https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sag-aftra-tentative-animation-contract-deal-2026 2026-09-23T18:19:59-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/animation-voice-actor_5dbc01f2-95e2-4556-b717-45e56984d7eb.jpg?v=1790201999 SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Deal on Animation Contracts A voice performer wearing headphones records at a studio microphone https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/california-ai-generated-performer-ad-disclosure-sb-1050 2026-09-23T18:21:09-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/california-production-set_2a83e066-eb77-483f-bac9-1de0f3525692.jpg?v=1790202069 California Enacts Disclosure Rule for AI-Generated Performers in Ads Professional cinema cameras and crew preparing a shot on a studio production set https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/ukraine-signs-lille-series-coproduction-convention 2026-09-23T18:21:27-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/ukraine-bukovel-landscape-top_ee94d413-2430-40b1-a672-79ed7559b979.jpg?v=1790202087 Ukraine Signs Europe’s New Series Co-Production Convention A winter view across Bukovel in the Ukrainian Carpathians, with mountains and the resort below https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/top-gun-maverick 2026-10-12T20:23:06-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/how-spotted-rates 2026-10-16T11:22:33-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/federal-film-tv-tax-credit-bill-2026 2026-09-24T16:06:41-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-production-crew_3028e9b7-fd17-492e-9e29-faa6d711d72d.jpg?v=1790280401 Federal Film and TV Tax Credit Bill Introduced With 20% Base Incentive Film crew setting up camera and sound equipment on location. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/premiere-pro-security-update-september-2026 2026-09-24T16:10:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/video-editing-room.jpg?v=1790280636 Premiere Pro Security Update Fixes Critical Vulnerability Professional video editing and control room with multiple monitors. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sxsw-2027-film-tv-submission-deadline 2026-10-03T18:31:28-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/movie-theater-seats_b8775526-c55a-4ca2-9c44-73054a2d5063.jpg?v=1791066688 SXSW 2027 Film and TV Submissions Are Closed—What Applicants Should Know Rows of empty movie-theater seats in a dark auditorium. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/afi-conservatory-fall-2027-application-deadline 2026-09-24T16:17:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-production-soundstage.jpg?v=1790281053 AFI Conservatory Fall 2027 Applications Close December 1 Harold Lloyd Motion Picture Sound Stage at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/spotlight-challenge-fall-2026 2026-09-24T21:48:37-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/spotlight-challenge-og-1200x630_bc298ba0-3271-4ab9-81c1-2384a620e88d.png?v=1790300917 Introducing The Spotlight Challenge The Spotlight Challenge Fall 2026 black-and-gold announcement graphic. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/film-independent-humana-shorts-2027 2026-09-27T13:13:22-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera_21129cc7-179b-46e2-9564-d7591a33d220.jpg?v=1790529202 Film Independent Opens Five-Film Program With $100,000 Budgets Cinematographer operating a professional digital cinema camera on an interior set. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/federal-film-tv-production-tax-credit-bill-2026 2026-09-27T13:23:00-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/us-capitol-film-incentive_d99cb825-c5d8-4e7a-9759-194ac582a8fd.jpg?v=1790529780 Bipartisan Bill Proposes 20% Federal Film and TV Production Credit The U.S. Capitol at sunrise in Washington, D.C. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/99th-oscars-submission-deadlines-2026 2026-10-11T18:41:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/academy-awards-red-carpet.jpg?v=1790904665 99th Oscars: Documentary Feature Deadline Is October 15 The Academy Awards red carpet and exterior of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/spotlight-creator-fund-what-we-know-so-far 2026-09-27T20:57:00-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/spotlight-creator-fund-film-crew.jpg?v=1790557020 Spotlight Creator Fund: What We Know So Far Students working on a short-film set during production. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/tribeca-att-untold-stories-2027 2026-10-01T21:27:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/tribeca-untold-stories.jpg?v=1790904470 Tribeca and AT&T Open $1.2 Million Untold Stories Film Prize Press photographers and guests on the Tribeca Film Festival red carpet. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sundance-documentary-fund-grantees-2026 2026-10-01T21:28:06-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera.jpg?v=1790904486 Sundance Doc Fund Awards More Than $1 Million to 19 Projects Independent filmmaker operating a cinema camera on location. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/nyc-made-in-ny-filmmaker-listening-tour-2026 2026-10-11T18:42:35-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/nyc-filmmaker-listening-tour.jpg?v=1791066898 NYC Filmmaker Listening Tour: Bronx Stop Is October 28 A film crew operating cameras and a crane on a Washington Heights street. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/2027-spirit-awards-extended-deadline-october-2 2026-10-03T18:33:18-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/spirit-awards-deadline.jpg?v=1791066798 2027 Spirit Awards Submissions Are Closed; Nominations Due December 2 Natalie Portman being interviewed at a Film Independent Spirit Awards event. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/the-odyssey 2026-10-12T20:20:50-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/obsession 2026-10-12T20:20:56-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/every-year-after-season-1 2026-10-16T11:13:47-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/the-end-of-oak-street 2026-10-16T11:18:35-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/gran-turismo 2026-10-16T11:20:39-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/spotted-ratings/uncharted 2026-10-12T20:21:39-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/tribeca-festival-2027-submissions-open 2026-10-03T18:29:18-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/tribeca-untold-stories_d58ac742-5d11-4b5c-8270-0a04eb6d9693.jpg?v=1791066558 Tribeca Opens 2027 Submissions Across Film, TV, Games and Podcasts Press photographers and guests on the Tribeca Film Festival red carpet. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/imaginenative-2027-submissions-open 2026-10-11T18:40:20-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-production-crew_8450f586-da44-4e2a-bf95-cf30b4694c44.jpg?v=1791066584 imagineNATIVE Opens 2027 Festival Submissions for Indigenous Creators Film crew setting up professional camera and sound equipment. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sundance-graton-fellowship-2027 2026-10-03T17:27:54-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera_e495d473-da01-4044-8cf0-0f4b9c18b8ee.jpg?v=1791062874 Sundance Graton Fellowship Offers Two $25,000 Grants Cinematographer operating a professional digital cinema camera on an interior set. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sag-aftra-animation-vote-october-29 2026-10-11T18:39:17-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/recording-studio-microphone.jpg?v=1791758177 SAG-AFTRA Animation Vote Runs Through October 29: What the Deal Would Change Close view of a microphone in a professional recording studio. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sundance-episodic-sloan-grant-2027 2026-10-11T18:39:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/video-editing-room_4e4fc653-dc1a-48c9-b3df-47235e7a7592.jpg?v=1791758211 Sundance’s $17,000 Episodic Sloan Grant Is Open Through December 14 A professional video editing room with monitors and editing controls. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sundance-merata-mita-fellowship-2027 2026-10-11T18:39:16-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera_11df417a-eb9a-4f6c-ab5b-b4323b6e3f86.jpg?v=1791758247 Sundance Merata Mita Fellowship Opens October 13 for Indigenous Women Filmmakers Cinematographer operating a professional digital cinema camera on an interior set. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/film-independent-humana-100000-short-films-2027 2026-10-12T20:06:50-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera_140f5920-46e5-40a2-9ce0-153668826f44.jpg?v=1791849594 Film Independent Opens Five $100,000 Short-Film Productions About Aging https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/skydance-warner-bros-merger-film-production-commitments 2026-10-12T20:07:05-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-production-soundstage_4683a43b-2d59-42e8-9495-08e4b75a1db5.jpg?v=1791849688 Skydance Closes Warner Bros. Deal With New Film Commitments https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/spotlight-drive-free-film-resources-for-students-plan 2026-10-12T20:07:54-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/video-editing-room_8d77ab36-fa9d-4612-8c49-b5bf19ca24ca.jpg?v=1791849720 What Spotlight Drive Is Building—and Why Student Resources Stay Free https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/dga-awards-deadline-is-october-16-for-first-time-features-and-documentaries 2026-10-15T12:57:33-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/independent-filmmaker-camera_51139c6d-e4c3-4d69-adb0-4afaf1b6ea3a.jpg?v=1792082207 DGA Awards Deadline Is October 16 for First-Time Features and Documentaries https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/iatses-2026-videotape-agreement-increases-are-now-in-effect 2026-10-15T12:57:46-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-production-crew.jpg?v=1792082263 IATSE's 2026 Videotape Agreement Increases Are Now in Effect https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/sag-aftra-says-members-can-no-longer-use-film-artists-associates 2026-10-15T12:57:59-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/spotted-casting-director.jpg?v=1792082379 SAG-AFTRA Says Members Can No Longer Use Film Artists Associates https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/christopher-nolan-troy-the-odyssey-trojan-horse 2026-10-16T11:38:30-04:00 weekly https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/bfi-global-screen-fund-co-production-2026 2026-10-16T13:56:01-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/bfi-global-screen-fund.jpg?v=1792173361 BFI Offers Up to £300,000 for International Co-Productions A performer adjusting his hat on a movie set beside a microphone and ring light. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/miff-2027-submissions-open 2026-10-16T14:16:47-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/miff-2027-submissions.jpg?v=1792174607 MIFF Opens 2027 Submissions for Features, Shorts and XR Audience members talking before a Melbourne International Film Festival screening. https://spotlightdrive.com/blogs/news/film-independent-camera-grant-rolling 2026-10-16T14:18:36-04:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0730/9121/9565/articles/film-independent-camera-grant.jpg?v=1792174716 Film Independent Camera Grant Accepts Applications Year-Round ARRI Alexa digital cinema camera mounted on a tripod outdoors.