Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Wednesday 28 May 2025
Australian screen funding crisis deepens; Texas and Brazil invest big; new Harry Potter cast revealed; Canal+ dominates Cannes; stories fuel sustainability, creativity, and global appeal.
Today’s Highlights:
SPA Urges Action as Local Drama and Kids’ TV Investment Plummets – Screen Producers Australia warns that ongoing funding declines threaten the future of meaningful Australian storytelling.
Texas Approves Major Boost to Film and TV Incentives Through 2035 – Texas commits $1.5 billion over 10 years to attract productions with new long-term incentives of up to 31%.
Brazil Emerges as Global Powerhouse in FAST Growth and CTV Monetisation – Brazil is projected to become the second-largest international FAST market by 2029, driving Latin America’s streaming surge.
Wake in Fright Development Initiative Launches to Support Australian Thriller and Horror Scripts – AACTA and partners offer $30,000 grants to support the next generation of Australian genre writers.
BBC Studios Stunned by Awards Snub Despite Record-Breaking Season – Despite rising viewership and youth engagement, BBC Studios is baffled by a lack of awards recognition.
Canal+ Group Shines at Cannes with Multiple Awards and Strong Film Slate – Supporting 41 films, Canal+ wins 19 awards at Cannes, reaffirming its leadership in global film production.
Melanie Rowland on Building a Sustainable Indie Production Model – The Flunk creator explains how her team built a globally successful, self-funded indie studio optimised for digital audiences.
HBO Casts Leads for New Harry Potter TV Series – HBO announces new actors for Harry, Ron, and Hermione in its reboot helmed by Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod.
RLJE Films and Shudder Acquire Global Rights to House on Eden – The found-footage horror debut from social media stars will hit theatres globally via RLJE Films and Shudder.
Luca Guadagnino Backs Bold New Voice in Coming-of-Age Drama Diciannove – Guadagnino champions Giovanni Tortorici’s Venice-debuting film about a Sicilian teen navigating identity and academia.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Cancellations, Opportunities & Jobs with BBC, Channel 4, Netflix, Moonbug & Sky in London, Manchester, LA & Munich.
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INSIGHTS
Inside On Call: Bringing Grit and Realism to Prime Video’s Police Drama
Executive producers Tim Walsh and Elliot Wolf reflect on "On Call," a Prime Video crime series filmed in Long Beach that utilises bodycam-style footage to immerse viewers in the daily lives of police officers. Despite long night shoots, both producers agree that it was one of their most rewarding professional experiences, a project that reminded them why they pursued storytelling in the first place. Read More
SPA Urges Action as Local Drama and Kids’ TV Investment Plummets
Screen Producers Australia is calling for urgent government intervention after new data revealed sustained declines in funding for children’s and drama content. Despite a slight increase in kids’ TV investment, SPA says the long-term trend reveals a troubling erosion of support for culturally vital programming, warning that meaningful Australian storytelling is at risk without structural reform. Read More
Virtual Plane-Spotting Takes Off as Global Hobby
From her home in Michigan, Nancy Bliven spends hours watching LAX livestreams, a pastime she shares with her cats. She’s part of a growing global community of virtual plane-spotters who find comfort in high-definition footage of planes taking off and landing, often accompanied by calming commentary, turning a niche hobby into a surprisingly popular, meditative online trend. Read More
Luca Guadagnino Backs Bold New Voice in Coming-of-Age Drama Diciannove
Luca Guadagnino champions rising talent once again with Diciannove, the feature debut from Giovanni Tortorici. Premiered in Venice’s Horizons section, the film follows Leonardo, a headstrong teen from Palermo, as he navigates identity, academia, and inner turmoil after moving to Siena. The unflinching drama hits U.S. theatres July 25, with IndieWire debuting the exclusive trailer. Read More
BBC's Video Nasty Explores 1980s VHS Panic Through Darkly Comic Teen Drama
Set during the 1980s moral panic over banned VHS horror films, Video Nasty follows three Dublin teens on a scheme to profit from the forbidden tapes, only to land in the middle of a murder investigation. Co-produced by Deadpan Pictures and Boat Rocker, the six-part series was inspired by writer Hugh Travers’ own experience with censorship backlash, turning past controversy into a compelling mix of comedy and drama. Read More
Cannes-Winning Duo Returns with Tender Coming-of-Age Drama Summer Beats
After winning Un Certain Regard’s Grand Prix in 2022 with The Worst Ones, French filmmakers Romane Gueret and Lise Akoka return to Cannes with Summer Beats. Set in Southeastern France, the film follows two teenage best friends from a working-class Paris suburb as they navigate a summer of responsibility, self-discovery, and youthful chaos while working at a children’s camp. Read More
Texas Approves Major Boost to Film and TV Incentives Through 2035
Texas is set to allocate $300 million every two years, totalling $1.5 billion over a decade, to attract film and TV productions, following the passage of Senate Bill 22. The revamped incentive, offering up to 31% in cash rebates, marks a significant increase from past funding levels and provides long-term stability for producers eyeing the Lone Star State. Read More
Why Your Stage Needs a Social Presence Before the First Scout
Today’s producers scroll before they schedule. TikTok has replaced trade mags, and Instagram is the new brochure. Your social feed is now the first impression, your silent pitch. At StageRunner, we hear it all the time: “How do I stand out?” The answer? It’s not about showing what's being filmed. It’s about showing who you are. Let your vibe do the talking. Read More
Brazil Emerges as Global Powerhouse in FAST Growth and CTV Monetisation
FAST platforms are booming, and Brazil is leading the charge in Latin America. Already Netflix’s second-largest market outside the U.S., Brazil is projected to become the No. 2 international FAST market by 2029. This rapid growth highlights Brazil’s rising influence in shaping the future of connected TV, according to Omdia’s María Rua Aguete at the Rio2C conference. Read More
BBC Studios Stunned by Awards Snub Despite Record-Breaking Season
BBC Studios is perplexed by a continued awards snub despite one of its longest-running shows delivering standout results. “We’re going into season 34 with rising viewership, massive TikTok engagement, and over 33 million finale votes, unheard of today,” said Ryan O’Dowd, President of Unscripted TV. With its strongest numbers in years and renewed youth interest, the studio's lack of recognition has left it stunned. Read More
Navigating Film Festivals: Why Feeling Lost Means You’re Doing It Right
Film festivals are more than just screenings—they’re a masterclass in networking and industry survival. Whether selling a film or making connections, attendees must be willing to embrace discomfort to learn the ropes. Festival strategies, from reading a room to getting into exclusive events, prove that awkwardness is part of the process. Read More
Severance Season 2 Finale Cold Harbor: Read the Script
Apple TV+’s Severance returned with Season 2’s explosive finale, Cold Harbor, written by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller. The episode delves into Lumon Industries’ mysterious Macrodata Refinement process, revealing the unsettling truth behind the “scary numbers.” With 14 Emmy nominations from Season 1, Severance continues to be a top contender in the awards race. Read More
Jonathan Tropper On ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’, Its Season Finale And Where It Goes From Here
Jonathan Tropper is a screenwriter, producer, creator, showrunner, director, writer, executive producer and author of six novels among other past credits, and is currently the creative force behind the new Apple TV+ series Your Friends & Neighbors, which airs its Season 1 finale May 30. The series stars Jon Hamm as a successful NYC hedge fund executive who collectively loses his job and his wife, and now turns to breaking into his upper-class neighbours’ homes and stealing from them.
‘The Penguin’ Director Jennifer Getzinger: Learn How to Keep Quiet | What No One Tells You
Acclaimed director Jennifer Getzinger (The Penguin, Mad Men) reveals how listening, rather than over-directing, helped her build trust and elevate performances on set with Colin Farrell. In What No One Tells You, she discusses how strategic silence reshaped her approach to collaboration and storytelling.
Melanie Rowland on Building a Sustainable Indie Production Model
Melanie Rowland, co-founder of Lilydale Films, shares how she and her team built a self-sustaining production company that relies on its own resources rather than streamers or broadcasters. Their flagship series, Flunk, has amassed over 200 million views globally, proving the power of direct-to-audience storytelling. Rowland discusses self-funding, community engagement, and optimising for YouTube’s algorithm.
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