As if it wasn’t difficult enough for distributors to find a commercial title amidst the hundreds of films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival each January, video streaming companies such as Netflix and Amazon have entered the bidding causing acquisitions prices to rise for the entire market. Anne Thompson, Indiewire’s editor-at-large, has just returned from Sundance where she reports most of the films were good, though maybe not good enough to win any Oscars in 2018.
As for this year’s Oscars, the frontrunners became a little more clear with the Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild handing out their awards over the weekend. “Hidden Figures” surprised many by taking home the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture during a politically charged ceremony.
Speaking of industry unions, the Directors Guild of America has signed a new contract with producers that gives its members significant raises in subscription video-on-demand residuals. This is welcome news for directors who missed out on sharing in DVD and Blu-ray revenue over the past decade.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the launch of a brand new vinyl record factory, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s new venture and streaming music company Tidal finds a new investor.

Buyer or Seller, Selling a Movie At Sundance 2017 Is More Complicated Than Ever
http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/sundance-2017-deals-the-big-sick-fox-searchlight-1201771192/
2017’s Sundance Sales Are In Overdrive: Here’s Why, Plus See Our Full Deal Scorecard
http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/sundance-2017-independents-acquisitions-sales-1201774067/
The Big Gamble on ‘The Big Sick’: Why Amazon Spent $12 Millon Dollars on Kumail Nanjiani’s Passion Project
http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/amazon-the-big-slick-sundance-film-festival-2017-1201772467/
comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of January 29, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-january-29-2017-300398475.html
‘Journey to the West’ Sequel Dominates Foreign Box Office With $85 Million
https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/journey-to-the-west-sequel-box-office-1201972640/
Directors Guild of America Members Ratify New Contract
http://variety.com/2017/film/news/directors-guild-members-ratify-contract-1201970106/
Sony Warns of $962 Million Goodwill Loss, Says Studio Is Not for Sale
https://variety.com/2017/biz/asia/sony-warns-of-huge-goodwill-loss-1201973089/
PGA Awards: The Complete Winners List
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/producers-guild-awards-2017-winners-list-full-966469
SAG Awards Winners: Complete List