Filmmaker Warren Elgort steps behind the lens for a deeply personal project, Arthur Elgort: Models & Muses—a documentary chronicling the life and artistry of his father, the legendary fashion photographer whose candid, movement-filled images transformed Vogue and the world of fashion photography. Ahead of its premiere at the 2025 Hamptons International Film Festival, Elgort reflects on family, filmmaking, and what it means to bring his father’s story home to the Hamptons.
This film feels deeply personal—not just as a portrait of a legendary photographer, but as a son capturing his father’s story. What inspired you to turn the camera on Arthur, and how did your relationship shape the storytelling process?
Arthur Elgort is the photographer whose candid, movement-driven style transformed the pages of Vogue and redefined the look of modern fashion photography. He also happens to be my father. He would bring me along on jobs when they needed a child in the story. He published a book called Camera Ready: How to Shoot Your Kids. My siblings and I were all basically trained from birth to be great models, which meant I got to know him in a professional setting too. I was studying film in 2021 when my dad was diagnosed with lymphoma, so his deteriorating health was a time lock for completing the film. Making the film also became an excuse for me to spend more time with dad. I watched every film made by children of famous artists, including My Architect, The Salt of the Earth, My Father the Genius, and Tell Them Who You Are. I liked the feeling of these films as opposed to more informational, retrospective documentaries. I hope my personal approach adds an emotional layer, which hopefully will help people come to love or at least be intrigued by his character.
Arthur Elgort’s photography changed the language of fashion, bringing movement, humor, and real life into the frame. How did you approach translating that same spontaneity into film?
We approached cinematography the way Arthur Elgort photographs—natural light and with our camera constantly rolling from the time we walk in the door. Usually with my dad’s preferred focal length of 50mm. Our crew was incredibly small, often just me with my camera and a lav mic, which helped create a relaxed atmosphere. There was one day where we had more people on set, but otherwise we limited crew to three people, including me.
The documentary features remarkable voices like Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley. Was there a moment in those interviews that shifted how you understood your father’s impact?
Those two interviews both really elevate the film. They were at very different points in production. The interview with André Leon Talley was conducted over the phone in late 2021 when the film was still in its infancy. He played very hard to get. I called him every week for five months. Each time he would pick up the phone right away, we’d have a little chat, and then he would ask me to call him back the following week. He finally let me interview him over the phone, which was an experience I’ll always treasure. His singular voice adds so much to the narration of the film. He made me realize that aside from all the fashion, my father’s entire body of work—which includes dance, rodeo, jazz, and even real people—is singular. There might have been other photographers who were more popular in their day at one thing, but my father’s work reaches way beyond. Plus, the joy in his photography is unmatched. There’s also footage of what might be André’s first interview predating his tenure at Vogue, courtesy of Peter Kagan (a former assistant of my father’s). By the time I interviewed Anna Wintour for our final interview of the film this year, the film was near completion and I had a much better understanding of my father and his legacy. One particularly special aspect of our time together was how Anna spoke to his character instead of just to his photography. It seems like my dad connected with everyone across the board personally and not just professionally.
Family legacy is at the heart of this project, with you and your wife Emma both involved. What was it like collaborating creatively as a couple to tell such a personal story?
Over the years we’ve spent so much time individually working on separate projects, so this was an opportunity for us to have a better understanding of what the other is doing all the time. Making a film requires an endless amount of time and energy, and there’s no one I would rather spend it with than my wife. Plus, she’s spent her entire career working at Amblin Entertainment, so she was a real value add to our small production.
What does it mean to debut Models & Muses at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and how does the Hamptons fit into the Elgort family’s creative world?
I interned at this festival ten years ago and always dreamt of having one of my own films screen at HIFF. This is a very full circle moment for not only me but for my dad as well. He was married on the deck of his house in 1982 in Southampton, NY when the street was just a dirt road. Many of his collaborators are out in the Hamptons so it’s fun they will be able to join for the showings in East Hampton and Southampton. These days, you’ll often find my dad shooting in his backyard at the house or having lunch at Sip’n Soda, so he’s not complaining about the commute.
How has your background behind the camera influenced the way you framed your father’s life and artistry?
There’s a level of comfort I inherently have around cameras and storytelling. Not just because my dad is a photographer but because I also grew up watching countless classic films. Just last night we were talking about Lawrence of Arabia. All this to say, I think I’m able to be very casual in my approach, which I feel also elicits a more relaxed interview from my subjects—much like an Arthur Elgort photograph.
What do you hope audiences take away from Arthur Elgort: Models & Muses after seeing it?
Without a doubt, people will learn more about Arthur Elgort’s photography, but I hope an audience will also be seduced by the romantic, inspiring way my father sees and interacts with the world.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Something else exciting about this film is the audience will experience never-before-seen footage behind the making of these iconic photographs. I’ve always loved looking at my father’s contact sheets as well, which shows not just the chosen pictures but all the misses as well. The film truly is a peek behind the curtain of not only these images but also the private life of Arthur.
