Film and TV Briefing: Friday 23 October 2020

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

China now home to world’s biggest box office at $1.988 billion, surpassing USA (Hollywood Reporter).

Record attendance figures for online BFI London Film Festival (Screen Daily).

ITV to increase focus on streaming (The Guardian).

Netflix hires former Channel 4 commissioner as head of UK features (Deadline).

BBC Film and BFI to debut new release model (Screen Daily).

Pinewood Studios to offer to ex-Heathrow staff jobs in the film industry (Evening Standard).

Quibi to shut down after six months (Screen Daily).

HBO Max subscriptions hit 28.7 million (Variety).

Will cinemas survive the long Pandemic winter? (Empire).

ITVS announces Covid-19 friendly plans for I’m a Celebrity (Broadcast).

Features and commentary

How has the Pandemic changed life for directors and producers? (The Guardian)

How black British creatives are rewriting the script (CNN).

The 50 most powerful TV showrunners of 2020 (Hollywood Reporter).

Industry announcements

BAFTA announces jury for Breakthrough Awards (Bafta).

Bectu sounds warning on Winter Economy Plan (Bectu).

Pact TV production guidance updated (Pact).

Legal Updates

Government launches its Film & TV Production Restart Scheme (Simkins LLP)

Ofcom guide to the regulation of video-sharing platforms (Ofcom).

Resources

Programme of BAFTA Events (Bafta).

Latest film festival dates and cancellations (Screen Daily)

Covid-19 Resources (WFTV).