Premiering at last week’s Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival was film support executed in Copenhagen by the PSN Denmark team for the TV series Die Affäre Cum-Ex (Other People’s Money). Four days filming in the Danish capital cemented the authenticity of this adaptation of a real story about the biggest tax fraud in European history.

Berlinale as an Act of Resistance

“We’re in a state of particular crisis. The financing question is complicated, so it’s about the kind of financiers who are willing to take risks and willing to support strong voices. And I think that exists. It takes examples and positive outcomes to fortify those kinds of risks that people may want to take.” (Variety)

 

Co-Financing Challenges Identified at Götenburg TV Drama Vision

“We need to create a bigger European market where broadcasters and producers can collaborate on ambitious projects without being limited by national borders. The future of co-financing lies in forging partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries, leveraging new funding models, and embracing the creative and cultural diversity that defines European storytelling.” (Cineuropa)

 

Strategy and Expertise of PSN Iceland Partner Suggests Multiple Paths to Screens for European Dramas

“Aligning projects with broadcaster needs, and fostering collaborations early, producers can weather market shifts. However, an oversaturated market with too many producers often leads to fierce competition, forcing companies to innovate or pivot to emerging platforms like TikTok and YouTube.” (Cineuropa)

 

Streamers Projected to Outpace Commercial Broadcasters in Global Content Spend

“The continued growth of VoD spend, combined with the more cautious outlook of linear broadcasters, highlights the shifting role of traditional television as viewer demand turns to digital platforms and streaming.” (Variety)

 

Streamers Sports Rights Spend Reaches 20% of Global Total in Fifth Year of Growth

“As streaming nears saturation point, general entertainment platforms are recognising the benefit of acquiring rights to major season-long competitions for both subscriber acquisition and retention.” (TVBEurope)

 

Netflix to Invest $1 Billion in Mexico Over Next Four Years

 “We created [Club de Cuervos] in Mexico for Mexico — and it paved the way for our programming strategy, which is all about local production,” Sarandos noted.

 

Identifying Growth and Contraction in the $800 Billion Global Film Market

“The key takeaway is clear: adapt to a world where streaming is king, traditional models are fading and global markets, especially in Asia, will drive the future of film production and distribution. In this new era, “less is more” is not just a trend—it’s the new reality of the entertainment industry.” (Variety)

 

Bullish Growth for Premium VoD in Southeast Asia

“In terms of content trends, MPA points to continued popularity of Korean series across SVOD and freemium/AVOD, with a 28 percent share of all premium VOD viewing. U.S. content landed a 20 percent share of viewership, driven by SVOD. Southeast Asian and Chinese content are on the rise in Southeast Asia, especially on freemium/AVOD services, and anime continues to perform well, particularly on SVOD platforms in Thailand.” (Worldscreen)

 

Production Spend Rebound Falls Short of 2022 Record in UK

“After a disrupted 2023, including the impact of US strikes, production spend rebounded to £5.6bn in 2024 – up 31% on the previous year – demonstrating the UK’s strength as a world-leading destination for filmmaking.” (Screen Daily)

 

How Amazon Restructuring Favours UK Industry Despite American Contraction

“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is filmed in the UK and works disproportionately well in the UK, but the remit and ambition is to perform globally.” (Deadline)

 

Shaken and Stirred: Amazon Takes Creative Control of Bond Franchise

“‘You can really reimagine this series. Amazon can maybe stay on a linear track with the films, but maybe they create a streaming series about Moneypenny or tell an origin story about Q. Do they have Ana de Armas’s character from ‘No Time to Die’ appear in a separate movie? It’s all possible.’” (Variety)

 

UK-Skewed Drama Stuck in Funding Limbo

“We had shepherded the series (Wolf Hall) through a 10-year development process but, in the end, the producer, the writer, the director and the leading actor all gave up a significant proportion of their fees to get the show made.” (Variety)

 

Film Studios Receive 40% Reduction in Business Rates to Drive UK Growth

“Local Authorities can begin implementing local schemes and awarding the tax relief to help filmmakers kickstart their journeys to producing the country’s next box office hits, cult classics and major rom-coms.” (Gov.UK)

 

Streamers Lean into Europe for Scripted as Global Content Production Plateaus

“Europe has emerged as a key region, particularly Central and Eastern Europe, where scripted series orders grew by over 150% compared to 2023. Western Europe also saw growth, though at a lower rate of 50%. This trend reflects a wider migration away from the traditional dominance of North America as the entertainment epicentre, with more global diversity in content creation.” (Cineuropa)

 

Apple Investment of 20% of Annual Net Sales in France is Boost to French and European Creators

“The deal demonstrates a broader industry shift, with governments leveraging quotas and incentives to balance market influence between local producers and US-based streaming giants. Growing engagement with European storytelling underscores the capacity of non-English programming to transcend language barriers.” (Cineuropa)

 

Landmark Disney+ Agreement Halves Theatrical Window in France for 25% of Net Annual Turnover

“Disney+ commits to dedicating 100% of its investment obligations in terms of audiovisual works to heritage works (fiction, animation and creative documentaries) starting from 2025.” (Cineuropa)

 

Paramount Global Sale Still Far From Done Deal

“The prospect that specious legal claims thrown at “60 Minutes” could lead to the unraveling of Redstone’s hard-fought $8 billion deal or force a financial settlement with a sitting president would have seemed too Kafkaesque for even one of CBS’ many crime dramas.” (Variety)

 

Pioneer of African Cinema, Film Director Souleymane Cissé, Dies at 84

“Mali’s Minister of Culture Mamou Daffe lamented the loss “of this monument of African cinema” in a statement. New York’s Film at Lincoln Center praised him as “one of cinema’s greats”, citing “Yeelen” for “catapulting African film to the world stage.”

 

Berlinale Visions of Future Film Production

“The future of filmmaking will be a mashup of different media and technologies, where content is adaptable and can be personalised for each viewer. A move towards “liquid content”, where stories are no longer fixed, but can be continuously reshaped based on audience preferences. It is clear that filmmakers must adapt to these changes if they are to thrive.” (Cineuropa)

 

Connecting with the Audience of Tomorrow

“‘Young viewers have high expectations for films and TV series,’ so beautiful artistry and quality still matter. They seek “experiences” and want to see their own lives reflected on screen. They engage with political and social issues, from climate marches to protests against racism, and they are interested in content from different cultures, often consuming Japanese and Korean media, among others.” (Cineuropa)

‘Continental Europe’s Biggest Production Hub’ Extends Film Production Incentive Six Years

“Hungary is now reaching 910m USD direct annual film production spend, a massive fourfold increase in volume in the last five years.” (FilmNewEurope)

 

British Columbia Production Incentive Increase to 36%

“International productions make up more than 80% of the total production spending. The film industry generated $2.7bn in GDP in 2022 which decreased to $2bn in 2023, in part due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes which led to a decrease in global production.” (Screen Global Production)

 

More Productions Access Incentives to Create More Jobs in Tenerife

“In 2024, production work on feature films, series, advertising and animation generated 3,696 new hires for technical and artistic positions, up 12.52% from 2023’s 3,281. Total inward and direct investment from production in 2024 was €64.8m from 148 productions, down from the previous year’s €103.4m from 163 productions.” (Screen Global Production)

The British Arrows Shortlist is out. We couldn’t be happier to see the work of our PSN UK (LS Productions) and PSN Spain (Palma Pictures) Partners in the mix.

The Future of Super Bowl Advertising

“In a world where content is limitless, authenticity and originality will carry more weight than ever.  The future of Super Bowl advertising won’t be about controlling the narrative – it will be about defining what feels real, memorable, and worth engaging with.” (LBB)

 

The Ticket to Screen Engagement

“From sponsored social posts to glitzy digital billboards, we’re bombarded with more advertising than ever. Research has found that cinema ads feel far “more personally relevant” to audiences. They also deliver higher engagement and memorability than almost all other advertising media.” (Shots)

 

Commercials Breaking New Ground to Break Through

Paramount Global struck deals last year that let Ram Trucks and Duluth Trading Co., among others, create “Yellowstone”-themed commercials that popped up in the ad breaks inside the show. ‘You can’t just run traditional messages, interrupting people’s viewing. You need to dovetail with the reason why they are there.’” (Variety)

 

Bridging the Gap Between Brands and Culture; UTA Entertainment Marketing Exec. Podcast

“While traditional Hollywood faces challenges like budget cuts and strikes, brands, and advertisers have a unique opportunity to collaborate with creators and media companies to redefine storytelling.” (Adweek)

 

AI Headway Inside Agency Walls

“Agencies have a lot of specialization built in that a machine can’t replace today. They can help streamline some of the budgeting process, but they’re not going to have nuance of how to work with Disney and Warner and NBC or Google and Meta.” (Marketing Brew)

 

Comfort Levels with AI on Decline Finds Consumer Study

“AI doesn’t create soul-less work, lazy marketers do. The key is to use AI as a tool, not a crutch. Marketers should be giving AI the heavy lifting of analysing data and spotting trends, then layering the creativity and humanity. At its best, AI empowers marketers to focus on innovating, connecting and creating. The human touch is irreplaceable – it’s what makes campaigns resonate.” (Marketing Interactive)

 

Marketing in the AI Era – Reinvention Amidst Revolution Podcast

“Since most CEO discussions about AI revolve around customer use cases, it should be led by those who best understand the customer – the CMOs. Marketing leaders need to step up and take ownership of these initiatives rather than leaving them solely to technical teams.” (Adweek)

 

Ad Industry Mourns Global Creative Leader, Ari Weiss

“You were always there to make me see beyond the obvious and never let me stay in my comfort zone. You gave me some of the best moments in my career, and I will do everything I can to honor your memory and not disappoint you.” (LBB)

 

Why The Producer Still Matters

“How can you believe it’s a good job now that there are endless deliverables, spreadsheets, decks, Teams, and reconciliations?  How do you cope with DEI and sustainability, when you were brought up with inappropriate jokes, gross sexism, red wine, taxis, and “open on a beach”? (LBB)

UK Entry Requires Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

“If you previously travelled with only your passport for routine trips you will no longer be able to without an ETA. Travelers must secure their ETA before departure to avoid flight boarding or UK entry issues.” (Harvard University)

 

Film & TV Industry Workers in the UK at Heightened Risk of Poor Mental Health Compared to Wider Population

“64% of film and TV workers are considering leaving the industry due to mental-health concerns, with 32% having taken firm steps to do so. There is a higher risk for certain groups susceptible to worklessness, bullying, harassment, and discrimination.” (The Knowledge Online)

 

Parity of Women in Film Leadership Roles Remains Distant Despite Progress in Europe

“Movies directed by women are more likely to include female professionals in other key roles, such as production teams and editing, underscoring the potential of inclusive leadership to foster broader change across a project’s crew.” (Cineuropa)

 

How Hollywood Holds Ground Amidst Challenges to Sustainability and Diversity

“Blockbuster entertainment and social responsibility can coexist. From eco-friendly productions to championing underrepresented voices, these initiatives reflect a broader commitment to social responsibility and creative excellence.” (The Location Guide)

 

European Sustainability Toolkit Launched

“Our goal is to foster knowledge around green production and drive change within the industry. This approach reveals significant differences among member states while navigating regulatory frameworks. It’s a tool to kickstart and facilitate change, enabling an international hub for knowledge and experience sharing. It’s a step toward further specialised training.” (Cineuropa)

 

Independently Vetted Sustainability Directory for UK Film & TV Industry

“The new BAFTA albert Suppliers Directory takes away some of that stress and bridges the gap between the production industry and those in the supply chain who are providing solutions that will decarbonise productions.” (TVBEurope)

Academy Awards Consider Disclosure of AI Use in Submissions

“Awards decisions should be made knowing what the human artist did to achieve the results. Using new tools in innovative ways that pave the path forward for everyone else is a big contribution.” (TVBEurope)

 

A Generative AI Leap for Streamers

“’Maybe you finish all of the episodes of a show you’re watching and you click the button to make another episode. You can say what it should be about or you can let the AI make it itself.‘ This sounds fanciful, but promises to be a thing in 2025.” (TVBEurope) 

 

Enhancing Audience Strategies with Anthropology-based AI

“The real risk often lies in not pushing boundaries far enough, rather than going too far. Stories, scenes, characters, visuals, language, and dilemmas should be explored even more boldly to create lasting impact.” (Cineuropa)

 

US Copyright Office Weighs in on Use of AI Tools in Creative Process

“We share the concerns expressed about the impact of AI-generated material on human authors and the value that their creative expression provides to society. If authors cannot make a living from their craft, they are likely to produce fewer works.” (Variety)

 

Filmmaking Meets Gaming at European Film Market of Berlinale

“For new generations, there is no real difference between a Berlinale premiere and a new video-game release, as everything is now perceived as content. Therefore, the key challenge is capturing attention in this oversaturated landscape.” (Cineuropa)