Directors Digest — Thursday 5 February 2026
In the news this week, Paramount CEO David Ellison commits the company to content investment, theatrical windows, and preserving HBO, in its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, DGA president Christopher Nolan shares why DGA negotiations are significant for upholding industry standards, and Sky is relaunching its iconic Sky One channel later this year.
News
• Paramount CEO David Ellison has written an open letter to the UK creative community, committing to content investment, theatrical windows, and preserving HBO, as Paramount continues its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery. (Deadline)
• DGA president Christopher Nolan doesn’t expect that the union will be accepting any five-year contracts with the Hollywood studios, and shares his views on the significance of DGA negotiations for industry standards. (Deadline)
• BBC Kids commissioner Sarah Muller has praised the distinctive "Britishness" and creative diversity of the films supported by their animation development scheme, Ignite. Sarah suggests the scheme could help unseat American dominance in the genre. (Broadcast Now)
• The BFI has released the latest official figures showing that film and high-end TV production spend in the UK was £6.8 billion in 2025, a 22% increase on 2024’s first reported figures. (Televisual)
• Sky is relaunching its iconic Sky One channel later this year, bringing back the well-known brand to deliver a mix of original entertainment, comedy, and drama. (Televisual)
• UK creative industries minister Julia Lopez has suggested that public service broadcasters (PSBs) should collaborate more closely in order to effectively compete with global streaming giants. (TVBEurope)
• BET has ceased commissioning UK original content following the departure of Cicelia Deane. (Broadcast Now)
• The Anti-Racism Think Tank for European Film (Artef) has called on the screen industry to improve its support for Black and global majority producers and filmmakers, instead of using “on-screen diversity as a smokescreen for structural change”. (Screen Daily)
• A new report reveals that just 1.2% of filmmakers selected for major festivals between 2019-2023 identify as disabled or neurodivergent, highlighting significant underrepresentation in the industry. (Screen Daily)
Features
• Hitchcock’s The Lodger has been turned into a vertical microdrama. What’s next – Psycho on Snapchat? Asks Pamela Hutchinson. (The Guardian)
Opinion
• Why it’s time for the UK’s creative industries to wake up to India, writes Consultant Jonathan Badyal. (Broadcast Now)
Director Interviews
• ‘Women hold our power in our orifices’: Kristen Stewart on her audacious feature directing debut. (The Guardian)