Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Monday 17 March 2025

Ten30 Pictures eyes Africa’s A24, The Traitors thrives, Four Seasons wins with White Lotus, top directors return, Joburg Film Fest highlights, AI policy debated, and LumoTV backs deaf creatives.

Today’s Highlights:

• Ten30 Pictures Aims to Be Africa’s A24 With Netflix’s ‘GO!’ - Kutlwano Ditsele’s Ten30 Pictures launches GO! on March 21, a six-part Netflix series about a young sprinter, aiming to establish itself as “the A24 of Africa” with a $1 million budget.

• Alan Cumming Elevates Reality TV with The Traitors - Alan Cumming’s theatrical hosting style and extravagant outfits add to the success of The Traitors, a reality competition set in a Scottish castle filled with deception and strategy.

• Four Seasons’ Strategic Partnership with The White Lotus - Four Seasons Hotels’ properties in Maui, Taormina, and Koh Samui have gained popularity thanks to their prominent use in HBO’s The White Lotus, despite its dark themes.

• Major Directors Return to Filmmaking in 2025 - Acclaimed directors Lynne Ramsay, Kathryn Bigelow, Derek Cianfrance, Paul Greengrass, and Paul Thomas Anderson are set to make long-awaited comebacks with new projects this year.

• Raoul Peck’s Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Spotlights Apartheid-Era Photography - Raoul Peck’s documentary restores the legacy of South Africa’s first Black freelance photographer, Ernest Cole, whose work exposed the brutal realities of apartheid.

• Winners at the 7th Joburg Film Festival - Julian Chou’s Blind Love won Best Feature Film, while Ernest Cole: Lost and Found and Happy: The True Happy Sindane Story were recognised for their powerful African storytelling.

• Key Takeaways from the 2025 Joburg Film Festival - The festival and JBX Market focused on Africa’s role in global storytelling, addressing AI, copyright, gender parity, and cross-border collaborations in the film industry.

• Create London Explores the Future of the Creator Economy - The April 30 summit will feature industry leaders discussing brand partnerships, AI’s impact, and funding models in the creator economy, projected to hit $480 billion by 2027.

• TV Academy Governor Calls for Leadership in AI Policy - At the March 15 AI Summit, TV Academy governor Eric Shamlin urged industry leaders to collaborate with unions and guilds to develop ethical AI policies that protect creative roles.

• LumoTV Launches 2025 Drama Commissioning Round for Deaf Creatives - LumoTV is commissioning drama projects for Deaf BSL users, offering up to £320K per episode, with submissions open until May 24.

Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, Opportunities & Jobs with ITV, Little Dot, Netflix & Screen Ireland.

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INSIGHTS

Ten30 Pictures Aims to Be Africa’s A24 With Netflix’s ‘GO!’

Kutlwano Ditsele’s Ten30 Pictures debuts GO!, a Netflix original series launching globally on March 21. Centred on a young sprinter navigating personal struggles, the six-part show marks Ditsele’s TV return. Aspiring to transform Ten30 into “the A24 of Africa,” Ditsele emphasises fostering unique local voices. With a $1 million budget and private investors, GO! showcases the studio’s ambition to blend ownership and creativity, charting a bold path for African storytelling. Read More

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Alan Cumming Elevates Reality TV with 'The Traitors'

Blending camp, satire, and drama, the hit competition features scheming contestants in a Scottish castle and is hosted by the ever-charming Alan Cumming. With his theatrical flair and over-the-top outfits, Cumming adds to the show’s genius. It’s a perfect recipe for obsession—causing viewers to text their friends, “You HAVE to watch this!” Reality TV has truly upped its game. Read More

How Four Seasons Struck Gold With HBO's The White Lotus

Four Seasons Hotels embraced a risky yet rewarding partnership with HBO's The White Lotus, featuring their luxury resorts as backdrops for the drama’s tales of murder and privilege. Despite the show's dark themes, properties in Maui, Taormina, and Koh Samui have drawn rising interest and bookings. The collaboration has proven a masterstroke, intertwining prestige and intrigue to elevate the brand’s global allure. Read More​

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​Renowned Directors Return to Filmmaking in 2025

Lynne Ramsay, Kathryn Bigelow, Derek Cianfrance, Paul Greengrass, and Paul Thomas Anderson are making long-awaited comebacks this year. Extensive absences often spark intrigue in a fast-paced industry; these filmmakers are no exception. Their return promises compelling new projects, rekindling excitement for their distinctive storytelling and creativity. Read More

What I Learned From My Comedy Going Viral Overnight

From giant mobile phones to surreal pranks, Dom Joly goes behind the scenes of the cult hidden-camera show that changed UK comedy forever.

Raoul Peck on Ernest Cole: Lost and Found | BFI Q&A

Raoul Peck's Ernest Cole: Lost and Found is an intimate documentary about South Africa's first Black freelance photographer. Through Cole's fearless work exposing apartheid's brutal realities and his sacrifices, Peck masterfully restores his legacy. This powerful portrait combines Cole's evocative images with archival material, underscoring his enduring impact on the fight for justice and human rights.