Film and TV Briefing: Friday 25 April 2025

In the news

Cannes adds Jennifer Lawrence and Kristen Stewart films to 2025 line-up (Variety)

Hollywood "thrown under bus" in trade deals, says Netflix chief (The Hollywood Reporter)

Oscars says members must watch nominated films before voting on them (Variety)

Pope’s death triggers fresh interest in ‘Conclave’ and ‘The Two Popes’ (IndieWire)

Former child star Sophie Nyweide dies aged 24 (Variety)

Channel 4 uses AI for first time in ‘Open House: The Great Sex Experiment’ promo (Broadcast)

Imax chief plays down concerns around trade war risk to Hollywood (Deadline)

Dominic Sessa to play Anthony Bourdain in new biopic (The Guardian)

AI can make films better – not just cheaper, insists Ted Sarandos (IndieWire)

YouTube has had more than 20 billion videos uploaded in 20 years (Variety)

‘Twin Peaks’ set for 35th anniversary stream (IndieWire)

Max becomes latest streamer to clamp down on password sharing (IndieWire)

Kirsty Wark says she wants to see female BBC director general "very soon" (Broadcast)

Studios warn rising cinema ticket prices could hurt summer box office (The Hollywood Reporter)

‘Heartstopper’ to have final send-off with feature-length film (Royal Television Society)

Features and commentary

Hartlepool film village aims to put town’s name in lights (BBC)

Can Miramax recover? (Variety)

New York video store sends film and TV industry back to the future (The Guardian)

UK taxpayers contributed £89 million to most expensive film of all time (The Guardian)

Industry announcements

Lionsgate shareholders approve separation of businesses (Variety)

China launches $130 million ‘Film Consumption Year’ to boost box office (Screen Daily)

Snoop Dogg signs deal with NBCUniversal for creative partnership (Deadline)

Resources

Pact urges members to complete 2025 production sector census (Pact)