Phil Lord and Chris Miller will deliver the keynote conversation at IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking Summit on October 17, offering a behind-the-scenes look at "Project Hail Mary," the Amazon MGM release that stands among 2026's biggest success stories.

The longtime collaborators directed and produced the film, which combined sci-fi spectacle, puppetry, and what IndieWire describes as "a classic Ryan Gosling performance into something truly unique." The film gave the industry "a much-needed spark of hope that quality blockbusters are still capable of finding massive audiences," according to the publication.

At the summit, Lord and Miller plan to break down how they made "the most difficult movie in a career filled with difficult movies" and offer lessons that other filmmakers can take away from their process.

The pairing has spent 25 years building one of Hollywood's most distinctive careers, spanning animation and live action across film and television. Their animation work began with the cult TV series "Clone High" in 2002. They went on to earn widespread acclaim for directing "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" and "The Lego Movie," and for overseeing the animated "Spider-Verse" franchise.

Their live-action record is equally strong. Credits include "21 Jump Street" and its sequel "22 Jump Street," along with the television series "The Last Man on Earth" and "The Afterparty." Across mediums, the duo has established themselves as, in IndieWire's assessment, "some of Hollywood's preeminent filmmakers."

IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking Summit will take place at Penske Media's headquarters at Lumen West LA. The all-day event features panels and networking opportunities built around the ideas, people, technology, and skills shaping contemporary storytelling.

Additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks, meaning the full summit lineup — beyond the Lord and Miller keynote — remains to be filled out before October 17.