Your Future Film Coalition News Digest #4
This week, we cover: a new public inquiry from the FTC, effects of public funding cuts, and more news.
The Latest in Indie Film as of April 24
Last week, the FTC announced a public inquiry that purports to identify federal regulations that hamper fair competition for small businesses—what else is indie film than an interconnected series of small businesses?
After last week’s special missive, we heard from many documentary filmmakers of the value of public funding in serving American audiences. Your stories demonstrate the impact of the funding cuts for state humanities councils in states from California to West Virginia.
Our top stories focus on the state and regional effects of funding effects, coalitional work to preserve public support of a diverse media ecosystem, and how indies have a chance to affect an upcoming deregulatory push. This week, we are giving you the background on FTC public inquiries, and some recent history. Next month, we’ll send more information about how we can get involved.
More on the Top Stories
FTC Public Inquiry
“FTC Launches Public Inquiry into Anti-Competitive Regulations,” Federal Trade Commission, Apr. 14, 2025.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a public inquiry into federal regulations on competition. While the goal is to identify and reduce anticompetitive regulatory barriers, this is also an opportunity to provide feedback on policies that impact the playing field for the independent film sector. The FTC’s Request for Information is open until May 27, 2025.
“Calling All De-Regulators: FTC Issues Request for Public Comment on Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers,” Bruce D. Sokler, Robert G. Kidwell, and Payton T. Thornton, Mintz Insights Center, Apr. 15, 2025.
Given the all-Republican Commission and President Trump’s Executive Order, Mintz law firm anticipates “numerous calls that regulations are anticompetitive and should be rescinded or modified” and expects “a substantial set of recommendations to eliminate regulations.” This is an example of where deeper research into how existing policies strengthen or inhibit the independent film sector will enhance the field’s ability to contribute and respond to regulatory actions.
“Why Public Comments Matter,” Center for Health Law and Policy Information, Harvard Law School, accessed Apr. 22, 2025.
A two-page primer on how public comments play a critical role informing new rules and regulations. By submitting public comments, we can 1) provide facts and point out errors, 2) identify unintended consequences and alternative solutions that were not initially considered, 3) share expertise through data and articles, and 4) demonstrate the level of acceptance or resistance in the public.
“Delete, Delete, Insert? New Regulatory Contradictions at the FCC,” Jonathan Nuechterlein, Technology Policy Institute, Mar. 20, 2025.
This analysis examines the contradiction between the FCC’s “Delete Delete Delete” deregulatory notice, which eliminates obsolete legacy FCC program carriage limitations for cable TV, with Chairman Brendan Carr’s notice to YoutubeTV for not carrying the Great American Family network. Writer Jonathan Neuchterlein, who was FTC general counsel from 2013–2016, warns that this extralegal “jawboning” against YoutubeTV could be intended to intimidate President Trump’s political rivals. Neuchterlein concludes: “It can be worse because it evades judicial review—and thus enables an agency to exercise unchecked power to pursue whatever unlawful ends it seeks to achieve.”
Public Funding Under Threat
“Cuts to NEH and Humanities Councils: What the Midwest Will Lose,” “What Southern States Will Lose,” and other news from the Federation of State Councils, April 4, 2025.
This series of news reports from the association of state humanities councils breaks down what every U.S. region, from New England and the mid-Atlantic to Hawaii and U.S. territories, will lose with the cessation of federal humanities funding. The effects stretch beyond documentary film production and affect independent, community venues across the entire country. The articles pull quotes and specific stories from each state and several U.S. territories.
“Abrupt Loss Of Federal Funds Forces Cuts To Humanities Programs Statewide,” Maria Young, WBPB, Apr. 16, 2025.
Near the end of this article, Eric Waggoner, the executive director of the West Virginia Humanities Council, explains why the funding cuts matter beyond individual program cuts. Public funding—like other government investments—was perceived as stable and dependable. “That predictability is what really has allowed us to serve West Virginia for the last 50 years in a way that’s stable and allows for accountability in work that is very exciting.”
“NEH Funding Cuts Lead to Canceled Grants for Bay Area Artists,” Sarah Hotchkiss, KQED, Apr. 8, 2025.
Several doc filmmakers are interviewed in this piece from the Bay Area PBS member station immediately after state humanities councils lost their NEH funding, showcasing one immediate effect of halting productions. Other bits of interest include a quote from one artist who didn’t know that her state humanities funding came from a federal agency, showcasing how much education we have to do, even among ourselves. For example, NEH funding of state humanities councils also supports the work of many indie theaters and libraries, which are a vital part of indie film distribution and exhibition.
“Americans more likely to support than oppose continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS,” Michael Lipka and Katerina Eva Matsa, Pew Research Center, Mar. 26, 2025.
The results of a Pew survey conducted March 10–16, before the Mar. 26 Congressional hearings, concluded 43% of Americans want Congress to continue federal funding of NPR and PBS, while 24% opposed. The rest (33%) were unsure.
What’s Happening at FFC
The Public Funding and Public Media Working Group is closely monitoring the status of further DOGE and Executive Order cuts at federal agencies and forming ties with peer coalitions supporting the arts, libraries, and public land. We’ll continue to update you when you can get plugged into the work.
Last week, the Future Film Coalition joined Protect My Public Media. Individuals can also sign up for their action alerts here.
What We’re Following
State Tax Incentives
“Hollywood At Risk of Becoming the ‘Next Detroit Auto.’ L.A. Production Insiders Voice Alarm,” Borys Kit and Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 15, 2025.
On April 14, a town hall was held in Los Angeles to address the decline of local film and television production and the effort to increase the California production tax incentive. Advocating to retain and grow production in L.A., attendees, including a handful of state representatives, emphasized the downturn as a “middle-class problem” that if unaddressed will risk further unemployment and foreclosures. In the first quarter of 2025, production declined by 22% year-over-year.
“Gov. Polis signs bill creating refundable tax credits for film festivals in Colorado,” Óscar Contreras, Denver7, Apr. 8, 2025.
Following news that the Sundance Film Festival will be relocating to Boulder, CO in 2027, Governor Jared Polis signed the state bill for film festival tax incentives. The bill offers $34M tax incentives to the Sundance Film Festival over ten years, in addition to $500,000 annually to existing film festivals across the state. We believe this bill is the first tax incentive for film festivals, notable as a novel way to invest more in local exhibition infrastructure. Lawmakers referenced Sundance Institute’s economic impact report of the 2024 Festival as cause to support the bill.
“Texas Senate passes bill to infuse $2.5 billion into film incentive program over next decade,” Gracie Kirschner and Dylan McKim, KXAN, Apr. 18, 2025.
In our previous news digest, we took a look at how the bill to revise the Texas Film Incentive disproportionately rewards big budget production over independent and low budget production. The bill was passed by the Texas State Senate on April 18. In this current version of the bill, a project can be rejected if it “portrays Texas or Texans in a negative light or does not uphold family values.” Concerned about subjective language being included, State Senator Sarah Eckhardt took to the Senate floor to say, “Whose family values would always be the question” when considering whether a project qualifies for the incentive. The Texas House of Representatives will vote next on the bill.
ICYMI
“TV Writing Jobs Fell by 42 Percent in 2023-24 Season, WGA Says,” Tony Maglio, The Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 11, 2025.
The impact from the downturn in domestic film and television production continues to come into focus with the Writers Guild of America sharing that TV writing jobs fell 42% during the 2023-2024 season. As film and television production contracts across streamers and major studios, the need for a robust independent sector grows more urgent.
“Streaming Profit Report: Netflix Leads, Disney Rises, Warner Grows. Is Consolidation Next?” Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, Apr. 11, 2025.
Before the FTC opened public inquiries into regulations on competition, studio executives called for policies that ease media industry consolidations. Now The Hollywood Reporter looks at the profitability of five major streamers, how revenue is projected to grow while losses narrow, and speculates whether mergers and acquisitions will disrupt the marketplace in the near future.
