Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week – January 19, 2025

Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - January 19, 2025

To be a filmmaker, you have to lead. You have to be psychotic in your desire to do something. People always like the easy route. You have to push very hard to get something unusual, something different.

-Danny Boyle

Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - January 19, 2025

Here are some filmmaking articles that we found interesting the past week. We hope you enjoy!

IndieWire – Christian Blauvelt

David Lynch, the influential filmmaker known for his surrealist and often unsettling works, has passed away at the age of 78. The news was confirmed on his official Facebook page. Lynch’s career spanned several decades, during which he created iconic films and television series that left an indelible mark on cinema and popular culture.

Sundance

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival has announced its Beyond Film programming, a series of talks and events that will take place from January 24-31, 2025. These events serve as a community hub for attendees, offering discussions with artists, filmmakers, and experts from various disciplines.

Deadline – Anthony D’Alessandro

The Sundance Film Festival has announced two new additions to its 2025 lineup in the Premieres category: “The Alabama Solution” directed by Andrew Jarecki and “The Stringer” directed by Bao Nguyen

Deadline – Matt Grobar

MUBI has acquired the global rights to “Magic Farm,” the latest film from writer-director Amalia Ulman.

Filmmaker Magazine – Lauren Wissot

“Grand Theft Hamlet” is a groundbreaking documentary directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls that won the Documentary Feature Jury Award at SXSW. The film is shot entirely within the video game Grand Theft Auto V, using the game’s mechanics to stage a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Sam Crane is an actor known for his stage work, while Pinny Grylls is a documentary filmmaker. This project marks their directorial debut.

ScreenDaily – Tim Dams and Jeremy Kay

The article from Screen Daily highlights 10 key talking points for the US and international film industry in 2025:

  1. Donald Trump’s second term and M&As

  2. US buyers at film markets

  3. US box office expectations

  4. Future of Sundance and AFM

  5. California production concerns

  6. International production hubs

  7. AI in European film industry

  8. Public funding cuts for festivals

  9. Production budget pressures

  10. Content trends

IndieWire – Harrison Richlin

Paul Schrader, the renowned filmmaker, recently shared his thoughts on AI’s potential in the film industry. In a Facebook post, Schrader revealed that he had been experimenting with ChatGPT to generate film ideas. He asked the AI for concepts not just for himself, but also for other legendary directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Ingmar Bergman, and Martin Scorsese.

Schrader expressed astonishment at the results, stating, “Every idea ChatGPT came up with (in a few seconds) was good. And original. And fleshed out.” He questioned why writers should spend months searching for ideas when AI can provide them instantly.

If you’ve found anything interesting this week let us know and we can spread the word next time!

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