Film and TV Briefing: Friday 11 April 2025
Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, commentary and industry announcements that you may have missed from the past week.
If you are looking for advice in relation to any of the issues mentioned, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In the news
MPs recommend streaming levy to help fund UK high-end TV production (BBC)
Cannes 2025 reveals lineup (IndieWire)
UK edition of ‘Saturday Night Live’ to launch on Sky next year (Variety)
Spike Lee to premiere new film ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ at Cannes 2025 (The Hollywood Reporter)
‘Wolf Hall’ director says UK scared to upset Donald Trump over streamer levy (Deadline)
China set to cut US film imports amid tariff battle (Deadline)
James Cameron discusses potential to use AI to cut cost of filmmaking (Deadline)
Brad Pitt production company begins talks on ‘Adolescence’ series two (The Guardian)
Netflix hints at price hike if UK brings in streaming levy (Deadline)
Germany pledges to boost tax incentives for struggling film industry (The Hollywood Reporter)
Nuclear option: ‘Adolescence’ maker plots TV adaptation of ‘Threads’ (Royal Television Society)
Features and commentary
What might Donald Trump’s tariffs mean for TV? (Broadcast)
Eight key takeaways from the film and high-end TV report (Broadcast)
Inside the single-shot rage of ‘Adolescence’ (The Hollywood Reporter)
Industry announcements
Report calls on UK government to back film and high-end TV industry (UK Parliament)
Ministers want to see £475 million Sunderland film studio proceed "at pace" (BBC)
Cristiano Ronaldo joins forces with director Matthew Vaughn on new film studio (Variety)
VFX firm FOLKS expands global operations with new London studio (Deadline)
Fremantle launches Imaginae Studios to "harness power of AI" (The Hollywood Reporter)
Resources
Report urges UK government to boost support for film and high-end TV industry (BFI)
Legal updates
Angel Studios facing breach of contract claim from ‘David’ production company (Rolling Stone)
