News

Tasmanian zombies, Russell Crowe and Crowded House: 10 Australian films to watch out for in 2026

Mark It 31/12/2025

As usual, the Australian film industry will deliver plenty of tasty cinematic treats in 2026, spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. Here’s 10 films to look out for. Read on…

Predicting Hollywood in 2026

Mark It 29/12/2025

Educated guesses, smart takes and back-of-the napkin math on what entertainment industry insiders will be talking about in the next 12 months. YouTube decimates TV. Netflix buys Warner Bros. Bob Iger ties Disney to a boundary-pushing AI startup. Donald Trump…

Small but perfectly formed: How micro-cinemas are swimming against the tide

Mark It 29/12/2025

After almost eight years running Thornbury Picture House, the boutique cinema they built in the shell of a 1919 garage, Gus and Lou Berger felt they knew what they were in for with their sibling venue on Sydney Road, the …

How Disney’s OpenAI Deal Changes Everything

Mark It 24/12/2025

On December 11, Disney and OpenAI announced a landmark partnership: The entertainment giant, according to CEO Bob Iger, would pay $1 billion to the artificial intelligence power player for an equity stake, while also licensing its Sora tech for short-form…

Hollywood’s Big New Labor Deal: Studios To Offer Guilds’ Health Plans $100M Lifeline In Exchange For Longer Multi-Year Contracts In 2026

Mark It 24/12/2025

SAG-AFTRA is already lined up to be the first Hollywood guild to kick off 2026 contract negotiations with the studios and streamers, and both sides have some big asks of the other. Among them, Deadline has learned, the now Greg…

Universities Begin Teaching Microdramas Amid Industry Boom

Mark It 24/12/2025

As microdramas explode in popularity, screenwriting, film and acting professors are jumping on the trend. Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in Orange, Calif. has incorporated microdramas into its writing for evolving mediums class, which also includes writing…

NZ On Screen – Tuesday Spotlight: RĀTANA RUGBY: GOD’S GAME (2004)

Mark It 22/12/2025

This documentary follows Coach Murray Ririnui and the Rātana rugby team pursuing the Whanganui Championship — a prize that’s eluded them for 76 years. Interviews highlight the team’s faith, community, and cultural pride, offering a layered view of sport and…

Can Avatar Make Nearly $3 Billion and Still Leave No Cultural Footprint?

Mark It 22/12/2025

Can a movie really make nearly $3 billion and still remain culturally absent? As James Cameron’s Avatar trilogy lights up movie theaters once more, where is all the fandom? Avatar made just shy of $3 billion when it was released…

Have We Reached the Tipping Point Where Movies Could Stop Being Movies?

Mark It 22/12/2025

The first moment in my life when people began to talk about movies as if they could go away tomorrow was right after the pandemic struck. At that point, no one knew which end was up, but with America’s movie…

“Cuz was a direct reference”: James Cameron and Cliff Curtis on Avatar’s NZ-ness

Mark It 19/12/2025

My favourite thing about the Avatar movies is how a certain Aotearoa New Zealand-iness positively shines through the screen. It makes sense, considering they were shot here, and are overseen by New Zealand resident James Cameron. But I wanted to…

Why Disney’s Sora Deal Marks a Turning Point in the AI Wars

Mark It 19/12/2025

OpenAI released Sora 2 in October, unleashing a flood of copyright violations onto the internet. But instead of suing the company, or even threatening to do so, Disney is now teaming up with it. In a remarkable deal announced Dec.…

Government considers advertising or subscription model for BBC

Mark It 18/12/2025

The government will consider new ways of funding the BBC, including via advertising or a subscription model, as it formally begins the process that will decide the corporation’s future. It has published a consultation document – or green paper –…

80 Percent of UK Linear TV Spend is Leaving TV

Mark It 18/12/2025

The UK CTV market is second only to Canada in terms of highest growth forecast for 2026, according to projections from Guideline, an advertising data and media intelligence company. The forecast comes as UK broadcasters shift focus towards their CTV…

Warner Bros. Discovery Rejects Paramount’s $108 Billion Hostile Bid, Citing “Significant Risks”

Mark It 18/12/2025

The board of Warner Bros. Discovery officially rejected David Ellison‘s $30 per share hostile bid for the company, telling shareholders that it remains “inferior” to the Netflix deal, and carries “numerous significant risks and costs on WBD.” With the rejection…