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

  1. 23h ago

    #026 | Film Business in Africa w/ Osoo Omondi

    Fabian Massah sits down with Nairobi-based producer and entrepreneur Osoo Omondi. Ahead of the release of his groundbreaking book, "Film Business in Africa", Osoo challenges the outdated perceptions of the African market and explains why African stories are the ultimate unexploited, renewable resource in the global industry. We explore the urgent need to build an architecture for local IP ownership and unpack the diverse regional markets across the continent, from the entrepreneurial engine of Nollywood to the technical infrastructure of East Africa to the regulatory frameworks in South Africa. Osoo also breaks down the "poverty porn trap" of NGO-funded cinema, reframes piracy as distorted market intelligence, and discusses how AI intersects with data ownership and cultural preservation. Links: 🔗  Osoo Omondi (LinkedIn) 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  2. Jul 22

    #025 | The Fight for Gender Parity in Film w/ WIFT's Lisa Herbers. The Odyssey. Netflix's Value Proposition

    In this episode, Joanna Szymanska and Fabian Massah explore: • Netflix's "What We Watched" Report (H1 2026): A deep dive into the latest engagement numbers. With more choices leading to "comfort food" viewing, has Netflix lost its curatorial edge? We discuss the platform's evolving DNA, the decline of the middle ground, and how Apple TV+ and Prime Video are stepping up to compete. • Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey: The massive summer blockbuster is out and breaking box office records. We share our spoiler-free thoughts, discuss the eventification of cinema, and spark a debate: Could this film be a frontrunner for the European Film Awards? • Gender Parity in the Film Industry: Despite the "50/50 by 2020" movement, recent data shows a concerning backward trend for female directors, particularly in high-budget categories. We are joined by special guest Lisa Herbert (Producer at JUNA Film and board member of WIFT Germany) to break down the systemic blockages, harmful stereotypes, and why giving women the reins on bigger budgets isn't just equitable, it’s better for business. Links: 🔗  WIFT Germany 🔗  WIFT International 🔗  What We Watched 1H 2026 (Netflix) 🔗  What We Watched 1H 2025 (Netflix) 🔗  Podcast on The Odyssey (NYT) 🔗  Who Owns The Odyssey? (New Yorker) 🔗  Krnov 70mm Film Festival 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  3. Jul 15

    #024 | Netflix Chases YouTube, EAVE's New Leadership & The Future of Letterboxd

    This week, Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine and Fabian Massah break down the latest shifts in the audiovisual industry. EAVE's New Era: Jennifer discusses her exciting new role taking over as Co-Head of Studies for the prestigious EAVE Producers Workshop, her vision for equitable co-productions, and empowering the next generation of independent producers. Then it’s Netflix vs. YouTube: Netflix is pivoting strategy by adding short-form and lifestyle videos. Is this a genius move to capture attention, or a "cheap content" panic? And more importantly: Why is Europe still waiting for its own competitive, independent video platform? Letterboxd for sale: With the independent film community Letterboxd in $250M sale talks with giants like Paramount and Netflix, we debate the future of independent film discovery. Will a corporate takeover ruin its editorial independence? We look at how monopolies shape content discovery and potential European alternatives. Links: 🔗  Netflix going after YouTube (Matt Belloni / Puck) 🔗 Letterboxd for sale (Inidewire) 🔗  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.Hosted by Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine (Paris), Joanna Szymanska (Warsaw) and Fabian Massah (Berlin/Hamburg).

  4. Jul 8

    #023 | Streamer Investment Obligation Discussions Heating Up & Karlovy Vary Industry Insights with Hugo Rosák

    Joanna Szymanska and Fabian Massah dive deep into the heated debate surrounding streamer investment obligations in Europe. With tech giants like Netflix and Amazon pushing back against regulations in Germany and France, what does this mean for the local creative economy? Is it an unfair tax on success, or a necessary contribution from an "extraction business" to fuel cultural diversity? At the same time, there is an engagement problem especially with 2nd and 3rd seasons. We discuss why they are still producing them. And that actually leads to the question: How do streamers measure the economic value of their production in investments in their balance sheets? Later in the episode, Joanna sits down with Hugo Rosák, Head of Industry at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF). They discuss the festival's ongoing mission to spotlight Central and Eastern European talent, foster cross-border co-productions, and the new "Book to Screen" initiative. Plus, they explore how independent producers can build resilience in an ever-shifting market. Links: 🔗  Streamers engagement problem (Lucas Shaw - Bloomberg) 🔗  KVIFF Industry Programme 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  5. Jul 1

    #022 | A24's AI Deal, Big Tech's Grip on Indie Film, & The World Cup Economy

    This week, we're starting with some exciting news close to home: our own Jennifer is taking over as co-head of studies at the prestigious EAVE Producers Workshop. 👏 Plus: We dive deep into A24's controversial $75M deal with Google’s DeepMind and what it tells us about Big Tech’s tightening grip on indie film. We also dissect Amazon MGM’s sudden cancellation of Luca Guadagnino’s Sam Altman movie and its move to Neon. We cover the growing battle over digital services taxes between Europe and the US, Comcast's strategic split of NBCUniversal, and wrap up with a look at the unprecedented scale of the FIFA World Cup and why live sports remain the ultimate draw for streamers. Links: 🔗 Comcast’s Split (Variety) 🔗 Luca Guadagnino on the Amazon MGM deal on his film (The Wrap) 🔗 Jennifer’s new role at EAVE (Screen) 🔗 Trump’s Tariff threats (The Guardian) 🔗 FIFA World Cup Numbers (Nielsen) 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  6. Jun 24

    #021 | Big Tech Meets Independent Film, TV's New Play, The Digital Circus Phenomenon & a European Social Network

    In this episode of The Sideletters, Jennifer, Joanna and Fabian discuss European Social Media: Is WSocial the new European alternative to X? We discuss the push for digital sovereignty and new platforms emerging in the EU. A24 & Google's DeepMind: With Google investing $75 million in the indie darling A24, what does the future of AI-powered filmmaking tools look like? Are the tech giants coming for indie cinema? Instagram vs. Netflix: Meta is bringing Instagram to your living room TV. Could this episodic format challenge the streaming giants for sofa viewing? TF1 & Netflix Partnership: A landmark distribution deal in France. What happens when public broadcasters hand over their distribution to streamers, and how does it affect the ecosystem? Film Revenue & Waterfalls: We break down the complex reality of backend deals, inspired by a viral analysis of box office receipts, and explore new equity models for risk-sharing among film crews and producers. The Amazing Digital Circus: How an indie YouTube animated series from Glitch Productions dominated global box offices, proving that original creator-led IP can rival traditional studio blockbusters. Links: 🔗 Mynette Louie breaking down (possible) Obsession waterfall 🔗 The Amazing Digital Circus 🔗 Netflix / TF1 Deal (Deadline) 🔗 Google Investing 75m USD in A24 (Variety) 🔗 W Social 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  7. Jun 17

    #020 | Challenging Projections: The New Content Economy with Johanna Koljonen

    We dive into the ever-shifting landscape of the European creative industries, starting with two major stories: the sobering Europe 2031 report on AI and digital sovereignty (including the recent Anthropic model shutdown for European users), and the $250M launch of Compound Creative Holdings by CAA and TPG. Then stay tuned for a thought-provoking conversation on what we need to focus on: We sit down with media analyst and futurist Johanna Koljonen, author of the renowned Nostradamus Report. We discuss its 2026 edition, "Challenging Projections," exploring how film, TV, streaming, and the creator economy have merged into one connected ecosystem. Johanna challenges the European "snobbery" dividing art from commerce, urging the industry to build meaningful direct connections with audiences, stop acting out of fear, and start tracking essential data to measure true cultural impact. Links: 🔗 The 2026 Nostradamus Report 🔗 Europe 2031 🔗 Variety on CAA, TPG 250m EUR fund 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

  8. Jun 10

    #019 | Wave or Drop? The Creator Economy, Crew Pay & Europe's Position, with Torsten Frehse (Neue Visionen / European Work in Progress)

    The Backrooms / Obsession debate gets sharper. And one of Europe's most experienced distributors asks the question nobody can answer: is all this hype a wave, or just a drop? Jennifer Sabbah-Immagine, Joanna Szymanska and Fabian Massah cut through the noise, and sit down with Torsten Frehse, CEO of Neue Visionen and founder of European Work in Progress. In this episode of The Sideletters: 💥 Backrooms vs. Obsession: Disruption or Just a Great Story? Backrooms is now at $200M, Obsession at $175M, and climbing. While Backrooms opened huge, then dropped, Obsession has stronger ratings and week-on-week audience growth through word of mouth. Is that really a shift in the business model, as some argue? 💸 Who Gets Paid When a $750K Film Makes $150M? The art director on Obsession claims she was paid $300/day, around $7,000 total. The film has grossed over $150 million. We break it down: how do back-end deals actually work in Germany and France. What does Germany's transparency law require producers to disclose? And could a film cooperative model, where every crew member becomes a co-owner, be a real alternative? Plus: a new Polish industry salary report reveals that crew members earn decent wages, but 50% are still unhappy. 🎬 Guest Interview: Torsten Frehse, CEO Neue Visionen & founder of European Work in Progress One of Germany's most successful independent distributors and the founder of European Work in Progress (EWIP) joins Fabian to talk about the market's 9th edition, now anchored in Hamburg as part of the Filmfest Hamburg Industry Days. Around 25 European features in post-production are pitched each year to leading sales agents, distributors, and festival curators, with awards worth €100,000. The 2025 cohort produced the Cannes Certain Regard Jury Prize winner Elephants In The Fog, plus another film selected in Cannes, and a further title showing this month at Tribeca. Links: 🔗 European Work In Progress - Call for Projects 🔗 The Wrap on Obsession’s Art Director speaking out 🔗 Article on Crew Salaries Report (in Polish language) 🔗 ⁠Crew Salaries Report (PDF) (in Polish language) 👉 Connect with The Sideletters community on LinkedIn. 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).

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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
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Studio Massah
  • Show Website
    The Sideletters