TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 4 February 2025
The Brutalist wins top prize; Artful Dodger S2 films in Sydney; Netflix hikes prices; Hollywood shifts abroad; AI reshapes TV; Canada loses gameshows; SBS names First Nations director.
Today’s Highlights:
The Brutalist Wins Top Prize at London Film Critics' Circle Awards – Brady Corbet's The Brutalist took home Film of the Year, with RaMell Ross winning Best Director for Nickel Boys and Ralph Fiennes named Leading Actor for Conclave. Other winners included Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Kieran Culkin, and Daniel Craig.
Disney’s The Artful Dodger Season 2 Begins Filming in Sydney – Production is underway at Sydney’s Callan Park, featuring new sets and locations. The locally produced period drama remains Disney’s top Australian original, earning seven AACTA nominations.
Netflix Raises Subscription Prices Amid Streaming Competition – With 302 million subscribers, Netflix continues to increase prices, leveraging its dominant content library and expanding into gaming and live events to maintain its lead over struggling competitors.
Hollywood Productions Shift Overseas Due to Costs and Incentives – A ProdPro report reveals that Hollywood is filming more projects outside the U.S., favouring tax-friendly locations like Toronto, the U.K., and Australia. California has dropped to the sixth most popular filming destination.
Australian TV Formats Continue Global Success – Bluey dominates U.S. streaming, while Bondi Rescue airs in over 170 territories. Thank God You're Here has been adapted in 24 countries, showcasing the global strength of Australian content.
How AI Is Transforming Factual TV Production – AI is reshaping the industry by improving efficiency in logging, transcriptions, and visual effects, but concerns remain over misinformation and job losses. Initiatives like the Content Authenticity Initiative aim to maintain credibility.
Lack of Tax Incentives Driving Gameshow Productions Away from Canada – Producers are choosing Australia, Ireland, and Georgia over Canadian hubs due to the absence of gameshow tax credits. Industry leaders push for policy changes to retain productions.
Netflix’s The Sand Castle Breaks Records but Struggles in MENA – The Arabic-language film reached Netflix’s Global Top 10 but underperformed in MENA, highlighting regional audience preferences despite its strong critical reception.
Tanya Denning-Orman Appointed Director of First Nations at SBS – A key appointment for Indigenous storytelling, Denning-Orman will lead initiatives to amplify First Nations voices across SBS platforms, reflecting the network’s commitment to Indigenous representation.
Terry Gilliam’s Carnival: At The End Of Days Gains Major Producer – Andrea Iervolino joins as producer, financing and selling the ambitious biblical comedy at Berlin’s European Film Market, with plans for an April shoot in Italy.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities & Jobs with Fremantle, Banijay, Viaplay & Channel 4.
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NEWS
The Brutalist Wins Top Prize at London Film Critics' Circle Awards
Brady Corbet's The Brutalist secured the Film of the Year award at the 2025 London Film Critics' Circle Awards. The film, starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce, explores the experiences of a Hungarian modernist architect in post-World War II America. Other notable winners include RaMell Ross, who received the Best Director award for Nickel Boys, and Ralph Fiennes, who was named Leading Actor for his role in Conclave, which also won British/Irish Film of the Year. Marianne Jean-Baptiste was awarded Actress of the Year for Hard Truths, and Kieran Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain. Daniel Craig was honoured with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film. Read More
INSIGHTS
Disney’s The Artful Dodger Season 2 Begins Filming in Sydney’s Callan Park
Production has begun on season two of The Artful Dodger, Disney’s locally produced period drama, with a Hollywood-style backlot set up at Sydney’s Callan Park. Returning lead Thomas Brodie-Sangster is joined by Australian actors Jeremy Sims, Luke Bracey, and Zac Burgess. The 1850s-set series will feature new sets, including a market square and the port Devil’s Elbow, making Callan Park the central production hub. The Artful Dodger is Disney’s top local original and has been nominated for seven AACTA awards. Read More
Netflix Raises Subscription Prices Amid Intensifying Streaming Competition
Netflix has solidified its dominance, effectively replacing cable with a bundle of high-end TV, films, sports, and reality shows. With 302 million subscribers, the company continues to raise prices simply because it can, leveraging its must-have content and growing live event offerings. Co-CEO Greg Peters sees “long-term monetization” opportunities, pushing users toward its ad-supported plans. As competitors struggle, Netflix expands into gaming and creator-driven content, ensuring its grip on global entertainment. Read More
Hollywood Productions Are Fleeing the U.S. for Cheaper, Tax-Friendly Locations
A new ProdPro report confirms that studio executives are increasingly choosing to film outside the U.S., with Toronto, the U.K., Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia now ranking as the top five preferred locations. California, the highest-ranked U.S. hub, placed sixth. With production budgets shrinking, tax incentives abroad expanding, and industry workers still recovering from recent strikes and wildfires, Hollywood’s dominance is at risk. Calls for aggressive tax incentives are growing, but many fear it may be too little, too late. Read More
Sing J. Lee’s The Accidental Getaway Driver Hits Theatres Two Years After Sundance Debut
Sing J. Lee’s The Accidental Getaway Driver, which won him the Director Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, is finally arriving in cinemas. The drama follows an elderly Vietnamese cab driver, Long (Hiệp Trần Nghĩa), who three escaped convicts in Southern California take hostage. Praised for its tense storytelling and striking cinematography, the film has drawn comparisons to Collateral, with critics calling it a compelling debut from Lee and a showcase for Dustin Nguyen’s layered performance. Read More
Global Sales and Social Channels Help Australian TV Formats Thrive
Australian TV formats thrive globally, with independent producers ensuring content resonates locally and internationally. Hits like Bluey dominate U.S. streaming, while reality shows like Bondi Rescue found success in 170+ territories. Comedy format Thank God You're Here has been adapted in 24 countries. With strong digital revenues and global appeal, Australian producers continue crafting content transcending borders. Read More
How AI Is Reshaping Factual TV: From Production Tool to Industry Game-Changer
AI is reshaping factual TV, which was initially seen as a threat but is now aiding production efficiency. Companies use AI for tasks like logging rushes, transcriptions, and visual effects, while tools like Unreal Engine enhance historical recreations. However, job losses and misinformation risks remain concerns. Efforts like the Content Authenticity Initiative aim to preserve trust in non-fiction content. Producers must balance AI’s benefits with integrity to maintain credibility in the evolving media landscape. Read More
Lack of Tax Credits Pushing Gameshow Production Away from Canada
The absence of tax credits for gameshows in most Canadian provinces is driving productions to other locations like Australia, Ireland, and Georgia, according to industry executives. While Alberta and Quebec offer incentives, major hubs like Ontario and British Columbia do not. Fremantle’s Michela Di Mondo and Insight Productions’ Lindsay Cox argue that updating policies to include gameshows could attract more international projects, boost local production, and help develop Canadian TV stars. Read More
Arabic Film The Sand Castle Breaks Netflix Records, But Struggles in MENA
Netflix’s The Sand Castle made history, landing at #2 on the Global Top 10 Non-English Movies chart in its first three days with 4.8M views. It reached the Top 10 in 33 countries but, surprisingly, only in one MENA nation—Lebanon. Despite stunning cinematography and strong performances, its abstract storytelling may have limited local appeal. With Netflix’s expanded dubbing and subtitling, its staying power remains to be seen. Read More
Dori Media’s Nadav Palti on Format Trends and Global Expansion
Dori Media CEO Nadav Palti highlights the growing reliance on proven formats like Power Couple as broadcasters minimise risk. He notes a resurgence of reboots, such as Lalola, successfully adapted for ViX in 2024. While streamers buy content on a per-territory basis, demand for entertainment formats remains strong. Palti also sees co-productions as key to mitigating risks while expanding internationally. Read More
Rose Ayling-Ellis Joins Doctor Who and Stars in Code of Silence
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her role in EastEnders, is set to appear in Doctor Who and will star in the upcoming ITV drama Code of Silence. In Code of Silence, she portrays a deaf canteen manager who uses her lip-reading skills to assist in a police investigation. These roles mark significant milestones in her career, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Read More
TNT and TBS Shift Strategy with More Unscripted and Sports-Adjacent Content
With TNT losing NBA rights and TBS evolving, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Jason Sarlanis outlined a strategy shift at Realscreen. TBS is testing Foul Play, a prank special with Anthony Davis and Impractical Jokers, while Friday Night Vibes expands to a weekly format. TNT seeks more sports-adjacent content to retain audiences as Wipeout nears its end due to high costs. Read More
Hollywood Pushes to Keep Productions in L.A. as #StayinLA Gains Momentum
As Los Angeles reels from devastating wildfires, the #StayinLA campaign rallies filmmakers and stars to demand greater tax incentives and studio commitments to local production. With over 17,000 supporters, including Keanu Reeves and Bryan Fuller, the initiative seeks to uncap tax credits and increase L.A.-based shoots by 10% over three years. Despite challenges, a $12M tax credit recently secured Suits: LA’s return to the city. Read More
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