Cast & Crew Blog

This Week's Handful of Must-See Headlines

Written by Cast&Crew | 05/08/2026


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Union

SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Four-Year Deal With Major Studios
SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative four-year agreement with major studios, helping to avoid a repeat of the 2023 strikes. The deal includes key provisions on AI protections, streaming residuals, and updated compensation terms for performers. It also extends the standard contract term by an additional year, mirroring the structure of the recent agreement reached by the Writers Guild of America.

International

AgoraEU programme Open Letter Calls for Protection of Dedicated Cinema Funding
Over 4,500 filmmakers and industry figures, including Joachim Trier, Ruben Östlund, Yorgos Lanthimos, Francis Ford Coppola, and Juliette Binoche, have signed an open letter urging the European Union to safeguard dedicated cinema funding within the upcoming AgoraEU programme. The appeal calls for continued support for film-specific investment as part of the new framework set to replace Creative Europe from 2028.

Film Festival

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Expands Industry Days Program for 2026
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is expanding its Industry Days program for 2026 with several new initiatives aimed at broadening its international reach and professional offerings. These include a Book-To-Screen adaptation program focused on Central and Eastern European literature, a rebranded globally oriented KVIFF Promises platform, and new panels exploring topics such as true crime ethics, alternative distribution models, and the use of AI tools in filmmaking.

Spain

Spain’s Womack Group and Anta Asset Management Launch €80M Audiovisual VC Fund
Spain’s Womack Group and Anta Asset Management have launched an €80 million venture capital fund aimed at high-growth Spanish audiovisual companies. The fund will invest across production, distribution, and emerging technologies, including AI, XR, and virtual production, with a focus on scaling innovation within the sector.

Broadway

79th Tony Awards Nominations Led by ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’
The nominations for the 79th Tony Awards are led by The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon!, which each earned 12 nods, followed closely by the Ragtime revival with 11. The race is unusually tight this year and set records with June Squibb becoming the oldest acting nominee at 96, while Danny Burstein became the most-nominated male performer in Tony history.

 

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