The Sideletters

Studio Massah

The Sideletters is the weekly B2B podcast on film, tech & future business in Europe. For professionals & decision makers in the creative industries. Hosted from Berlin/Hamburg, Paris, and Warsaw, we analyze the markets, cinema & streaming trends, business strategies, and technology shaping the future of European entertainment. Essential listening for producers, distributors, investors, and creative executives. New episodes out every Wednesday. Join the community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sideletters

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    #006 with Séries Mania Forum‘s head Francesco Capurro & Joanna‘s take on the Oscars AI predictions

    In Episode #006 of The Sideletters, we explore the forces reshaping European series production with Francesco Capurro, Director of Series Mania Forum, and on what to expect at this year’s edition. He also speaks about why co-productions aren't optional anymore, they're essential, about the new EU legal framework that is unlocking international partnerships, and the European vs. the American models for creative teams in series. Also in this episode: Joanna's breakdown on AI predicting the Oscars, and why diversity in governing bodies changes what algorithms can never predict. → [Series Mania Forum](https://seriesmania.com/forum/) → [Prompt used by Joanna](https://files.studiomassah.com/s/SmpXsJZ7w7tFw4E) → Links to documents mentioned by Joanna: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0066_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-10-2026-0066_EN.html https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/media-centre/house-of-lords-media-notices/2026/march-2026/uk-creative-industries-face-a-clear-and-present-danger-from-generative-ai-government-must-not-sacrifice-our-outstanding-creative-capacity-for-speculative-ai-gains/ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldcomm/267/26702.htm 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on [⁠LinkedIn⁠](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sideletters). The Sideletters is a weekly European B2B conversation on film, tech & future business. New episodes every Wednesday. Hosted by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris), Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw) and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg) *Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.*

    48 min

  2. 11 MAR

    #005 "You Are the Industry": EAVE's Tina Trapp on Producer Empowerment in the Age of Consolidation

    In Episode #005 of The Sideletters, Joanna and Jennifer have a conversation with Kristina Trapp, CEO of EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), on 35 years of training international producers and why success isn't just about money. How EAVE's Impact Think Tank imagines a better industry through equity, inclusion, and social responsibility. Plus: an exclusive outlook on upcoming workshops, Creative Europe MEDIA's critical role, and why producers in war-torn countries without funding inspire her most. Trapp's message: "You are not only working in this industry, you are the industry. You are agents of change." Also in this episode: Fabian's deep dive on the Great Consolidation (Paramount-Warner Bros, Showmax shutdown, Banijay-All3Media merger) and what previous consolidation eras teach independent producers about positioning for what comes after. Hosted by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris), Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw) and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg) → EAVE 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠. The Sideletters is a weekly European B2B conversation on film, tech & future business. New episodes every Wednesday. Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.

    32 min

  3. 4 MAR

    #004 | What Does an AI-Native Production Company Actually Look Like? w/ Katharina Gellein Viken, Metrotone

    In Episode #004 of The Sideletters, Joanna and Jennifer sit down with Katharina Gellein Viken, CEO of Metrotone and creator of the Raynmaker Project, to discuss what it actually looks like to build an AI-native production company in Europe. Kat's journey - from producing Norway's Strictly Come Dancing to rebuilding her company around AIHow a small production company turned "disadvantage" into competitive advantageRanmaker: A K-pop crime thriller developed as transmedia IP (graphic novel, music videos, micro drama)The AI tool Kat built that fingerprints scripts to prevent unauthorized LLM trainingPractical advice: Which AI models to use, how to evaluate ethics, where to startWhy "human-first creation" could be the most valuable pitch in the AI eraHosted by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris) and Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw) today. (Fabian Massah will be back next week) → AI & The Creative Professional Podcast → Screenburn App → “Say Chickabang!” - Raynmaker 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠. The Sideletters is a weekly European B2B conversation on film, tech & future business. New episodes every Wednesday. Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.

    35 min

  4. 25 FEB

    #003 | "Everything is Political": Berlinale Controversy, Netflix vs Paramount, McKinsey on AI in Film & TV, and the Césars

    Episode #003 of The Sideletters tackles the uproars on the Berlinale jury statement, major industry consolidation moves, and César Awards predictions. This Week: The "stay out of politics" remark that sparked industry backlash - and how legacy and social media picked it up, and certain politicians weaponized it within hoursParamount’s and Netflix's aggressive play for Warner Bros. assets and what it means for European marketsa fresh report by McKinsey on the impact of AI in the film & TV industriesCésar predictions: Best Film, Best Foreign FilmHosted by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris), Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw, and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg). → McKinsey Report on the impact of AI in Film & TV The Sideletters is a weekly European B2B conversation on film, tech & future business. New episodes every Wednesday. 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.

    45 min

  5. 18 FEB

    #002 | Live from the EFM: Joanna’s Dispatch, Who will save our Industry?, Yohann Comte on Charades’ Sales Strategy & Why Cinema Matters

    Episode #002 of The Sideletters comes to you live from the European Film Market and Berlinale 2026! This week, Fabian Massah and Joanna Szymanska report directly from the EFM, with Joanna - whose film “Dust” premiered in Competition - delivering a personal dispatch from the market floor, and Fabian sitting down with Yohann Comte, co-founder and chairman of French sales company Charades. Joanna reflects on: The jury press conference controversy: Did cinema really get told to "stay out of politics"?Why this year's festival feels different: from survival mode to building modeThe return of transmedia strategy and "liquid IP"AI conversations: getting practical vs. the hypeThe Agora EU threat to Creative Europe's MEDIA ProgrammeAudience fragmentation isn't the problem - discovery isIn Conversation with Yohann Comte (Charades): Charades has “A New Dawn” by Yoshitoshi Shinomiya premiering in Competition tonight. Yohann discusses: The relevance of animation titles in their portfolioGenre trends: What's selling vs. what's strugglingHow Charades are navigating within the streaming-theatrical balanceTheir approach to director-driven projects over IP-driven contentWhy curation matters more than ever in an oversaturated market→ Film i Väst → Charades The Sideletters is a weekly European B2B conversation on film, tech & future business. New episodes every Wednesday. 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.

    40 min

  6. 11 FEB

    #001 | Inside the EFM 2026 w/ Tanja Meissner, The New German Film Law

    Finally, white smoke in Berlin! After years of uncertainty, the new German Film Law is here. In this episode, we break down what the new 8% investment obligation means for Netflix, RTL, and ZDF - and why the numbers might not be as scary for them as they look. And above all: What does it mean for producers? Then, we head to Potsdamer Platz. With the European Film Market (EFM) kicking off this week, we sit down with Tanja Meissner (Director of Berlinale Pro) to get the inside track. In this episode, Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris), Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw), and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg), discuss: Boosting the incentive volume to 250m EUR, including a rights escalator for producers: Is one of the biggest European markets finally competitive again? The Investment Quotas: We run the math on broadcasters and streamers. EFM 2026 Preview: From the future of Indie Film to the AI-driven tools in the Innovation Lab. What to expect for the 12,000 film industry professionals landing in Berlin. And how the EFM amidst its focus on technical innovation, always keeps the human in the centre. → EFM Event Schedule → EFM Industry Insights Podcast → German Film Law (from The Spot, German language) 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Note: We just started. Still fine-tuning our sound.

    47 min

  7. 5 FEB

    #000 | The "Death" of Indie Film? Melania, YouTubers & A European Reality Check

    Is the independent film model broken, or is it just changing hands? In this pilot episode of The Sideletters, we look at the numbers that confused the industry this week. While Sharon Waxman (The Wrap/NYT) writes about the "Death of Indie Film" post-Sundance, two "independent" films just stormed the US Box Office top 3: The controversial Melania documentary and the YouTube-creator-led horror Iron Lung. Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw), Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris) and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg), analyze the divide between the US hype and the European reality. In this episode: Joanna reports back from a screening of Melania. Why the documentary grossed $7M in the US, and hardly had any impact in European cinemas. Definition Dilemma: When a YouTuber - Mark Fischbach’s Iron Lung hit an $18M opening without studio backing - and a political figure dominate the "Indie" charts, do we need to redefine independent distribution?-> The Guardian on Melania -> Sharon Waxman in the NY Times 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn Note: This is our pilot recording. We are fine-tuning our sound, but the insights were too hot to wait.

    32 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

The Sideletters is the weekly B2B podcast on film, tech & future business in Europe. For professionals & decision makers in the creative industries. Hosted from Berlin/Hamburg, Paris, and Warsaw, we analyze the markets, cinema & streaming trends, business strategies, and technology shaping the future of European entertainment. Essential listening for producers, distributors, investors, and creative executives. New episodes out every Wednesday. Join the community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sideletters

Information

  • Creator
    Studio Massah
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Studio Massah
  • Show Website
    The Sideletters

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