REBOOT at ECREA 2025: Exploring film and television in the streaming era

How are streaming platforms transforming the way films and television are made, distributed, and watched? This question took centre stage at the ECREA Film Studies and Television Studies Sections Conference 2025, held on 8-9 September at the University of Bologna, where members of the REBOOT project joined leading scholars and industry professionals from across Europe.

The conference “Film and Television’s Transformations in the Streaming Era: Reconceiving Aesthetics, Narratives and Forms,” provided a vibrant space to debate how digital platforms are reshaping audiovisual storytelling and audience engagement.

Isabela Vargas Miranda from Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), howcased research conducted within the REBOOT project. Her presentation, “SVoD Services in Latin America: Perspectives from Key Markets, Lessons for Europe,” offered a comparative look at the fast-evolving streaming landscape in Latin America and what European policymakers and creators can learn from it.

With discussions ranging from cultural circulation to algorithmic visibility and creative economies, the event highlighted REBOOT’s ongoing contribution to understanding the shifting power structures of the global film and television ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Marina Rossato Fernandos from the University of Liège (ULiège) presented “Dependency or Development? European Film Professionals’ Perceptions of SVOD’s Impact,” which examined how European film professionals perceive the growing influence of US-based VOD platforms on the European Film Industry (EFI). Drawing on interviews and survey data, the presentation revealed that while initial expectations around global exposure and investment were optimistic, professionals have become increasingly critical. Concerns include intellectual property retention, creative autonomy, and the long-term sustainability of European production ecosystems.

Through these contributions, REBOOT reaffirmed its commitment to understanding the intersections of policy, technology, and creativity in Europe’s evolving media landscape. The project’s participation at ECREA highlighted how research can bridge cultural analysis and policy design—essential for navigating the challenges of the streaming era while safeguarding Europe’s cultural diversity and creative independence.