TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 9 January 2025
Athens hosts European Film Awards 2027; LA wildfires halt TV shoots; AI reshapes TV; Holes series, The Partner film greenlit; Pakistan’s Glassworker eyes Oscars; NBC, Nexstar renew deal.
Today’s Highlights:
European Film Awards Head to Athens for 2027 Gala - The 39th European Film Awards will be held in Athens, highlighting Greece’s growing film industry and its competitive 40% tax rebate scheme.
Los Angeles Wildfires Halt Filming for Major Productions - Wildfires in Los Angeles have paused filming for numerous TV shows, including Hacks, Grey’s Anatomy, and NCIS, with widespread destruction reported.
Pakistani Animation Breakthrough: The Glassworker - Pakistan’s first 2D animated feature, The Glassworker, directed by Usman Riaz, is vying for an Academy Award nomination, showcasing the nation’s creative potential.
The Impact of AI on Traditional TV - Generative AI is transforming content creation, challenging traditional TV models and emphasising the need for ethical guidelines and innovative strategies.
Tom Holland to Star in and Produce The Partner - Tom Holland will lead and produce a film adaptation of John Grisham’s legal thriller The Partner, continuing Grisham’s legacy of blockbuster adaptations.
Freelance Producer Warns of UK TV Commissioning Crisis - Francine Jarvis highlights challenges in UK TV, including shrinking budgets and tighter schedules, urging a pivot to digital platforms for sustainability.
Endemol Shine North America Thrives with Unscripted Hits - Despite industry challenges, Endemol Shine North America excelled with hits like MasterChef, Deal or No Deal Island, and plans for new talent competitions.
Holes TV Series Pilot Ordered by Disney+ - Disney+ has greenlit a pilot for a reimagined Holes TV series, bringing the classic novel to a new generation of audiences.
Glen Powell's Barnstorm Signs First-Look Deal with Universal - Glen Powell’s production banner, Barnstorm, signed a first-look deal with Universal following the success of Twisters, indicating a bright future in storytelling.
NBCUniversal and Nexstar Renew Multi-Year Affiliate Agreement - NBCUniversal renewed a multi-year deal with Nexstar, ensuring NBC content reaches over 14 million U.S. households, reflecting continued media partnership trends.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with NBCUniversal, ITV, Prime, Roku & Netflix.
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NEWS
European Film Awards Head to Athens for 2027 Gala
The 39th European Film Awards will be held in Athens, home to EFA-winning director Yorgos Lanthimos, on January 16, 2027, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. This marks the awards’ first appearance in southeastern Europe. Announced by the European Film Academy and Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre, the event will highlight Greece’s growing film industry and its competitive 40% tax rebate scheme. Read More
Los Angeles Wildfires Halt Filming for Major Productions
Ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles have paused filming for several TV productions, including Hacks, Grey’s Anatomy, Suits: LA, and NCIS. Studios like Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros. have shut down operations, impacting shows such as Loot, The Price Is Right, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! Fires remain at 0% containment, spreading over 7,000 acres, with over 1,000 buildings destroyed and five reported fatalities. Read More
INSIGHTS
SAS: Rogue Heroes Season 2 Delivers Epic WWII Drama with Emotional Depth
Season 2 of SAS: Rogue Heroes moves from North Africa to wartime Europe, focusing on the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. Director Stephen Woolfenden and producer Stephen Smallwood crafted six intense episodes featuring emotional depth, dramatic action, and stunning visuals. Filming spanned Croatia and the UK, including a haunting water sequence shot at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios. The series continues its gripping blend of history, character, and spectacle. Read More
The Ice Cream Man: A Heroic WWII Story Makes Waves at Film Festivals
Robert Moniot’s The Ice Cream Man tells the true story of Ernst Cahn (Noah Emmerich), a Jewish ice cream shop owner who fled Nazi Germany for Amsterdam in 1936. Facing persecution under the brutal officer Klaus Barbie, Cahn must choose between fleeing with his family or resisting Nazi oppression. The Oscar-shortlisted short film has won accolades at festivals, including Best Short Film at the Naples International Film Festival. Read More
Endemol Shine North America Shined in 2024 with Unscripted Hits
Despite challenges in unscripted TV, Endemol Shine North America, led by CEO Sharon Levy, thrived in 2024. The Banijay-owned company delivered Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC, The Summit on CBS, MasterChef and Lego Masters on Fox, and NBC's Deal or No Deal Island. Levy attributes their success to "first-class creative" and plans to expand into talent competitions with Star Academy. Read More
The New Yorker: A Documentary Short Revival
The New Yorker is reshaping the landscape of documentary shorts, with Executive Producer Paul Moakley and Condé Nast VP Sarah Lash curating standout films for its readers and 1 million YouTube subscribers. From Seat 31, spotlighting Montana activist Zooey Zephyr, to Public Defender and Eternal Father, the magazine blends intellectual storytelling with viral-ready content. Editor David Remnick calls it "great storytelling, no matter the form," cementing its role in reviving the overlooked Oscar category. Read More
Freelance Producer Warns of Industry Crisis as UK TV Faces Commissioning Drought
Freelance TV producer Francine Jarvis, known for her work on World War II Secrets From Above and Wheeler Dealers, is transitioning to digital content amid a challenging UK television landscape. In an open letter, Jarvis criticized shrinking budgets, tighter schedules, and mounting pressures that stifle creativity. She highlighted the rise of "bad eggs" exploiting freelancers and called for urgent change. Jarvis urged the industry to embrace digital platforms and prioritize sustainability. Read More
The Impact of AI on Traditional TV: A Paradigm Shift
As generative AI transforms content creation, traditional television faces an existential challenge. Tools like OpenAI's Sora enable cost-effective, high-quality productions, empowering independent creators and threatening established business models. Industry leaders warn of job losses, IP theft, and the erosion of creative roles. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube outpace traditional broadcasters, shifting value from IP ownership to audience engagement. Experts call for ethical guidelines and innovative strategies to survive this digital revolution. Read More
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Pakistani Animation Breakthrough: The Glassworker
The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first feature-length 2D hand-drawn animated film, is making waves globally and vying for a Best Animated Feature nomination at the 97th Academy Awards. Directed by Usman Riaz, the Urdu-language film tells the touching story of a glassblowing apprentice and a violinist navigating young love amid familial opposition and war. Produced over a decade by Mano Animation Studios, it has earned acclaim for its artistry, multilingual reach, and groundbreaking significance for Pakistani cinema. Read More
'Wicked': Cynthia Erivo and Jon M. Chu on Creating Elphaba, the Party Scene and Getting Subversive
Cynthia Erivo and director Jon M. Chu interview each other about the blockbuster adaptation, discussing how they created the character of Elphaba together, subverting expectations with their take on the story, and breaking down the "heartbreaking" party scene.
THR Director Roundtable: Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat, Denis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott & More
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