DirectorsDigest—Friday2August2024

This week, 52 per cent of UK screen industry currently out of work according to new Bectu report, Miranda Wayland is appointed Creative Diversity Network CEO, and Warner Bros. Discovery launches new directors initiative for women in the North of England.

Read all about it in this week’s digest. 

News

“52 per cent of UK screen industry still out of work” following last year’s strikes. (Deadline) 

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and members of the North East Combined Authority have given the green light to a £25 million investment in the region’s screen industry. (North East Screen) 

Miranda Wayland has been appointed Chief Executive of the Creative Diversity Network. (The Knowledge)

New UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy sets out vision to industry leaders: “We will have your back”. (Screen)

Broadcaster S4C has grown its digital reach by a third amid a “difficult period internally”. (Broadcast) 

Warner Bros. Discovery has launched a Waterloo Road directors initiative aimed at women based in the North of England. (Broadcast) 

Director Mike Leigh will be feted at this year’s Toronto Film Festival with the TIFF Ebert Director Award for career achievement. (Deadline) 

Features

How much will AI affect the art of filmmaking? (Guardian) 

Captioning still needs a human touch, AI is not taking over quite yet. (IndieWire) 

MUBI Notebook explores the films of Shinji Sômai in celebration of the director’s first North American retrospective. (MUBI Notebook)

Interviews

Director Interviews

For M. Night Shyamalan, Trap might be his A Man Escaped. (IndieWire) 

How Doug Liman’s indie filmmaking roots helped him pull off a 36-day shoot for The Instigators. (IndieWire)