U.K. Film Production Spending Reaches Record High; Visions du Réel to Feature Laura Poitras
The United Kingdom's film production sector reached a record high in 2025, topping $9 billion in spending, according to the British Film Institute's annual investment report released on February 5, 2026. This surge in investment was fueled by productions such as "Wuthering Heights" and movies centered around The Beatles.
Meanwhile, in other news from the film world, U.S. filmmaker Laura Poitras was announced as the special guest at the opening of the 24th edition of VdRIndustry, the industry program of the documentary festival Visions du Réel. Poitras's film "Cover-Up" is also slated to screen at the festival.
In the world of sports, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are set to begin, holding special significance for Warner Bros. Discovery, according to Nick Vivarelli of Variety. The Olympics will overlap with the launch of "Heated Rivalry" on HBO Max in Europe, which Warner Bros. Discovery sees as "the best premium content we can offer." The Games will also mark a poignant moment for figure skater Maxim Naumov, who made his Olympic debut in Milan a year after losing his parents, both former Olympians and skating coaches, in a plane crash on January 29, 2025, over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., according to Time. Naumov had discussed making the Olympic team with his parents since he began skating.
In Iran, the aftermath of recent protests and their suppression by the Islamic Republic continues to reverberate. According to Time, Iranians from Tehran to Los Angeles are "in collective shock, even traumatized" by the events of January 8 and 9, 2026, when peaceful demonstrations devolved into violence after the regime severed internet access and security forces opened fire on crowds. The report suggests that the actions taken by the regime indicate "orders were issuedpresumably directlyby the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to crush the protests by any means necessary."
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment