Film Annex - Reshaping Film Distribution - A Platform for Exclusive Premieres

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There is no doubt that Film Annex is taking major steps towards re-shaping film distribution. A few years ago, not many filmmakers considered online film distribution platforms as an option to fund and showcase their projects. I remember talking to countless filmmakers about the Film Annex model and seeing the confusion on their faces. What they were used to was sending their films to festivals hoping to get theatrical and/or TV distribution - a method that has been around since the beginning of this industry. 

Within the past few years, things started changing. There was much discussion about VOD and online film distribution. There were believers and skeptics. There were panels and lectures about possibilities and failures, blogs like Ted Hope's Hope For Film, conferences like Open Video, talks at SXSW. During this time, Film Annex continued to shape its business model into what it is today - a perfect circle that enables filmmakers to fund and distribute their films on the same platform. And now, more and more filmmakers are choosing Film Annex as a place to premiere their films and do exclusive screenings.

We started the new year with the premiere of a short film by one of our most active filmmakers, Alex Nakone. A doctor by day and a filmmaker by night, Nakone raised the funds for Ouroboros with the help of sponsors and his Film Annex Web TV revenues. In a recent article on After-Set called Rethinking Film Distribution, Film Annex was mentioned as one of the leading choices in film distribution today. Upon reading the article, Alex Nakone commented:

"As an independent filmmaker from South Australia across the globe from the headquarters of Film Annex in New York, and never actually meeting these people, I can attest to the great reach of this platform. They are making possible the distribution of film content of Independent filmmakers like myself.This is why, I have chosen to release my latest film project exclusively on Filmannex. Check it out."

Still from Alex Nakone's Ouroboros

As the Creative Director, filmmaker liaison, etc., getting this type of feedback is extremely valuable to me and confirms that we are doing something right. During an earlier phone conversation today with producer, Adam Rackoff who frequently collaborates with actor/director Matthew Modine, we talked about how film festivals are starting to lose their influence on reaching audiences. There might still be skeptics out there, but I believe that by now, it's already proven that the most effective way for a filmmaker to reach her audience is the Internet. The truth is that the majority of filmmakers are now more concerned with the number of people they reach instead of giving priority showing their films in a movie theater.

Another long-time filmmaker on our platform, Lisa Stock, also informed us that she will be premiering her new web series Persephone on Film Annex in March. Within the following months, we'll be doing a special screening of Matthew Modine's Jesus Was A Commie with exclusive interviews and behind the scenes videos. So, Modine fans should hold tight! 

Till next time, 

EREN



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