At San Sebastián’s 2026 Creative Investors’ Conference, speakers cited a U.S. box-office rebound and social media’s pull with younger audiences; Ampere Analysis put the TV market at 75% of peak levels, amid continued problems in international markets.
Producers and sales agents are turning to equity to offset weaker pre-sales, streamer pullback and falling broadcaster pre-buys. Goodfellas’ Vincent Maraval said local films make up 60% of Indonesia’s cinema market, compared with an estimated 10%–15% a decade ago. Spain’s SETT reported €216 million invested in 15 audiovisual operations, generating €445 million in total investment. The fund invests up to 49% equity in companies that must secure at least 51% private participation; it does not provide grants or project financing.
Producer Rodrigo Teixeira said he believes international films will make up 60% of the Oscars’ best-picture category within five years. Pablo Larraín said 80%–85% of films going to major festivals lack distribution; he and his brother Juan de Dios presented Pijama, a video-on-demand platform offering global or selected-territory access. Uploads cost $100 for two years, with rights holders receiving 80% of revenue. AI practitioner Ryan Kavanaugh said AI can cut below-the-line costs by two-thirds, citing a shoot schedule reduced from 70 to 19 days; Patrick Wachsberger supported AI for expanding a film’s scope, not for actors.
