Contenders Film: Los Angeles photo studio hosted talent on November 15 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, as cast members of films stopped by. The day saw a massive turnout, featuring stars such as Sydney Sweeney (Christy), Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater (Blue Moon), and Rami Malek, along with James Vanderbilt (Nuremberg).
The international contingent included filmmaker Park Chan-Wook and actor Lee Byung Hun (No Other Choice), and the team behind Sentimental Value that included director Joachim Trier and cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. Also in attendance were director Joseph Kosinski (F1), Producer Allan Mandelbaum, Cinematographer Malik Hassan Sayeed, and Casting Director Jessica Ronane (After The Hunt), Isamu Imakake (Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World), and director Ryan Coogler (Sinners).
The afternoon portion of the Contenders event will begin with Guillermo del Toro being honored with the Contenders Hall of Fame Award. Following the tribute, the program will feature Director Neeraj Ghaywan and actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa (Homebound). They will be followed by Writer/Director/Producer Scott Cooper and Producers Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Eric Robinson (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere). Rounding out the afternoon, the creative team behind Hedda—Writer/Director/Producer Nia DaCosta, Producer/Actor Tessa Thompson, and Production Designer Cara Brower—will close the program.
Scroll down to view the portraits.