Brad Pitt says indie cinema is 'as strong as in the '90s' at San Sebastian
Synopsis
At the San Sebastian Film Festival, Brad Pitt declared that independent cinema feels 'as strong as in the '90s' — crediting streaming platforms for widening audiences for indie projects. Director David Ayer backed the view, pointing to YouTube and the internet as new discovery pipelines for the next generation of auteurs.
Key Takeaways
Brad Pitt declared indie cinema feels 'as strong as in the '90s ' at the San Sebastian Film Festival .
Pitt, co-founder of Plan B Entertainment (est.
2001 ), credited streaming platforms for putting more eyes on independent projects.
Director David Ayer echoed the sentiment, citing YouTube and the internet as new auteur pipelines.
Pitt has separately said he is 'pretty grateful' for the rise of streaming and believes it has improved overall film quality.
Ayer noted that younger filmmakers entering the industry bring 'much different tastes,' signalling a generational shift in indie storytelling.
Hollywood star Brad Pitt has pushed back against the notion that independent cinema is losing ground, declaring at the San Sebastian Film Festival that the indie film movement feels 'as strong as in the '90s.' The remarks, made during the festival's proceedings, offer a counterpoint to widespread industry anxiety about streaming's impact on non-studio filmmaking.
What Pitt Said
The 62-year-old actor and producer, who co-founded Plan B Entertainment in 2001, said the current media landscape has been unexpectedly supportive of independent projects. 'I think the current setup has actually been really conducive to independent (films), in a really cool way because more eyes are getting on these projects. It feels even as strong as in the '90s,' he said at the festival.
Pitt has also separately expressed gratitude for the rise of streaming services, arguing that platforms like Netflix have elevated the overall quality of films rather than diluted it — a view that runs counter to the criticism often levelled at the streaming model.
A Filmmaker Echoes the View
Director David Ayer, known for Heart of the Beast, aligned with Pitt's optimism. 'I think there's new pipelines of discovery out there, new auteurs. We have people coming in off YouTube or the internet, but now we're seeing what I believe may be the ascent of it, as we find filmmakers in that space, but also as young people matriculate into the industry,' Ayer said.
He added, 'They have much different tastes, and they grew up on a different sense of media than we did. So I'm actually very excited about the future and future opportunities and future stories that are going to be told.' The remarks point to a generational shift in filmmaking talent, with creator-economy platforms increasingly serving as a feeder pipeline for the film industry.
Why the Debate Matters
The health of indie cinema has been a persistent talking point since streaming began reshaping theatrical windows in the mid-2010s. Critics of the streaming era argue that algorithm-driven content investment favours high-concept franchise films over the auteur-led, lower-budget dramas that defined the indie boom of the 1990s — a period that produced landmark works and launched careers now central to Hollywood. Pitt's own trajectory, shaped in part by indie-adjacent productions, lends weight to his perspective.
Notably, festivals like San Sebastian, Sundance, and TIFF continue to draw strong slates and global attention, suggesting that the exhibition and discovery infrastructure for independent film remains robust even as multiplex theatrical attendance fluctuates.
What to Watch
Whether streaming platforms continue to invest in independent productions — or pivot further toward tentpole content as subscriber growth slows — will determine whether Pitt's optimism proves prescient. The trajectory of festival-circuit films securing wider distribution deals in the coming year will be a telling indicator.
Point of View
Concentrated among a handful of platforms that have already begun pulling back on acquisitions as subscriber growth cools. The '90s indie boom was sustained by a distinct theatrical ecosystem; today's equivalent relies on algorithm-driven recommendation, which is a structurally different and less stable foundation. That said, the democratisation of production tools and the emergence of creator-economy filmmakers are genuine new forces. The debate is less about whether indie cinema survives and more about who controls its discovery — and whether those gatekeepers share the same appetite for risk as the Miramax era once did.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Brad Pitt say about indie cinema at San Sebastian?
Brad Pitt said indie cinema feels 'as strong as in the '90s,' arguing that streaming platforms have been conducive to independent films by putting more viewers in front of these projects. He made the remarks at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
Why do some people believe indie cinema is struggling?
The rise of streaming platforms has led some industry observers to argue that algorithm-driven content investment favours franchise and high-concept films over the lower-budget, auteur-led dramas that characterised the indie boom of the 1990s. Shifting theatrical attendance patterns have added to those concerns.
Who is David Ayer and what did he say?
David Ayer is the director of 'Heart of the Beast' who echoed Pitt's optimism, pointing to YouTube and the internet as new discovery pipelines for emerging filmmakers. He said younger entrants to the industry have different tastes and media sensibilities, making him 'very excited about the future.'
What is Plan B Entertainment?
Plan B Entertainment is a production company co-founded by Brad Pitt in 2001. It has been behind several critically acclaimed films and reflects Pitt's longstanding involvement in projects beyond mainstream studio fare.
How has Brad Pitt described streaming platforms separately?
Pitt has said he is 'pretty grateful' for the rise of streaming platforms and has claimed they have helped improve the overall quality of movies, a view that contrasts with criticism that streaming homogenises content.
