Industry Briefings: February 2025
Posted on Feb 15, 2025 by Admin
News from the film and TV industry
Explore the latest industry updates for the world of film and TV for February 2025
British film and TV production challenges highlighted in CMS Committee inquiry
The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has published written evidence on the challenges facing British film and high-end TV production. The submissions highlight funding struggles and production difficulties, particularly for domestic dramas. Filmmaker Peter Kosminsky, director of Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light, revealed production of the latter was only possible after key contributors significantly reduced their fees. Evidence from the BBC outlines a ‘funding limbo’ causing layoffs and company closures, citing the example of Nightsleeper, where staff were let go just days before the show aired. Responses from major streamers – Amazon, Netflix, Paramount and NBCUniversal – on their financial contributions to training and development in the UK were also published. Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage expressed concern about the challenges faced by British drama, stating the inquiry aims to ensure the government and BFI support the sector effectively. The inquiry’s findings, set to be reported this spring, will also consider tax incentives, skills training, AI and copyright implications and support for indie cinemas.
Cine Gear NY postponed
Cine Gear New York, which was set to take place in March, has been cancelled, with organisers citing the fallout from the devastating wildfires in LA and promising a return in 2026. “Due to unforeseen challenges and the wildfire catastrophe, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2025 New York show,” states the website. “While this choice was not made lightly, it is the right way to respect our esteemed vendors, speakers and artists who have ties to the Hollywood production community. Please understand that this is just a pause. Our commitment to delivering a state-of-the-art experience for our media partners, exhibitors and the New York community remains unwavering. The Cine Gear New York show will go on in 2026.”
Pinewood Toronto Studios’ Norman Jewison Stage
Pinewood Toronto Studios has named one of its stages after legendary filmmaker Norman Jewison. An internationally acclaimed producer and director, the late Jewison’s credits include The Thomas Crown Affair and Rollerball. General manager Sarah Farrell commented: “His groundbreaking work was renowned throughout the world and it is an honour to have The Norman Jewison Stage on our lot.”
DOP & director dynamic in spotlight at Cooke gallery
Creative Gravity, the new exhibition at Cooke’s London gallery, explores the creative connection of cinematographer Lol Crawley and his regular collaborator, director Brady Corbet. Through a series of interviews, the pair reveal how they translate a script into a finely tuned visual language, and how their relationship has evolved. The pair teamed up for The Childhood of a Leader (2015), Vox Lux (2018) and, most recently, The Brutalist.
The exhibition is open now until 1 April, book via cookeoptics.com
UK Global Screen Fund awards boost indie screen sector
The BFI has announced 26 new awards to support global opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector through its UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF). Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, these awards provide a £2.15 million boost, allocated through the £7 million per year International Business Development (IBD) strand, which has now awarded over £9.1 million to date.
With a goal of helping UK companies score new business partnerships, boost their international profiles and increase revenue through export and expansion, the IBD support is awarded in the form of non-recoupable grants between £50,000 and £200,000. Funding tracks include Film Transformation for multi-year UK film strategies and General, covering IP creation and exploitation across film, TV, animation and video games.
Beneficiaries of the latest round include notable production and games studios like Cantilever Group, NEON Films and HaZimation, with funding supporting roles such as producers, development executives and business consultants.
“The UK’s independent screen sector has such a wealth of talent and ambition, and it is fantastic to see this latest batch of business development awards supporting a breadth of companies and strategies – all focused on international growth and success in the global marketplace,” said Denitsa Yordanova, BFI head of UKGSF and international funds. “The government’s ongoing backing of the UKGSF ensures we can continue to provide this critical support, boosting the international competitiveness of UK screen content –growing revenues, reach and partnerships as well as further driving international co-production and collaboration. We look forward to supporting more screen companies from across the UK to thrive and reach their full growth potential.”
For details on key dates, visit bfi.org
Leitz Lens Test Tool announcement
LEITZ recently completed its most extensive lens collection test yet, and the fruits of the team’s labour are now available for everyone to explore at leitz-cine.com/compare-lenses. This new tool enables DOPs and other filmmakers to side-by-side compare visuals achieved with different lenses on a single screen.
The test features lenses from seven different sets of LEITZ prime lenses, as well as the LEITZ ZOOM series. The scenes in the test were directed by lens aficionado Jay Holben and shot by Kaity Williams, with the visuals capturing a cinematic scene with multiple characters and camera movement that incorporates various lens features like close focus, distortion, usable circle of illumination, skin tones, bokeh, flare and more.
By switching between a variety of focal lengths and apertures, users can get a true sense of the features each series of LEITZ lenses has to offer. So, if you’re curious about the difference between the new LEITZ HUGO and LEITZ ELSIE optics – or are keen to see the coverage of LEITZ Super 35 glass on a full-frame sensor – this lens comparison tool is a great place to start.
DIARY DATES
SXSW Film & TV Festival
7-15 March
Running 7-15 March in Austin, Texas, this festival is known for unveiling a diverse, high-calibre programme of film, TV and XR projects. The event attracts an array of industry experts and has earned a position at the forefront of all things pop culture.
BFI Future Film Festival
20 February-6 March
The UK’s largest festival for emerging filmmakers returns from 20 February to 6 March. It connects young people interested in working in the screen industries with professionals and provides opportunities to meet fellow creatives, find collaborators and build their networks.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Until 15 February
A showcase of independent and international cinema with a nearly 40-year history, SBIFF has become one of the top ten film festivals in the US. Expect film screenings, tributes and symposiums until 15 February.
CoSTAR National R&D Lab launches at Pinewood
CoSTAR has announced that the UK’s first R&D lab for the creative industries will open its doors at Pinewood Studios. The new facility, launching in January 2026, will be housed within the CoSTAR Stage, attached to K Block, in the historic heart of the Pinewood campus. It will offer cutting-edge virtual production technology, with a 236 sq m sound stage and a series of R&D labs featuring spatial audio, volumetric capture and multisensory devices, as well as a private 5G/6G network. A cloud-based Creative AI Compute facility, an incubation and partner business space, plus prototyping facilities, will enable creative companies across the country to access the CoSTAR National Lab’s experimental and collaborative infrastructure. It will offer a place to explore technologies and content for digital humans, virtual environments, multisensory perception and worldbuilding, bolstered by the R&D of CoSTAR’s partners – Royal Holloway, University of London, National Film and Television School, Abertay University, University of Surrey, BT and disguise.
“This is an amazing opportunity to unite our world-class research expertise in innovation technologies with Pinewood’s incredible history as a home of global film production,” said professor James Bennett, director of CoSTAR National Lab and associate pro vice chancellor (Creative Industries) at Royal Holloway, University of London. “In keeping with Pinewood’s history, we believe that the National Lab will foster innovation by enabling world-class creatives to tell great stories with new technologies. This is a space for technology and storytelling to come together. By providing R&D support and a unique space for experimenting and taking risks, we can drive new ideas from playful sparks to outcomes that compete on a global stage. CoSTAR at Pinewood will create a launchpad for a whole new world of audience experience.”
Creative Industries minister Sir Chris Bryant added: “The Pinewood Studios have been responsible for creating some of cinema’s most memorable moments – from James Bond and Jurassic World to Indiana Jones. Backed by £75.6 million of government funding for the wider CoSTAR network, it is fantastic that the CoSTAR National Lab will be opening at Pinewood to keep the studios and the UK at the forefront of new technologies that will power the future of filmmaking. This will ensure that the UK remains one of the most attractive filmmaking destinations in the world, bringing in new investment and job opportunities which are crucial to this government’s Plan for Change.”
Ross Video acquires EagleEye
Live video specialist Ross Video has announced its acquisition of EagleEye from sec.swiss, further enhancing its portfolio of camera motion systems. The move broadens Ross’ scope, adding immersive cable-camera solutions to complement its renowned Spidercam series. Customers now have access to modular 1D, 2D and 3D systems for dynamic productions across sports, entertainment and broadcast – all available for rental or purchase.
Manufactured in Ross’ Canadian facilities, these systems promise precision and scalability, ensuring high-impact visuals for studios, venues and live events. Over the past years, cable camera systems have been a game changer for sports, motion pictures, rock concerts and other types of video production. “Cable cameras bring the audience into the event with camera angles, shots and motion you just can’t achieve in any other way,” explained David Ross, CEO of Ross Video. “Now having EagleEye as part of our portfolio, Ross will be able to offer this creative option to an even broader range of clients.”
This feature was first published in the February 2025 issue of Definition
