Doc Distro Lit Review: Article

Illustration of a "The End" sign on hills with bright lights
Jacobin contributing editor Daniel Bessner reports on the current risk-averse state of the screenwriting business in Hollywood—discussing compensation trends and tracing the history of its value in the film and television industries through company consolidations, labor movements, streamers' strategies, executives' predisposition toward intellectual property-driven content, and more.
Image of Prime Video and Disney+ logos alongside a map with pushpins in various locations
Writers Jesse Whittock and Sara Merican delve into the competitive landscape of the streaming industry in Southeast Asia, where Prime Video and Disney+ are retracting much of their presence in original productions, leaving Netflix as the main American streamer commissioning projects there.
Photograph of five people sitting in front of a Full Frame Documentary Film Festival sign
Writer Addie Morfoot summarizes points made from a panel discussion called "Documentary Dealmaking" at the 2024 Full Frame Film Festival, highlighting the financial challenges faced by documentary filmmakers and the need for fair compensation, stronger alliances with industry organizations, and collective action to address systemic issues in the industry.
Photograph of two people wearing sweatshirts looking upward
Writer Anthony Kaufman reflects on the state of independent film distribution following several events fostering exploration on the subject at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, reporting on the challenges independent film exhibitors face in reaching audiences and potential solutions like varying programming, theatrical distributor P&A subsidies, and blockchain-backed distribution models.
Photograph of people holding a sign that says "Cine Argentino Unido por la democracia"
Writer Anna Marie De La Fuente reports that Argentina's President Javier Milei is moving forward with his plan to defund INCAA, threatening the local film community, as well as national film festivals like Mar del Plata and film and TV market Ventana Sur, and prompting protests from the coalition Cine Argentino Unido.
Photograph of four people sitting on chairs on a stage in front of an audience
Human Rights Watch closes its longstanding film festival due to financial constraints, while praising its three-decade legacy of promoting independent films on human rights issues and advocating for increased accessibility standards in the film industry.
Photograph of a large group of people all looking at the camera
The Hollywood Reporter's Rebecca Sun describes the March 2024 release of Color of Congress's report on the state of support for people of color working in the documentary field.
Photograph of a person wearing a tie and jacket
Deadline's Dade Hayes interviews Angel Studios CEO Neal Harmon, delving into the success of "Sound of Freedom," Angel's faith-based content, and the company's community-driven models for content creation and modification, as well as for theater ticket support—revealing a company working outside the Hollywood's system's approach to reaching audiences.
Colorful illustration of a milk chocolate bar, bag of popcorn, box of candy, and soda cup all looking sad, sitting outside a movie theater
Hollywood faces challenges in 2024 with disruptions from strikes and pandemic-related issues, prompting a shift to producing quick, self-contained films and a call for the industry to reconnect with an entrepreneurial spirit amid uncertainties about streaming services and declining movie genres.
Photograph of a person holding plants in front of their face
Independent filmmakers and distributors report content restrictions and algorithmic filtering of online marketing material interfering in film campaigns and streaming releases.