Searchlight Archives

Cannes Cheat Sheet: What Films are Screening, Who’s Representing Distribution Rights, and Territories Taken

May 14, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

After years of declining demand for independent films, producers, sales agencies, and distributors report a significant pre-sales market resurgence heading into Cannes. Download Your Free Cannes Film Festival Cheat Sheet Below with Titles, Directors, Sales Representatives, Deals Signed, Links to IMDbPro, and More.

All Eyes on Cannes After Strong Sales at EFM and Sundance

May 9, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

Given the number and quality of projects at Sundance and EFM Berlin, there is a feeling of cautious optimism going into Cannes next week. This year’s Cannes will launch a new Cannes Remakes initiative focusing on remaking European films, with a focus on France, Italy, and Spain.

Cracking the Code: Inside the Intricate World of Content Licensing Deals and Slate Programming

April 9, 2024 FilmTake Comments Off

As streaming platforms vie to capture marketshare in a view-from-home environment, the recent deal between A24 and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) brings A24’s eclectic catalog exclusively to HBO and Max after their theatrical runs illustrating the need for studios to look elsewhere for interesting films.

How Streamers and Lockdowns Distorted Distribution Prices

February 15, 2023 FilmTake Comments Off

Even before unprecedented disruptions to the theatrical market, established film buyers and sellers were under tremendous financial pressure after spendthrift streamers elbowed in to populate their sparse film catalogs and vie for Oscar gold.

Content Spending Slumps in the Post-Peak Television Era

Distribution

July 19, 2024 Comments Off

After reaching unprecedented heights, the film and television market is now charting a more cautious path in the post-peak television era. Several recent forecasts shed light on the slowdown in

Piecing Together the Future of Streaming: The Rise of Bundling and Aggregation

Streaming

July 9, 2024 Comments Off

Recent developments in streaming, like Comcast’s StreamSaver bundling Peacock, Apple TV+, and Netflix, indicate a significant shift towards the future of entertainment: streaming bundles. The bundling trend is gaining traction

Distribution

Screens to Streams: The Evolution of Film Release Windows in Europe (Part Two)

July 7, 2024 Comments Off

Europe’s film sector has relied on territoriality and rigid release windows to maximize the economic potential of films. Part Two explores the EU’s capitulation to the major studios, the post-lockdown

Piecing Together the Future of Streaming: The Rise of Bundling and Aggregation

Streaming

July 9, 2024 Comments Off

Netflix Halts Subscriber Reporting: Rapid Growth Era Coming to an End

Streaming

June 23, 2024 Comments Off

Netflix is once again disrupting the entertainment industry by announcing it will no longer regularly report its subscriber numbers. This move undermines data transparency and attempts to divert investor attention from stagnating subscriber growth to revenue and profit metrics instead.

Reviving Cable Television: How Telecom Companies Will Shape Streaming Bundles

Streaming

June 19, 2024 Comments Off

Recent announcements of new streaming bundles have highlighted the increasing role of broadband providers in the streaming landscape. Telecom companies are leveraging their vast distribution networks to integrate multiple SVODs in their offerings.

Streaming Giants Unite: Disney and Warner Bros. Announce Cross-Studio Bundle

Streaming

June 17, 2024 Comments Off

Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) recently announced a rare cross-studio streaming bundle in a strategic reversal to retain fleeing subscribers. This new offering will merge Disney+ and Hulu with Warner Bros.’ Max with studio content and its premium service, HBO.

Streaming Services Face Subscriber Exodus Amid Rising Costs and Market Saturation

Streaming

June 9, 2024 Comments Off

In recent years, the ambitious hopes studios placed into streaming services in the United States are starting to backfire. As a result, the streaming landscape in the United States is undergoing a period of retraction, just as the theatrical and pay television market is collapsing.