Directors Digest — Thursday 13 July

Independent film, video rental and illegal streaming all come under the spotlight in today’s Directors Digest. Catch up with all the news and views from the industry here. 

Film

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has put $3m towards tackling Hollywood sexism. (The Verge)

In an extract from Tom Roston’s I Lost It at the Video Store: A Filmmaker’s Oral History of a Vanished Era, Richard Linklater celebrates the bygone era of video rental. (Indiewire)

Film 4 have appointed Ollie Madden as head of creative. (Film 4)

The BFI has announced a commission to investigate the health of the UK independent film sector. (ScreenDaily)

Meanwhile, Indiewire asks whether tickets for independent films should cost less. 

Television

Data suggests that illegal streamers would like to watch content legitimately. (Digital Look)

Channel 4 revenues have reached £1bn — but the broadcaster has warned of a brexit impact. (Variety)

Ellie Peers has taken the role of general secretary of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) on a permanent basis. (ScreenDaily)

We were saddened to hear of the passing of director and Directors UK member Jonathan Ingrams. Born in 1935, Jonathan directed a number of family-oriented productions over two decades, including Headline Hunters (1968) and The Boy With Two Heads (1974). 

Are you a member with an opinion on one of these stories? Is there an issue affecting directors that you think isn’t getting enough attention in the media? Why not write for us and make yourself heard — email [email protected] with your article idea.