Get ready, film fanatics! Variety's highly anticipated Directors on Directors, sponsored by Klimon, is back, and it's bringing together some of the most brilliant minds in cinema. This year's lineup promises to be an absolute goldmine of insights, featuring intimate conversations with the directors behind some of the most talked-about films of the year.
This year's impressive roster includes:
- Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein) & Bradley Cooper (Is This Thing On?)
- Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water) & Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain)
- Ryan Coogler (Sinners) & Spike Lee (Highest 2 Lowest)
- Chloé Zhao (Hamnet) & Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
Variety's co-president and co-editor-in-chief, Ramin Setoodeh, shared his excitement, stating, "Coming off our biggest Actors on Actors ever, these Directors on Directors conversations will continue to surprise and engage film fans around the world. The best way to kick off awards season in 2026 is through our latest video series."
The conversations will be released from January 5th to 8th across Variety.com and its social media channels. The print issue of Directors on Directors will be available on December 31st.
Over the years, Directors on Directors has become a must-watch for cinephiles, attracting the industry's biggest names. Past participants include the likes of James Cameron, Denis Villeneuve, Greta Gerwig, Luca Guadagnino, Ava DuVernay, Michael Mann, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Sean Baker.
But here's where it gets exciting: Directors on Directors follows the heels of Variety's record-breaking Actors on Actors season. The previous season, which debuted on CNN's new streaming platform, generated over 247 million social video views! The series featured captivating interviews with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande and Adam Sandler, Julia Roberts and Sean Penn, Dwayne Johnson and Brendan Fraser, Alexander and Stellan Skarsgård, Teyana Taylor and Oscar Issac, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jacob Elordi, and many more.
What do you think? Will this year's Directors on Directors live up to the hype? Which pairings are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
