Hollywood
Tallinn and Tokyo markets launch joint award to encourage co-productions
NEW DELHI: A new Tallinn Black Nights Japan-Estonia Partnership Award has been created jointly by Industry@Talinn, part of Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, and TIFFCOM Co-Pro Connection, the project market that runs alongside Tokyo’s TIFFCOM market.
Industry@Talinn takes place from 25 to 29 November while TIFFCOM Co-Pro Connection was held from 22 to 24 October.
The award is intended to encourage greater cooperation between the film industries of Japan, Estonia and Northern Europe. The winning project at this week’s Tokyo event, deemed to have the most European co-production potential, will have the opportunity to find investors in Estonia next month.
“The previous year has marked a rapid increase in the two way interest in collaboration between Estonian and Japanese film-making communities with several production and post-production initiatives in discussion,” said Tallin Black Nights industry director Sten Saluveer.
The 17th Tallinn Black Night Film Festival (15 November to 1 December) includes a retrospective of director Wakamatsu Koji who died last year, alongside its regular programme of contemporary Asian films. The event has previous given awards to Tsukamoto Shinya and Ogigami Naoko.
Hollywood
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs in major restructuring drive
Layoffs span ESPN, studios and tech as company pivots to growth
MUMBAI: The magic isn’t disappearing but it is being reorganised. The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to cut around 1,000 jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at sharpening its edge in an increasingly unpredictable entertainment landscape. The move, led by CEO Josh D’Amaro, reflects a broader internal reset as the company rethinks how it operates, allocates resources and competes in a fast-evolving industry. In a memo to employees, D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but framed it as a necessary step to ensure Disney remains “efficient, innovative, and responsive” to rapid shifts in consumer behaviour and technology.
The layoffs will span multiple divisions, including marketing, film and television studios, ESPN, technology teams and corporate functions. Notifications have already begun, signalling that the restructuring is not a distant plan but an active transition underway.
Importantly, the company has clarified that the cuts are not performance-driven. Instead, they form part of a wider transformation strategy aimed at building a leaner, more agile organisation, one better equipped to respond to streaming dynamics, digital disruption and evolving audience expectations.
The timing is telling. The global entertainment industry is in the middle of a structural shift, with traditional television revenues under pressure and box office returns becoming increasingly volatile. Meanwhile, streaming platforms and digital-first competitors continue to redraw the rules of engagement, forcing legacy players to rethink scale, speed and storytelling formats.
For Disney, long synonymous with blockbuster franchises and timeless storytelling, the pivot is both strategic and symbolic. The company is doubling down on technology, direct-to-consumer services and content ecosystems that align with modern viewing habits, where audiences expect immediacy, personalisation and cross-platform experiences.
Even as the restructuring unfolds, D’Amaro struck a note of optimism, reiterating Disney’s commitment to creativity and long-term growth. Support measures for affected employees are expected as part of the transition, though details remain limited.
In essence, this is less about cutting back and more about reshaping forward. As Disney redraws its organisational map, the message is clear, in today’s entertainment world, even the most magical kingdoms must evolve or risk being left behind.
