Doc Distro Lit Review: Article

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Warner Bros. Discovery in Talks to Merge with Paramount

Reports of discussions centered on a possible merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global reveal considerations of potential strategy behind such a move.
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XTR Is Trying to Solve the Crisis in Documentary Film, but Some Filmmakers Feel Betrayed

Writer Anthony Kaufman reports on filmmakers alleging that nonfiction entertainment studio XTR has not followed through on significant grant offers, including one to South African filmmaker Milisuthando Bongela, casting doubt on its reliability and integrity within the industry.
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Filmmakers Take Legal Action against Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment as It Faces “Cash Flow Issues”

Writer Addie Morfoot reports on Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and film distributor 1091 Pictures facing legal disputes centered on missing revenue-sharing payments to filmmakers, who are also trying to reclaim their distribution rights should 1091 Pictures' parent company go bankrupt.
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This Was the Year That the Golden Age of Documentary Felt like a Distant Memory

Evaluating the landscape of the documentary field in 2023, Anthony Kaufman reports on the types of stories that are gaining prominence and filmmakers' attitudes toward a seemingly contracting industry.
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Hits & Misses: How Six Sundance 2023 Titles Performed in Distribution

Journalist Anthony Kaufman provides case studies and insights into various films from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, shedding light on the festival's notable occurrences and trends in the industry.
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Split Together: Weathering the Storm at the Camden International Film Festival

An account from the 2023 Camden International Film Festival (CIFF), featuring discussions of documentaries "Beyond Utopia," "A Golden Life," and "The Last Year of Darkness," alongside a discussion of the film industry's contradictions.
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It’s Quiet, Too Quiet, in Hollywood: Where Are the Deals?

Writers Lacey Rose and Lesley Goldberg describe theories surrounding the anticipated flood of television pitches following the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike that failed to materialize, leading to concerns in the industry.
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The Road to the Oscar Documentary Shortlist Requires More than Just Money for Most

Writer Addie Morfoot describes the 2024 Oscar documentary shortlist race, with fewer streamer-backed films opening up possibilities for filmmakers utilizing smaller awards campaign budgets.
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HBO & Max Sign Exclusive Multiyear Pay One Agreement With A24

Writer Anthony D'Alessandro details the new arrangement between HBO, Max, and A24, in their exclusive multiyear pay-one output agreement, which grants HBO, Max, and Cinemax rights to A24's film releases after their theatrical run.
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From Microsoft Acquiring Activision to Disney + Hulu, These Deals Shook Up the Media and Entertainment Space in 2023, Plus 2024 Trends to Watch

Forbes contributing author Corey Martin highlights impactful deals in the media and entertainment industry during 2023 and outlines key trends to monitor in the upcoming year.
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Plan B Launches New Micro Budget Film Finance Initiative Led by Caddy Vanasirikul; First Pic Is Fernando Eimbcke’s “Olmo”

Writer Anthony D'Alessandro details a new micro-budget film initiative launched by production company Plan B Entertainment and led by veteran producer and acquisition/production executive Caddy Vanasirikul, that aims to help finance lower cost films.
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Why This Year’s Other Critically Acclaimed Movie Starring Lily Gladstone Hasn’t Been Picked Up (Guest Column)

While Lily Gladstone receives accolades for her role in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," her other film, "Fancy Dance," from Indigenous women filmmakers Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise, has struggled to secure a distribution deal despite the filmmakers claims of meeting industry criteria for success—inspiring calls for change in industry support of Native American-led storytelling.
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Toronto’s Indie Cinema Scene Is Booming: “It’s a Different Experience than, like, the Cineplex”

Writer Corey Atad describes the increased interest in repertory programming at independent theaters in Toronto.
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Netflix and Amazon Back Down on Daring Films in India

Netflix and Amazon in India grapple with government censorship, resorting to self-censorship and opting for safer content, raising concerns about artistic freedom and a potential cultural homogenization.
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How David Zaslav Blew Up Hollywood

Writers Jonathan Mahler, James B. Stewart, and Benjamin Mullin detail David Zaslav's impact as CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery, including his strategies to cut costs following the merger and controversial decisions in programming and focusing funds.
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For Every Hit TV Show, There Are More Than 100 Misses

Utilizing research from data provider Digital-i, writer Lucas Shaw discusses the low performance numbers for original programs on Netflix.
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A New Distribution Future from the Ground Up

At Color Congress's National Convening, Karin Chien from Distribution Advocates, presents plans to address the documentary distribution crisis, by fostering collaboration for a more equitable filmmaking ecosystem.
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Best Buy to End DVD, Blu-ray Disc Sales

Writer Todd Spangler reports that Best Buy will stop selling DVDs and Blu-ray discs in early 2024, aligning with a broader decline in physical media sales.
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Outfest Postpones Legacy Awards & Pauses Other Programming, Initiates “Leaves” for Majority of Staff, Citing Severe Impact of “Financial Climate”

Matt Grobar reports that LGBTQIA+ organization Outfest has postponed its Legacy Awards ceremony to 2024, paused other programming, and initiated leaves for most staff due to financial challenges.
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“How Do We Never Do This Again?”: Hollywood Grapples with the Consequences of a 148-Day WGA Strike

Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton discusses how the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike exposed the flaws in the industry's bargaining system, and proposes the need for a process to integrate streaming-era economic structures into contracts, as well as for ongoing communication between labor and management.