TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 13 December 2024
Critics Choice, WBD restructuring, Screenwest funding, Ukraine joins Creative Europe, Czech film incentives, Screen Scotland programs, Netflix docuseries, Morocco at Oscars, Houdini thriller.
Today’s Highlights:
Critics Choice Awards 2025 Nominations—Conclave and Wicked lead with 11 nominations, followed by The Substance for Best Picture and Demi Moore for Best Actress. Chelsea Handler will host the awards on January 12 at the Barker Hangar.
Warner Bros. Discovery Restructures for Potential TV Asset Spinoff - CEO David Zaslav's reorganisation separates global linear TV from streaming and studios, mirroring industry trends and targeting completion by mid-2025.
Screenwest Secures Record A$10.7M Lotterywest Funding - The funding aims to grow Western Australia's screen industry, marking a significant milestone in state support for local productions.
Ukraine Joins Creative Europe’s Media Strand—Ukraine’s integration into Creative Europe enables access to funding for audiovisual projects and enhances collaboration with EU nations.
Czech Republic Increases Film Incentives - New 35% animation rebates and enhanced production incentives position the country as a hub for digital and animation projects.
Screen Scotland’s Talent Development Initiatives—Four new programs, with an annual budget of £1.2M, aim to develop local talent through films that reflect modern Scottish society.
Big Light Productions’ Writers’ Apprenticeship: Drishya Gautham will join the program and focus on international collaboration and series development under Frank Spotnitz.
Netflix’s The Kings of Tupelo is a docuseries that explores the bizarre Ricin letter case, blending Southern oddities with conspiracy theories.
Everybody Loves Touda Represents Morocco at the Oscars—Nabil Ayouch’s film, a Cannes selection, tells a story of rebellion and emancipation and aims for Morocco’s first Oscar nomination.
Disney’s Becoming Houdini—A spy thriller about Harry Houdini's life, blending illusion with espionage, is in development. It will showcase Disney’s exploration of historical storytelling.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, In Development, Deals, Renewals and Jobs with Paramount, Prime, WBD, ITV, & Netflix.
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NEWS
Critics Choice Awards 2025 Nominations Announced
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has announced the first round of film nominees for the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards, with Conclave and Wicked leading the pack with 11 nominations each. The ceremony will occur on January 12 at the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles. Notable nominations include The Substance for Best Picture and Demi Moore for Best Actress. Other nominees include The Brutalist with Adrien Brody and Heretic with Hugh Grant. The awards will be hosted by Chelsea Handler and broadcast live on E! Read More
Warner Bros. Discovery Restructures for Potential Spinoff of TV Assets
Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav, announced a reorganisation of a global linear TV division separate from its streaming and studios division, aiming to enhance flexibility and shareholder value. This follows similar moves by rivals like Comcast and Disney to address the decline in legacy TV networks. WBD expects to complete the reorganisation in mid-2025, positioning itself for growth amid an evolving media landscape. Read More
Screenwest Secures Record A$10.7M Lotterywest Funding
Screenwest has received a record A$10.7M (US$6.8M) from Lotterywest for 2024/25, surpassing last year’s A$9.2M grant. The funding supports the agency’s strategy to grow Western Australia’s screen sector and boost local productions. Lotterywest, Australia’s only state-owned lottery returning all profits to the community, has provided over A$160M in grants to Screenwest across three decades. Read More
Ukraine Joins Creative Europe’s Media Strand
Ukraine has officially joined the Media strand of the Creative Europe programme, enabling its organisations to apply for funding to support film development, content distribution, and innovation in the audiovisual industry. The agreement, signed in Brussels by EU Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, integrates Ukraine’s audiovisual sector into the European ecosystem, promoting cultural diversity and collaboration opportunities. Read More
Czech Republic Increases Film Incentives, Adds Animation Rebate
The Czech government has approved an enhanced production incentive for feature films and series, alongside a new 35% rebate for animation, VFX, and post-production. The Audiovisual Act amendment passed by the Senate on December 11 will take effect on January 1, aiming to bolster the country's appeal as a destination for digital and animation projects. Read More
Screen Scotland Launches Talent Development Initiatives
Screen Scotland has introduced four talent development programmes with a combined annual budget of £1.2M to support Scotland-based writers, directors, and producers. Funded by the Scottish government and the National Lottery, the initiatives include a feature film script development strand focused on scripts reflecting modern Scottish society. This is part of Screen Scotland’s strategy through 2030 to nurture local talent and boost the national film industry. Read More
Big Light Productions Names Drishya Gautham as Writers’ Apprenticeship Recipient
Big Light Productions has selected Drishya Gautham, a writer, director, and creative producer from Goa, India, for its 2025 writers’ apprenticeship program. Gautham, a Serial Eyes graduate and former Prime Video development producer, is developing the Berlin-based horror short Kurkuma. The apprenticeship, led by Frank Spotnitz, offers hands-on writers’ room experience, international collaboration, and series development, marking the program’s eighth year nurturing emerging talent. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Blue Ant Studios’ Ben Barrett on Balancing Risks in TV Financing
Ben Barrett, Blue Ant Studios’ global head of content financing, discusses the challenges of funding TV shows in today’s evolving market, where producers often take risks to greenlight projects with incomplete budgets. Highlighting Northwoods Survival as an example, Barrett explains how early partnerships with platforms like National Geographic and Prime Video helped offset risks. He emphasises leveraging market intel, trusted partnerships, and tax credits to balance creativity with financial sustainability. Read More
Netflix Docuseries, The Kings of Tupelo, Explores Ricin Plot and Southern Oddities
Netflix’s The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga delves into the bizarre 2013 ricin letter case involving karate teacher James Everett Dutschke and Elvis impersonator Paul Kevin Curtis. Filmmakers Chapman and Maclain Way spent over three years in Tupelo uncovering conspiracy theories, local rivalries, and Southern storytelling traditions. The series features Curtis’s discovery of a severed head, launching him into wild conspiracies, making Tiger King comparisons inevitable. Read More
Everybody Loves Touda Represents Morocco for the Oscars
Nabil Ayouch’s Everybody Loves Touda, Morocco’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature, follows Touda, played by Nisrin Erradi, a singer performing in provincial bars while yearning to become a Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan vocalist. Co-written with Ayouch’s wife, Maryam Touzani, the film captures themes of emancipation and rebellion. This marks Ayouch’s third Cannes Official Selection, continuing Morocco's pursuit of its first Oscar nomination since 1977. Read More
Netflix Documentary Daughters Competes for Oscar Shortlist
The award-winning Netflix documentary Daughters, directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, is in contention for the Oscars shortlist. Premiered at Sundance, the film portrays a powerful daddy-daughter dance for incarcerated men in Washington, DC, offering rare moments of connection with their daughters. Inspired by a 12-year-old girl seeking to bond with her father, the film highlights the profound impact of family ties. Read More
Read the Script for Dune: Part Two
Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series highlights Dune: Part Two, the Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures sequel to 2021’s six-time Oscar-winning Dune. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, with a screenplay by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts based on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel, the film has grossed $714 million globally since its March release, building on the first film’s Oscar-nominated writing legacy. Read More
Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan on Australian Scripted Content’s Global Appeal
Deirdre Brennan, CEO of Screen Australia, highlights the distinctiveness of Australian storytelling and its universal appeal, citing successes like Colin from Accounts, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, and Talk to Me. She emphasises Australia’s diverse talent, including established creators like Tony McNamara and emerging voices like Dylan River, whose series Thou Shalt Not Steal premiered at TIFF. Brennan underscores Australia’s role in the evolving global scripted market. Read More
Children’s TV Creators Use Technology to Enhance Accessibility
Fred Rogers Productions has embraced technology to make children’s content more accessible, streaming 8.5 million special episodes with ASL interpretation on the PBS Kids app between July and October. This approach honours Fred Rogers’ vision of nurturing young viewers through television, using modern tools to reach a broader audience and set new standards for inclusivity in children’s programming. Read More
U.S. Producers Mobilise to Protect Rights in Changing Industry
As the entertainment industry undergoes significant changes, US producers are joining forces to protect their rights and ensure fair treatment. With the rise of streaming platforms and the increasing prominence of independent production, producers are growing concerned about the impact on contracts, compensation, and creative control. In response, they are advocating for updated agreements that address the unique challenges posed by the digital era, aiming to ensure sustainable business models and better working conditions for those involved in content creation. Read More
I Am: Celine Dion Highlights Singer’s Struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome
In I Am: Celine Dion, a decisive moment captures Dion experiencing a severe spasm from Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological condition she revealed in 2022. The documentary shows her enduring a 40-minute episode, with staff struggling to provide relief as the camera focuses on her in extreme close-up, illustrating her profound challenges. Read More
Angelina Jolie & Cynthia Erivo | Actors on Actors
Angelina Jolie ("Maria") and Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked") discuss getting over the fear of singing on camera, the similarities between Maria Callas and Elphaba, and the "danger and surprise" of Broadway.
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