Film and TV Briefing: Friday 8 January 2021

Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, commentary and industry announcements that you may have missed from the past week.

If you are looking for advice in relation to any of the issues mentioned, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

In the news

Impact of the Brexit trade deal for the screen sector – BFI Q&A (BFI)

National lockdown sees UK cinemas close again (Screen Daily)

Filming can continue during the latest lockdown (Broadcast)

Hold on in-person Southern Californian production recommended as Covid cases rise (Variety)

BBC responds to lockdown with educational “lifeline for parents’ (Broadcast)

MGM up for sale with $5 billion price-tag (Guardian)

Arts Alliance to open ‘Garden studios’, a new studio complex in London (Broadcast)

Former banker, Richard Sharp set to become next BBC chair (Guardian)

Wonder Woman 1984 closes the year as US domestic box office takings for 2020 hit 40-year low (Hollywood Reporter)

76% fall in UK and Ireland box office in 2020 – will there be a lasting impact? (Screen Daily)

Madrid’s filming boom (Screen Daily)

Streaming in 2020: winners and losers (Indiewire)

Features and commentary

Ones to watch: Variety’s most anticipated films of 2021 (Variety)

A look back at film and television in 2020 (Forbes)

Covid news topped the UK’s TV ratings in 2020 (The Guardian)

Industry announcements

UK’s Film and TV Production Restart Scheme extended to April 2021 (Variety)

Government extends insurance for over 70s cast members (Equity)

Ofcom introduces new protections for people participating in TV and radio shows (Ofcom)

Resources

Upcoming 2021 events (BAFTA)

Cinema reopening dates (Screen Daily)

Legal Updates

PACT Brexit update for indies (PACT)

Latest UK Government guidance for national lockdown (Gov.uk)