Major Takeaways From Variety’s 2025 Entertainment and Technology Summit
Variety’s 2025 Entertainment and Technology Summit convened an impressive gathering of leading executives, marketing innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and creators from across the film, television, and gaming sectors. Held on September 26, 2025, at the London West Hollywood hotel, the event featured a full day of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that shed light on the future of entertainment shaped by emerging technology and evolving audience engagement strategies.
Industry insiders from major players including Warner Bros. Discovery, Meta, Paramount+, Vizio, Netflix, and Fox Entertainment shared insights on the latest tools, trends, and strategies revolutionizing the entertainment landscape.
VR’s Increasing Role in Expanding Audience Experiences
Sarah Malkin, Director of Entertainment Content for Meta’s Reality Labs, highlighted how virtual reality (VR) is enhancing live entertainment experiences. She explained that VR offers new complementary encounters for fandoms, often enriching the audience’s connection to beloved content.
Despite the challenge of designing a universal VR headset accessible to newcomers, Meta is encouraged by VR’s success in gaming and is expanding its entertainment catalog to include sports, concerts, films, and television. Malkin also revealed Meta’s collaborations with renowned creators like filmmaker James Cameron and producer Jason Blum to explore how VR can provide novel storytelling tools and economic opportunities alongside traditional entertainment.
The Booming Live Experience Economy
The summit underscored the importance of live experiences in today’s entertainment industry. Experts from Funko, Ernst & Young, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Pinterest discussed the growth of live events and their critical role in audience engagement.
Judy Lee, Global Head of Experiences at Pinterest, emphasized the necessity of blending immersive world-building with authentic fandom experiences. She noted that younger, digital-native audiences blur the lines between digital and physical realities, valuing authenticity and transparency in immersive experiences. Simon Robinson, COO of WB Studios and Head of Global Experiences, stressed that live experiences must extend a brand’s identity authentically rather than merely serve as commercial ventures.
Creative Marketing and the Power of Influencers
Marketing leaders from Neon, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Records illustrated how word-of-mouth driven by content creators and influencers continues to be a vital driver of engagement and campaign success.
Margaret Walker, EVP of Entertainment Marketing at NBCUniversal, spoke about selecting creators who genuinely resonate with their audiences and have authentic passion for the brand. Dustin Sandoval, SVP of Digital Marketing at Walt Disney Studios, shared how their campaign for "Freaky Friday" harnessed organic viral moments through content creation opportunities, contributing to the film’s global box office success exceeding $150 million.
AI Unlocking New Creative Frontiers
Jason Chen, CEO and Founder of Desert Eclipse, detailed how integrating AI into film and animation production can significantly shorten timelines, allowing creators to unlock new creative possibilities. He highlighted how AI accelerates processes like CG modeling and motion tracking, reducing animation production time to as little as 12 to 18 months.
Similarly, Shahrzad Rafati, Founder and CEO of RHEI, shared how AI elevates human creativity by streamlining workflows and enhancing content quality, enabling creators to reach their full creative potential.
Innovations in Live Streaming with Zeam
Jack Perry, Founder and CEO of Zeam, discussed expanding Zeam’s platform from supporting local broadcasters to live event streaming. Collaborating with actor John Stamos, Perry is leveraging crowdsourcing to scale 24/7 creative content in music and comedy, positioning Zeam as a more consumer-facing entertainment brand that pushes the boundaries of live streamed content.
The Evolving TV Industry Landscape
Evan Adlman, EVP of Commercial Sales and Revenue Operations at AMC Networks, addressed challenges presented by the fragmented TV viewing landscape. With traditional models disrupted, the industry struggles to place content in front of viewers effectively.
Adlman underscored the power of fandom, explaining efforts to help advertisers and partners better distinguish engaged fans from passive viewers—a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly rare. Although complications remain due to fragmentation and cross-platform measurement difficulties, the panelists emphasized that deep fan engagement is key to overcoming these obstacles.
Additional Highlights
- Keynote conversations included the Duffer Brothers discussing their new four-year deal with Paramount and insights on the upcoming final season of Stranger Things on Netflix.
- Producer Jerry Bruckheimer shared updates on potential sequels to F1: The Movie, Top Gun 3, and a new Pirates of the Caribbean installment.
- Gabrielle Union was honored with Variety’s inaugural Entrepreneur Impact Award for her work co-founding Proudly, a sustainable baby care brand tailored for infants of color.
- Panels explored leveraging influencer marketing, expanding fandom via live events, and the role of advanced tech in storytelling.
The 2025 Entertainment and Technology Summit showcased how entertainment is evolving through technological innovation and a deeper understanding of audience engagement. From VR and AI integration to immersive live experiences and data-driven marketing, the event highlighted the dynamic strategies shaping the future of storytelling and fan connectivity.
