TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Weekend 15-16 February 2025
VicScreen nurtures writers; Protagonist expands; Netflix retention woes; Roxburgh leads Greste film; AI reshapes media; Festival cuts hit; Beta acquires Shattered Bonds; Lyonne, Amirpour adapt horror
Today’s Highlights:
VicScreen’s Originate Series Selects First Eight Participants—VicScreen has chosen eight participants for its Originate Series, which provides writers' room experience and mentorship to develop screenwriting talent in Victoria.
Protagonist Pictures Expands Production and Financing—Protagonist Pictures is shifting beyond sales to become a "greenlight partner," launching new projects and expanding its financing efforts.
Netflix Faces Challenges with Audience Retention: Netflix struggles to retain audiences for returning series—most shows' viewership declines due to long gaps and cancellation concerns.
Richard Roxburgh to Star in Peter Greste Film - Richard Roxburgh will portray journalist Peter Greste in a film about his wrongful imprisonment in Egypt and its impact on press freedom.
How AI is Transforming the Media Industry - AI is revolutionising media production by automating workflows, enhancing content discovery, and enabling OTT platforms to repurpose archives.
Festival Funding Cuts and Rising Costs Threaten Global Events—Budget cuts force programming and operational changes at major film festivals, including the Berlinale, facing financial challenges.
Beta Film Acquires Bulgarian Drama Shattered Bonds - Beta Film has secured global rights for Shattered Bonds, a drama exploring fractured parent-child relationships, ahead of Berlinale’s Series Market.
Natasha Lyonne and Ana Lily Amirpour Developing Basketful of Heads - Natasha Lyonne and Ana Lily Amirpour are adapting Basketful of Heads, a horror comic about a supernatural axe that keeps victims’ heads alive.
Netflix Explores Video Podcasts for Creator Economy—Netflix is considering launching video podcasts to expand its content offerings and boost engagement for its ad-supported tier.
DC’s Clayface in Development, Directors Shortlisted - DC Studios is considering Jeff Wadlow and James Watkins to direct Clayface, a horror-thriller film slated for a 2026 release.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with BBC, Amazon, MUBI, ABC, WBD, Alloy, NBCUniversal, A+E, Disney & Netflix.
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NEWS
VicScreen’s Originate Series Selects First Eight Participants for Writers’ Development Program
VicScreen has named eight participants for its Originate Series program, which provides hands-on writers' room experience and industry mentorship. The group was selected from 150 applicants who had completed UCLA’s Writing for Television course, developed pilot scripts, and worked with top Australian production companies. They will now take on industry placements to further develop their skills. The initiative aims to nurture emerging screenwriting talent in Victoria. Read More
INSIGHTS
John Magaro Talks ‘Köln 75,’ Indie Film Journey, and Influence of James Gandolfini
John Magaro, known for First Cow and Past Lives, stars as jazz legend Keith Jarrett in Köln 75, premiering at Berlinale. Magaro, who describes himself as a “working-class actor,” credits James Gandolfini for his career and continues to thrive in indie cinema. Recently seen in September 5 and The Agency, he remains drawn to strong scripts over mainstream roles. Read More
Protagonist Pictures Expands Production and Financing Capabilities
Protagonist Pictures is evolving beyond sales into a key industry “greenlight partner,” say execs Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, and James Pugh. The company, known for The Brutalist and The Outrun, is ramping up production and financing initiatives. At EFM, it’s launching sales for Die by Night, Rose of Nevada, Night House, and One More Shot while screening Jimpa and Islands for international buyers. Read More
Canada’s Elevation Pictures Expands with International Co-Productions
Canadian indie powerhouse Elevation Pictures is expanding its production slate, aiming to produce three to five features and one series annually. Upcoming projects include “Rapture,” a medieval horror film set in a remote English monastery, co-produced with US-based 2AM, and “Heather of the Valley,” an ensemble comedy described as “Bridesmaids meets Outlander,” directed by Sheri Elwood. Additionally, Elevation is collaborating with White Horse Pictures on “Lilith Fair,” a documentary about the all-women music festival co-founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan and produced by Dan Levy. Co-founder and co-president Noah Segal emphasises the company’s strategy to leverage Canadian subsidies and international partnerships to create commercially viable films with global appeal. Read More
Christine Langan on Hot Milk and the Launch of Bonnie Productions
Christine Langan, former CEO of Baby Cow and creative director at BBC Film, established Bonnie Productions in 2020. Her inaugural project, “Hot Milk,” is an adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The film stars Fiona Shaw and Emma Mackey as a mother and daughter who journey to a Spanish seaside town seeking treatment for the mother’s mysterious illness. Despite challenges, including financing difficulties and a location shift from Spain to Greece due to budget constraints, the film was completed with support from partners like Film4 and Greek co-producer Heretic. “Hot Milk” premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival. Read More
Richard Roxburgh Stars in Film About Peter Greste’s Imprisonment
Australian actor Richard Roxburgh portrays journalist Peter Greste in a new film about Greste’s time in an Egyptian prison. The movie explores press freedom, wrongful imprisonment, and the personal toll on journalists caught in political conflicts. Read More
Netflix Faces Challenges with Audience Retention for Returning Shows
Netflix is struggling to grow audiences for its returning series, with Bridgerton being the only one to see an increase (13%) in viewership. Other shows have seen steep declines, including The Umbrella Academy (-36%), The Diplomat (-37%), and That ’90s Show (-79%). Critics cite long gaps between seasons and audience reluctance to invest in shows that might get cancelled. A Forbes report highlighted how production timelines have changed, with even non-VFX-heavy shows like The Diplomat taking over a year to produce, contrasting with the past era of 22-episode annual runs. This has sparked nostalgia for longer, more consistent series, possibly hinting at a shift in industry trends. Read More
Netflix Explores Video Podcasts to Expand Creator Economy
Netflix is considering video podcasts to diversify content and engage with the creator economy. With platforms like YouTube thriving in this space, the move could offer cost-effective programming and boost ad inventory for Netflix’s ad-supported tier. The strategy aims to attract younger audiences and expand beyond traditional films and series, reinforcing Netflix’s push into new content formats. Read More
Researchers Uncover YouTube’s Hidden Statistics with Random Video Scraper
A team led by Ethan Zuckerman at the University of Massachusetts developed a program that randomly generates YouTube URLs to uncover hidden platform statistics. Their research estimates YouTube hosts over 14.8 billion videos, a 60% increase since 2022. Findings challenge assumptions about content, revealing most videos come from non-professionals. Google remains secretive about YouTube's true scale, reinforcing transparency and platform influence concerns. Read More
Hot Milk, Starring Emma Mackey, Premieres at Berlin Film Festival
Emma Mackey stars alongside Vicky Krieps in Hot Milk, which is set to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. The film, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, explores a complex mother-daughter relationship and has been highly anticipated for its powerful performances. Read More
How AI is Transforming the Media Industry
The media industry is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by the need to streamline workflows, cut costs, and boost production. Generative AI (Gen AI) and multimodal AI are revolutionising storytelling by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing content discovery, and unlocking new revenue streams. AI-driven media logging dramatically reduces search times, while advanced indexing enables networks to monetise vast archives. This shift is also reshaping OTT platforms, allowing them to compete with streaming giants by repurposing legacy content into fresh, engaging formats. However, AI adoption requires strategic implementation and skilled personnel to maximise its potential. Read More
Is the UK TV Commissioning System Still Working for Producers in 2025?
In the latest TellyCast episode, host Justin Crosby discusses the challenges of the UK TV commissioning process with ex-Discovery exec Ed Sayer and an anonymous indie producer. They explore rising costs, shrinking mid-range programming, IP rights struggles, and whether producers should turn to self-funding. Are commissioners still taking risks, or is the system broken?
Memoir of a Snail writer-director Adam Elliot | BFI Q&A
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