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Announcements, events and behind-the-scenes from across Art City's divisions. Like the stories you love and save them for later.

22 Oct 2026Production

£6M UK Funding Scheme Launched, AI-Themed Series Harmonia Begins Shooting in Greece, and Our People Wraps Production

Three major updates have emerged across film and television production:

New £6M Funding Scheme in the UK: The West Midlands region has announced the £6 million West Midlands Content Production Fund (managed by Create Central), which will award grants ranging from £100,000 to £600,000 starting in early 2027 for film, TV, documentary, and animation projects.
Production Starts on Harmonia: The 6-episode psychological thriller series Harmonia has commenced filming in Greece. Co-produced by Warp Films and Neda Film, directed by Lefteris Charitos, and starring Niamh Algar and Fanny Ardant, the show centers around an AI-driven healthcare facility.
Our People Wraps Filming: Principal photography has wrapped on the 6-episode crime drama Our People (a Slovak, Czech, and German co-production) directed by Tereza Nvotová. Inspired by the 2018 assassination of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, the series is slated to air in spring 2027 on Czech Television.
Source: Official Production Press Releases

Sebastian Koch Joins Apple's Disavowed, Marin Ireland Cast in Pagans, and Slow Horses Season 7 Adds New Cast Members

Casting

Oct 22, 2026

Sebastian Koch Joins Apple's Disavowed, Marin Ireland Cast in Pagans, and Slow Horses Season 7 Adds New Cast Members

Three key developments have been announced in television casting Casting for Disavowed: German actor Sebastian Koch has landed a recurring role in the Apple TV+ action-thriller series Disavowed. Casting for Pagans: According to Deadline, Marin Ireland has joined the cast of the drama series Pagans, a project associated with Steven Yeun, alongside young actor casting updates. New Additions to Slow Horses Season 7: The acclaimed spy drama Slow Horses has officially added five new actors to its roster for its upcoming seventh season. Source: Deadline & Production Trade Reports

Music

Oct 22, 2026

US Court Hears Anthropic AI Copyright Case, and Warner Music Group Globalizes Sync Licensing

Two major updates have emerged regarding music copyrights and licensing structures: Anthropic Copyright Case: On October 21, 2026, Anthropic and major music publishers presented oral arguments in a California court regarding using song lyrics for AI model training. Anthropic argues for "fair use," while Universal and other publishers maintain it constitutes copyright infringement affecting songwriters. Warner Music Group Sync Overhaul: On October 21, 2026, WMG announced the unification of its global synchronization (Sync) licensing operations across recorded music and publishing. The company appointed Ron Broitman as Global Head of Sync to streamline legal approvals and expand commercial opportunities in film, TV, and gaming. Source: Reuters & Warner Music Group Official Announcement

Productions

Oct 22, 2026

£6M UK Funding Scheme Launched, AI-Themed Series Harmonia Begins Shooting in Greece, and Our People Wraps Production

Three major updates have emerged across film and television production: New £6M Funding Scheme in the UK: The West Midlands region has announced the £6 million West Midlands Content Production Fund (managed by Create Central), which will award grants ranging from £100,000 to £600,000 starting in early 2027 for film, TV, documentary, and animation projects. Production Starts on Harmonia: The 6-episode psychological thriller series Harmonia has commenced filming in Greece. Co-produced by Warp Films and Neda Film, directed by Lefteris Charitos, and starring Niamh Algar and Fanny Ardant, the show centers around an AI-driven healthcare facility. Our People Wraps Filming: Principal photography has wrapped on the 6-episode crime drama Our People (a Slovak, Czech, and German co-production) directed by Tereza Nvotová. Inspired by the 2018 assassination of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, the series is slated to air in spring 2027 on Czech Television. Source: Official Production Press Releases

Millions of Viewers Are Not Enough; Why Did Netflix Cut Its Ad Revenue Forecast by $300 Million?

Marketing

Oct 22, 2026

Millions of Viewers Are Not Enough; Why Did Netflix Cut Its Ad Revenue Forecast by $300 Million?

«Having a massive number of viewers alone is not enough to build a large and successful advertising business!» Netflix is the best and latest proof of this reality. The company has reduced its ad revenue forecast for 2026 from roughly $3 billion down to $2.7 billion. That is about $300 million less than it previously expected. This does not mean that Netflix's advertising business has failed; on the contrary, the company still anticipates strong growth in its ad revenue. However, the growth is not as fast as previously planned. Netflix attributes this decrease to the fact that the rollout of some technical capabilities within its advertising system has been slower than originally scheduled. What is the important lesson for marketers? Attention alone does not equal advertising revenue (Attention ≠ Advertising Revenue). You can gather millions of people on your platform, but to convert that attention into sustainable ad revenue, you need a strong infrastructure in: Precise Targeting Accurate Measurement Advanced Ad Technology Advertiser Demand On the other hand, Netflix is competing in a market where giants like YouTube and TikTok continuously consume a massive share of viewers' time. Therefore, the competition is no longer simply about: "Who has the most viewers?" Instead, it is a fierce race over: "Who can best convert viewer attention into real value for the advertiser?" The Netflix story is a simple and clear reminder for marketers: Building an Audience is one thing, but building an effective system for Monetization from that audience is something completely different.

Official Cast Confirmed for Homesick, Keanu Reeves in Talks with James Wan, and Kurdistan Film Commission Unveils $2M Fund

Casting

Oct 21, 2026

Official Cast Confirmed for Homesick, Keanu Reeves in Talks with James Wan, and Kurdistan Film Commission Unveils $2M Fund

Three major updates have emerged across casting, upcoming features, and production incentives: Official Casting for Homesick: Mena Suvari, David Arquette, Belle Shouse, and Alberto Rosende have officially been confirmed to star in the upcoming feature Homesick. Keanu Reeves' Next Project: Actor Keanu Reeves is currently in talks to star in an upcoming feature project directed by James Wan. Kurdistan Film Commission's $2M Fund: Announced at CineGouna in Egypt, the Kurdistan Film Commission unveiled a $2 million annual grant fund to attract international feature, short, documentary, and TV series productions. Source: Official Casting Trade Reports & CineGouna Announcements

Spotify Updates: Over 50 Million Spam Tracks Cleared from Recommendations and New AI Remix Partnership with Believe

Music

Oct 21, 2026

Spotify Updates: Over 50 Million Spam Tracks Cleared from Recommendations and New AI Remix Partnership with Believe

Two major updates have emerged concerning Spotify's platform management and AI initiatives: Spam Track Removal: Throughout 2026, Spotify purged over 50 million spam and low-quality tracks from its recommendation engine (separate from the complete deletion of 75 million other tracks) to combat fake content and AI misuse. Believe Partnership: Spotify has signed a licensing deal with French distributor Believe (and TuneCore) to support an upcoming AI-powered remix and versioning tool for Spotify Premium users, building on prior deals with Universal and Merlin. Source: Music Business Worldwide & Variety

Italy Launches €100M Fund, Legendary Proposes Lionsgate Acquisition, and Woody Allen Starts Filming in Madrid

Productions

Oct 21, 2026

Italy Launches €100M Fund, Legendary Proposes Lionsgate Acquisition, and Woody Allen Starts Filming in Madrid

Three major updates have emerged from film finance and global production: Italy's New Film Fund: Unveiled at the MIA Market in Rome, the One Media Capital Fund has been established with €100 million ($112 million) by RP1 Holding and Media Capital Technologies to back Italian film and TV content. Legendary Bids for Lionsgate: Legendary Entertainment has made a formal proposal to acquire Lionsgate Studios, aiming to merge massive film libraries and gain an international distribution network. Woody Allen's New Feature in Madrid: Director Woody Allen has kicked off production on his 51st feature film in Madrid with a €12 million budget (supported by €3 million in regional government funding), filming across nearly 30 locations. Source: Official Press Releases from MIA Market & Production Reports

Content Alone Isn't Enough; Why Salesforce is Spending $5.66 Billion to "Know the Customer"

Marketing

Oct 21, 2026

Content Alone Isn't Enough; Why Salesforce is Spending $5.66 Billion to "Know the Customer"

«In the marketing world, everyone is talking about how AI can generate text and images, but Salesforce’s $5.66 billion deal points to something much bigger: The future of marketing is not in content creation, but in customer understanding and real-time decision-making!» Salesforce has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the renowned customer engagement platform, Braze, in a transaction valued at approximately $5.66 billion. What exactly does Braze do? Simply put, it helps brands read and track customer behavior in real-time to build appropriate, timely communication. For example: A customer opens a shopping app, adds an item to their cart, but leaves without completing the purchase. The system instantly records this behavior and begins to make strategic decisions: What is the most suitable message for this specific customer? When is the exact right time to send it? Through which channel should it be delivered (Email, In-App Notification, SMS, or WhatsApp)? What kind of offer or discount is most likely to bring them back? The most fascinating component here is BrazeAI. The artificial intelligence doesn't just draft the messages; it actively assists the marketer in selecting the content, the offer, the channel, and the precise time of delivery. Instead of blasting one generic promotional message to thousands of buyers, the approach shifts to an intelligent system that executes the perfect formula: (Which Customer + Which Message + Which Channel + Which Time). The Shift from "Automation" to "Decisioning" This is exactly what makes the Salesforce acquisition so strategic. Salesforce owns the ultimate CRM and customer data ecosystem, Braze holds the power of real-time behavioral response, and AI acts as the brain making decisions across that data. If these elements are successfully integrated, marketing will take a massive leap from mere Automation to intelligent Decisioning. For marketers, this is a monumental shift. In the future, the competition between brands won't just be about who creates the best ad or the most beautiful creative; it will be about who understands their customer more deeply and responds precisely at the right moment. Therefore, Salesforce isn't just buying a marketing platform with this $5.66 billion; it is placing a massive bet on the future of the industry. A future where AI doesn't just generate creative content, but actively participates in making strategic marketing decisions. (Note: While the definitive agreement has been signed, the transaction is not yet complete. It remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in Salesforce’s fiscal year 2028).

Distribution

Oct 21, 2026

Kiki's Distribution Service makes ACFM debut with inaugural film slate

The newly formed Taiwan and Singapore sales agency is launching international distribution at the Asian Content & Film Market with martial arts thriller The Scar-Faced Cat and romance Points Up. Kiki's Distribution Service has made its market debut at the Asian Content & Film Market, introducing an inaugural sales slate headlined by the fantasy martial arts thriller The Scar-Faced Cat: Way Of Asura and the upcoming feature Points Up!. Established in 2024 with bases in Taiwan and Singapore, the outfit operates across film development, distribution, acquisitions, and international sales. Founder Kiki Yu brings nearly three decades of executive experience to the company, having previously held positions at Disney, Netflix, and iQIYI International, alongside consulting work for Prime Video across Southeast Asia. Directed by Get The Hell Out filmmaker Wang I-fan, The Scar-Faced Cat: Way Of Asura is making its world premiere in Busan's Midnight Passion sidebar before screening as the closing film at November's Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Set in Taiwan during the early era of Japanese colonial rule, the story centres on a martial arts police officer investigating a string of killings tied to gold-mining conflicts, where evidence points toward a legendary assassin. The project stars Taiwanese actor Han Ning alongside Japanese star Sota Fukushi. The second film on the launch lineup, Points Up!, is a youth romance adapted from a Kadokawa novel and marks the feature directorial debut of Li Bo-en. Written by Lu An-hsien and produced by Gavin Lin, the creative team behind Sunshine Women's Choir, the feature stars Ho Man-xi and Bruce Chiu, and is produced as a collaboration between Kadokawa and Studio76 Original Productions. Source: Screen Daily

Patrick Schwarzenegger and Leslie Grace Cast in Crime Drama The Journeyman

Casting

Oct 20, 2026

Patrick Schwarzenegger and Leslie Grace Cast in Crime Drama The Journeyman

A new film project has been officially announced: Cast: Patrick Schwarzenegger and Leslie Grace have been tapped to star in the crime feature The Journeyman. Plot: The story follows a tennis player who, driven by financial pressures, gets pulled into the murky underworld of match-fixing. Production Details: Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, principal photography for the film is scheduled to kick off on November 30.

Music

Oct 20, 2026

US Supreme Court Rejects Major Music Companies' Appeal, and APRA AMCOS Hits Record Revenue in Australia

Two major developments have emerged concerning music rights and market economics: US Supreme Court Ruling: On October 19, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Universal, Sony, Warner, and BMG seeking to overturn a lower court ruling, thereby upholding songwriters' rights to reclaim international copyrights under specific legal terms. APRA AMCOS Annual Report: The Australian and New Zealand rights organization reported a total revenue increase of 8.8% to reach AUD $857.4 million, though local music's share of streaming dropped from 13.6% to 8.5% over a five-year span. Source: APRA AMCOS / The Music & US Supreme Court Reports

Productions

Oct 20, 2026

New York Nears California in Production Spend, Historic Kaufman Astoria Studio Revived, and UK Horror Project Gears Up

Three major updates have emerged from the global film and television production landscape: New York's Production Surge: According to ProdPro data for Q3 2026, film production spending in New York jumped by 87% to reach $1.61 billion, bringing it very close to California ($1.76 billion) driven by major streaming and studio investments. Kaufman Astoria Studio Revival: New York’s historic studio (formerly Paramount Pictures' hub) is back in business under the management of Shadowbox Studios following financial restructuring. New Horror Feature Molepeople: The upcoming horror film starring Ben Mendelsohn and LaKeith Stanfield is ramping up production in the UK (London), with a scheduled week of filming in New York. Source: ProdPro Data & Production Reports

Taste Over Prompts; Why "Human Judgment" is the Most Valuable Skill in the Age of AI

Marketing

Oct 20, 2026

Taste Over Prompts; Why "Human Judgment" is the Most Valuable Skill in the Age of AI

«Just because Artificial Intelligence can generate an ad in a matter of minutes doesn't mean the consumer will necessarily accept or approve of it!» A recent study by DoubleVerify reveals that 47% of consumers in Singapore say that if a brand uses AI to create low-quality, bizarre, or unnatural advertisements, their perception of that brand will significantly worsen. This data highlights a critical point regarding the future of marketing: The strategic question is no longer "Should we use AI?", but rather, "Is what the AI creates worthy of our brand name?" It is true that AI can now produce images, videos, text, and dozens of types of creative content at high speed and low cost. However, ease of production does not equate to better content. On the contrary, when thousands of brands have access to the exact same technology, AI itself is no longer a competitive differentiator. What truly makes the difference? What sets one brand apart from another is Taste, Human Judgment, and a deep understanding of culture and consumer sentiment. The future of marketing is not a race to see who uses AI the most; it is a race to see who can better evaluate AI's output, know when to reject it, and curate only what perfectly aligns with their brand identity. Therefore, in the era of AI, the most valuable skill for a marketer may not be "Prompt Writing," but rather "Taste." Because while AI can generate the creative, it is still the human who must ultimately decide which creative deserves to carry the brand's name. (Note: The 47% figure is specific to Singaporean consumer data and should not be interpreted as a global benchmark, though it serves as a strong indicator of shifting consumer behavior).

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