The new 2026 Nostradamus Report the Gothenburg Film Festival paints a picture of an audiovisual industry that can no longer be conceived in terms of separate categories. Film, television, streaming and creator media are increasingly merging into a single, complex ecosystem – and it is precisely this shift that is fundamentally challenging traditional models of success.

Under the title “Challenging Projections” analysed by media analyst Johanna Koljonen The report examines an industry that is having to reorganise itself following a decade of constant disruption. The key finding is that the traditional dividing lines between cinema, TV and online content are blurring – both economically and creatively.

An ecosystem rather than separate media worlds

For the first time, the report systematically describes the audiovisual landscape as a coherent system. Content is no longer produced along clear distribution channels, but circulates between platforms, formats and communities.

This reveals a two-pronged trend: whilst traditional TV drama productions are in sharp decline, film production is reaching new heights in some markets – at the same time, the sector of short-form series and so-called „micro-dramas“ is growing rapidly.

The result is that the boundaries between the professional film industry and the creator economy are becoming increasingly blurred.

The Creator Economy as a New Reality in Production

A key theme of the report is the rise of creatorsinteriors and influencershas become an established part of the audiovisual production system. What was once regarded as „parallel“ to the film and TV industry has long since become an integral part of the value chain.

New careers are increasingly emerging outside traditional institutions and only later finding their way into established production structures. At the same time, the traditional industry is still struggling to fully acknowledge this development.

New business models and the question of success

Another key focus is on the question of how success will be defined in future. Traditional metrics such as cinema figures or linear viewing figures are becoming less important, whilst reach, community engagement and IP longevity are becoming more important.

In this context, new models of the „content economy“ are emerging, in which content is no longer viewed as individual works but as long-term brands and ecosystems. Communities are increasingly becoming active contributors to this process.

Relevance rather than nostalgia

The report warns against continuing to regard new digital formats as „less valuable“. It argues that this attitude prevents the industry from learning from successful new forms of storytelling and distribution.

Instead, there needs to be a greater focus on actual audience behaviour – regardless of whether content is produced in cinemas, on streaming platforms or on social media.

Conclusion: An industry without clear boundaries

The Nostradamus Report 2026 It does not present a traditional vision of the future, but rather a description of the current state of a system in transition. The key insight is that the audiovisual industry is no longer a linear value chain, but rather a networked, dynamic ecosystem.

For producers, funding bodies and creative professionals, this means one thing above all else: in future, success will go to those who no longer think in terms of old categories – but in terms of platforms, communities and flexible narrative spaces.