Roeg Sutherland, co-head of CAA's media finance and international film group, addressed the Zurich Summit to highlight expanding opportunities in international cinema. He emphasised that American audiences have fundamentally shifted their viewing habits and now regularly consume non-English language films—a dramatic change from seven years ago—whilst record levels of private equity from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe are fuelling international film production. This development matters because it opens unprecedented markets for non-American productions and signals a structural change in how films reach global audiences.

Sutherland stressed that filmmakers and directors remain the most critical factor in determining a film's success, superseding IP or genre considerations. He highlighted that CAA sold the Cannes-winning "La Bola Negra" for more money than typical American productions command, pointing to global hits like "Squid Game" and "Obsession" as evidence of sustained audience appetite for international content. Whilst traditional studios have withdrawn from development financing, Sutherland noted that ideas increasingly emerge from the creator economy. He acknowledged that securing funding now requires pre-sales and private equity investment, but emphasised substantial opportunities exist for investors willing to back strong directors and compelling stories.