After 44 years in Santa Monica, the American Film Market (AFM) has moved to Las Vegas, marking a new era for the largest U.S. market dedicated to international cinema. The energy of Las Vegas has infused fresh vitality into the event, which continues to serve as a premier platform for global deal-making and industry networking. This year’s AFM was particularly significant for Italy, with a strong delegation led by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Cinecittà, and the Directorate General for [...]

With too many big films releasing at the same time, studios risk losing audiences and profits. After a sluggish fall movie season marked by fewer releases, Hollywood is gearing up for a jam-packed holiday schedule. Blockbusters like Wicked, Gladiator 2, and Moana 2 are set to dominate theaters starting Thanksgiving weekend. But this overcrowding raises questions about studios’ scheduling strategies and their impact on box office performance. The year has been a rollercoaster for theaters. Hits like Deadpool & Wolverine, [...]

Without fanfare or public demands, ValueAct Capital has made a bold move into Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In recent weeks, the San Francisco-based investment firm has quietly amassed a $1-billion stake, now one of its largest holdings alongside Salesforce. ValueAct is no stranger to high-profile investments in technology companies. It previously secured a board seat at Microsoft in 2013 and engaged in dialogue with Disney during its activist showdown with Nelson Peltz’s Trian Partners. Now, [...]

Friendship often plays a quiet second fiddle to romance in movies, but this awards season, it’s stepping into the spotlight. Projects like Netflix’s Will & Harper and Nickel Boys, alongside Challengers, A Real Pain, and Memoir of a Snail, bring platonic bonds into sharp focus, proving they’re just as compelling — and as transformative — as romantic ones. Take Will & Harper, for instance. This Netflix documentary chronicles Will Ferrell’s cross-country journey with Harper Steele as she navigates her new [...]

Netflix Explores Live TV, Shifting Strategy in Response to Market Trends Netflix, a pioneer of on-demand streaming, is expanding its programming to include live events, from cooking shows to wrestling and football. Among its new live offerings is Dinner Time Live With David Chang, a cooking show where Chang prepares dishes in front of viewers without retakes, adding spontaneity and freshness to the traditional cooking show format. This move marks a shift for Netflix, which has traditionally focused on content [...]

Samsung is positioning itself for a breakthrough in the free ad-supported streaming (FAST) market with Samsung TV Plus. The tech giant revealed that its platform now reaches 88 million monthly active users (MAUs) globally—a significant milestone, surpassing Tubi’s reported 80 million MAUs as of Q1 2024. Samsung TV Plus, built directly into Samsung smart TVs, benefits from its prime placement and ease of access. The platform saw over a 50% increase in global viewership year-over-year, though details on how this [...]