

Set in an alternate 1930’s Chicago, the film follows Ida, a murdered woman brought back to life to be the monster Frankenstein’s companion. Ida’s second chance sparks a whirlwind of romance, police interest, and radical social change.

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https://www.dga.org/events/2026/may2026/thebride_qna_0326

Directors Carl Deal, Tia Lessin and the film’s subject, Amy Goodman discuss their new film, Steal This Story, Please!, with fellow Director Ondi Timoner in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, the filmmakers discuss the structure of the film as a way to get to know Amy before her work, how the filmmakers originally met Amy, and the relevance of Democracy Now! in a modern corporate news landscape.

Screened as part of the DGA’s Documentary Series, the film follows Goodman as she becomes a leader in the movement for independent media. Set against some of the most consequential stories of our time, Goodman works to amplify voices excluded from the mainstream and faces off against forces trying to silence her.

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https://www.dga.org/events/2026/april2026/docseries_stealthisstoryplease-0326