Don’t forget to check out our Friday Fivecast, the audio version of our weekly Friday Five blog. Listen in your car, at your desk, and anywhere you take your podcasts. Find it here, then click on our Spotify profile to subscribe.
Film Festival
Supporting Female Filmmakers: New Programme in Sarajevo
UNIQA, the Sarajevo Film Festival, and Slano Film Days have launched the Female Filmmakers Support Programme, dedicating €150,000 in 2025 to empower women directors and key collaborators in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, and Montenegro.
Broadway
Live Theater Thrives This Holiday Season
Broadway's holiday cheer soared as “Elf the Musical” broke the Marquis Theatre's record, grossing $2.23 million in the week ending December 22, 2024. This season, Broadway has surpassed $1 billion in revenue, with attendance reaching 8 million—both up over 15% from last year.
Sports
First in Streaming: A Look at Netflix’s NFL
Netflix's Christmas Day NFL debut, featuring Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans, was a success with minimal issues. The livestream drew global attention, attracting a Super Bowl-like audience and marking a strong start as an NFL media partner.
International
Production Incentives in Germany
Germany has extended the DFFF and GMPF programs, offering a 30% rebate on production costs starting February 1, 2025. Part of the new Film Law, this move strengthens the country's film industry amid global competition.
Streaming
Platform Report Card: Looking Back at This Year in Streaming
Starting in 2025, Netflix will stop reporting subscriber numbers, shifting focus to engagement, profit, and revenue. As streaming evolves, services like Apple TV+, Disney, Max, and Paramount+ refine strategies, while Peacock and Prime Video expand content and live sports offerings.
High five! Another Friday Five is going live next week—same time, same place. We know what caught our eyes, but we’re all ears. Tell us what you’d like to learn more about in our upcoming editions by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Be sure to tag #FridayFive in your comments.
Want an even more convenient way to stay in the know? Get Friday Five sent right to your inbox each week by signing up for our direct newsletter below.
See you next Friday at 10 a.m. (PT).