
Content Licensing



Cannes Recalibrates: Pre-Sales Shrink, Streamers Stall, and Co-Productions Surge
The 2025 Cannes Market delivered more questions than answers, as industry players navigated, stalled US deals, shrinking Pay-1 licensing windows, and a growing rift between premium and mid-budget titles. High production and distribution costs are driving greater selectivity among studios and streamers, leaving many films without buyers in the North American market.

Cannes 2025: Rising Costs, Fewer Bets, and Smarter Deals in a High-Stakes Market
Despite record attendance and renewed energy on the Croisette, the Cannes 2025 Film Market is operating under the familiar strains of soaring acquisition costs, and a struggle to reconcile rising budgets with narrowing margins. For buyers and sellers alike, the market is less about glitz and more about financial clarity, pricing discipline, and navigating global distribution headwinds.

All Eyes on Pre-Sales: Can Cannes 2025 Spark a Market Revival?
The slowdown in packaging during the first half of the year, has led to a stronger-than-usual Cannes lineup. The market is flush with well-developed packages and finished films with genuine theatrical potential. With more robust slates from top sales agencies and buyers reportedly ready to move on high-promise titles, Cannes 2025 could outperform recent years.


The Window Is the Product: Why Streaming’s Next Battleground Is Access, Not Content
The dominance of social video platforms and the plateau of streaming growth signal a new phase in entertainment. Content alone is no longer a moat, as production becomes riskier and audiences more complicated to retain—especially as many content creators and executives prioritize agenda-driven programming over compelling storytelling.

Resurrecting Value: How Syndication is Powering a New Phase of Streaming Monetization
With subscriber growth slowing and content costs ballooning, studios and streamers alike are revisiting syndication, not as a relic of broadcast television but as a renewed source of value in an increasingly saturated market. Lending out original titles is quickly becoming a practical tool for monetization.

Finding Licensing Gold: Why Some Shows Are Worth More Off Their Home Platform
Streaming services are reevaluating their financial playbooks, balancing the high costs of direct-to-consumer services with the steady returns of third-party licensing deals. With studios weighing the financial viability of streaming-first strategies against the profitability of licensing, the industry is at an inflection point where content ownership alone may not be enough to drive sustainable growth.

Inside Cannes 2024: Adapting to Struggles and Shifts in the Independent Film Market
At this year’s Cannes, there’s a mix of optimism and weariness. High asking prices and low theatrical demand are notable. Streamers like Apple and Netflix lead significant acquisitions, sidelining traditional distributors. The market remains cautious, focusing on star-driven projects and strategic financial planning.

The Struggle to Shine: Steering Through the Post-Theatrical Era
The independent market is at a crossroads. Traditional strategies are no longer effective, and the task of bringing audiences back to cinemas remains daunting. Insiders are actively pursuing solutions to these seemingly insurmountable challenges. Despite these obstacles, some believe the film industry is on the verge of recovery.

Cannes Conundrum: Navigating the New Realities of the Independent Film Market
A significant concern voiced since the start of Cannes is the noticeable absence of US theatrical deals. This void has a cascading effect on international distribution. Films without a US distributor face deteriorating values over time, making it increasingly challenging to recoup production budgets.






