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Today’s Highlights:
VicScreen’s Originate Series Selects First Eight Participants—VicScreen has chosen eight participants for its Originate Series, which provides writers' room experience and mentorship to develop screenwriting talent in Victoria.

Protagonist Pictures Expands Production and Financing—Protagonist Pictures is shifting beyond sales to become a "greenlight partner," launching new projects and expanding its financing efforts.

Netflix Faces Challenges with Audience Retention: Netflix struggles to retain audiences for returning series—most shows' viewership declines due to long gaps and cancellation concerns.

Richard Roxburgh to Star in Peter Greste Film - Richard Roxburgh will portray journalist Peter Greste in a film about his wrongful imprisonment in Egypt and its impact on press freedom.

How AI is Transforming the Media Industry - AI is revolutionising media production by automating workflows, enhancing content discovery, and enabling OTT platforms to repurpose archives.

Festival Funding Cuts and Rising Costs Threaten Global Events—Budget cuts force programming and operational changes at major film festivals, including the Berlinale, facing financial challenges.

Beta Film Acquires Bulgarian Drama Shattered Bonds - Beta Film has secured global rights for Shattered Bonds, a drama exploring fractured parent-child relationships, ahead of Berlinale’s Series Market.

Natasha Lyonne and Ana Lily Amirpour Developing Basketful of Heads - Natasha Lyonne and Ana Lily Amirpour are adapting Basketful of Heads, a horror comic about a supernatural axe that keeps victims’ heads alive.

Netflix Explores Video Podcasts for Creator Economy—Netflix is considering launching video podcasts to expand its content offerings and boost engagement for its ad-supported tier.

DC’s Clayface in Development, Directors Shortlisted - DC Studios is considering Jeff Wadlow and James Watkins to direct Clayface, a horror-thriller film slated for a 2026 release.

Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with BBC, Amazon, MUBI, ABC, WBD, Alloy, NBCUniversal, A+E, Disney & Netflix.
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