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- December 22, 2023
In 2023, streaming platforms prioritized profitability, introduced advertising, and formed unique partnerships, facing challenges in content buzz, user interface, and pricing adjustments.
- December 20, 2023
Reports of discussions centered on a possible merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global reveal considerations of potential strategy behind such a move.
- December 15, 2023
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.
- December 7, 2023
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.
- December 6, 2023
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.
- October 31, 2023
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.
- October 11, 2023
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.
- October 10, 2023
Writer Matt Grobar reports that more than 2,300 film and TV producers have signed a petition for the removal of the "P" from the AMPTP acronym for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and conveys the opinions of several producers who aim to draw attention to the position of producers in a changing industry.
- September 28, 2023
Writer David Canfield profiles Christine Vachon, a producer renowned for her collaborations with Todd Haynes and her advocacy for new voices, detailing her journey from the New York indie scene to her current projects, including 'Past Lives,' and reflecting on her experiences as a queer female producer amidst an evolving industry and potential Oscar recognition.
- September 26, 2023
Writer Sara Fischer reports that major streaming companies, including Netflix, Paramount+, Warner Bros. Discovery's Max, Comcast's Peacock, Disney, and TelevisaUnivision's ViX, have formed the Streaming Innovation Alliance (SIA), led by former policymakers, to advocate for industry interests in the face of evolving regulations.
- September 2023
Filmmaker Magazine's Scott Macaulay reflects on Richard Linklater's statements regarding his worries about the declining significance of cinema in modern culture due to technology and advertising dominance, underscoring the need for perseverance and efforts to improve the industry's future.
- September 2023
President and CEO of Independent Television Service (ITVS), Carrie Lozano spoke at the 2023 Camden International Film Festival on the potential opportunities to be found from perceived threats to the industry, looking at the creation of ITVS in the late 1980s as an example.
- September 2023
At the 2023 Camden International Film Festival, strategic brand consultant and independent film producer Brian Newman spoke about a "booming" documentary industry that is bound to "bust" and declared the need for collaborative strategizing around reaching audiences.
- August 17, 2023
A detailed report from the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) highlights how three major companies' anticompetitive actions harm consumer prices, writer wages, and media diversity, urging swift antitrust action and policy reforms.
- May 14, 2023
Writer Matt Stoller argues that streaming giants and industry consolidation are steering Hollywood toward limited content and unfair working conditions, leading to tense negotiations and solidarity over union strikes.
- April 11, 2023
Bookshop.org, founded by Andy Hunter, offers a successful alternative to Amazon by supporting independent bookstores through a portion of online sales, providing a community-driven choice against larger competitors.
- September 29, 2020
Six members of Distribution Advocates participated in discussions and presented at the International Documentary Association's 2020 Getting Real conference, offering insights on the challenges filmmakers face in understanding distribution processes and negotiating fair deals, proposing solutions such as free distribution advisors and a basic cheat sheet to empower filmmakers in navigating distribution offers effectively.
- June 15, 2020
Calling for a reimagining of the documentary film industry, cultural strategist Sonya Childress details inequities and issues found throughout the system, focusing on the areas of authorship, accountability, and ownership.
- October 2, 2011
New Day Films, a cooperative founded in 1971, empowers more than 100 filmmakers to self-distribute educational films, employing a consensus decision-making model, a "share ladder" system, and adapting to the digital era with New Day Digital.
