Last Thursday's 25th Film Industry Forum at the Media Days focussed on forecasts for short and medium-term developments from various perspectives. The central question was how production capacity utilisation will develop. The demand for skilled labour depends on it, it is influenced by the economy and funding policy, and ultimately the development of AI solutions also follows this market development. The various cause-and-effect consequences are assessed similarly by the experts. We summarise the results for you and also provide an insight into the general mood.

The dispute over the future influence of artificial intelligence led to a strike by writers and actors in the USA, which is estimated to have cost more than USD 7 billion in total. Prof Sylvia Rothe from HFF Munich is one of the leading experts on the topic of artificial intelligence and will be contributing her expertise as a panellist at the Forum Filmwirtschaft: What opportunities, risks and current applications affect the film industry?

Can Europe stand up to the global players from America? Numerous well-known companies and successful filmmakers are now united under the umbrella of Leonine Studios. With the strong network of production and distribution companies, particularly in Europe, the concept of American major studios is also continuing in this country: does this offer new opportunities for Germany as a film location?

Cinema as a premium experience is reinventing itself all over the world. Alongside the mainstream, cinema offers small films a big screen and cinematic art a big stage. In competition with streaming services, extra-long films have returned, opening up a wide range of creative possibilities in terms of narrative structure and rhythm: How does the Main association German Film Theatres (HDF) as the leading association of cinemas?

Film art needs film funding and the entertainment industry needs economic incentives. European neighbours have already proven that the two can complement each other. After a very successful initial phase, the German subsidy system had become less and less competitive. There was no political majority in favour of internationally established tax credit models. As a result, many projects by German producers have moved away and only a few international productions have been attracted to Germany. Cornerstones for an intelligent alternative have now been found - but what are the next steps?

If you want to produce, you need infrastructure and staff. The latter in particular has been a headache in recent years. There were repeated complaints that well-trained skills were leaving Germany due to a lack of stability in attractive productions. With Penzing Studios, a magnet for international productions has established itself within a very short space of time - despite the challenges already mentioned. A production hub for on-location productions in the Alpine region, virtual production at the very highest international level and, in addition, almost unlimited studio capacities with a multitude of filming locations on the site, right in the heart of Bavaria, have long been regarded as a game changer: what is the recipe for success with this unusual model?

Participation in the 25th Forum Filmwirtschaft will take place as part of Medientage München 2023. Tickets and further information, including on other exciting offers, can be found at Munich Media Days 2023.

25th Forum Film Industry

Moderation: Prof Dr Klaus Schaefer

Panel: Dr Lisa Giehl (Leonine Studios), Christine Berg (HDF), Prof. Dr Sylvia Rothe (HFF Munich), Christian Sommer (SPIO), Joe Neurauter (Penzing Studios)

26.10.2023, 5 pm

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adag payroll services, Black Forest Studios, Cattleya, International Film Partners, Ludwig Kameraverleih, OneGate Media, Optical Art and Penzing Studios

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(Author: Markus Vogelbacher, Image: International Film Partners)