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California
California Expands Film Tax Credits
California has awarded $334 million to 52 films, including Heat 2 and a new Jumanji, through its expanded film tax credit program. The initiative is expected to generate $1.4 billion in economic activity and create nearly 9,000 jobs statewide.
International
France Strengthens Protections for Screenwriters
France’s leading film industry groups, backed by the CNC, have signed a landmark agreement to formally recognize and better compensate feature film screenwriters, introducing guaranteed minimum fees, mandatory credit placement, and pay monitoring.
Gaming
Women Redefine Gaming Audiences
As cozy gaming and casual play grow in popularity, women now make up a major share of gamers, but advertisers still overlook them. Brands are missing opportunities to reach Millennial and Gen X women who are highly engaged, high-spending players, while companies like Zynga push for more inclusive marketing that connects gaming with women-focused media such as Hallmark and Bravo.
Film Festival
Focus Features Debuts Immersive FocusFest
Focus Features hosted its first-ever FocusFest on the Universal lot. The experiential film festival with screenings, themed activations, and exclusive merch was aimed at engaging a younger, Letterboxd-driven generation of cinephiles through lifestyle branding inspired by A24 and Criterion.
Film
$20 Million Price Tag Revealed for Bond Deal
New reports reveal Amazon MGM paid $20 million to gain creative control of the James Bond franchise through its joint venture with longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli—a major move in 007’s ongoing evolution ahead of the next film from Denis Villeneuve.
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