Robert Schwartzman and Cole Harper, the founders of Utopiaannounced today out of sundance Film Festival launching their new technical platform, Powerflix. The platform combines software with real distribution services to provide a final solution to allow filmmakers to adapt and control the film’s release globally. Utopia is the distribution company behind films such as “Red Rooms” and “Femme”, and it recently collaborated with road attractions and Lionsgate to help release “The Last Showgirl” and “Megalopolis”.
The idea behind Power Flix is to give filmmakers the control to dictate their own release path – rather than waiting for acquisition offers from Indie distributors, which Indiewire announces exclusively.
“Many fantastic, high quality films are made every year that struggle to get their imagined sales or distribution agreement,” Schwartzman said in a statement. “We know how much time, energy and money that goes to produce each movie, so it’s about watching so many films that can’t find a home or reach their intended audience. We believe Powerflix gives a massive edge for filmmakers to make it happen. “
More about Powerflix, with the permission of the team behind it: “While specializing in VOD aggregation, including platforms such as iTunes and Amazon, Powerflix also offers important asset services for key art, trailers and captions. Additional premium services include the ability for filmmakers to request sales violation for streamers, theater booking support and consultation with distribution experts. With free and paid levels, Powerflix ensures filmmakers all over the world can access their innovative tools, making the distribution of professional class more accessible than ever. “
“Powerflix is not a streaming website or an app, it is a filmmaker service platform that does not have distribution or who wants full control over their release,” Harper said in another press release. “In addition to Utopia, many of our distribution partners and experienced service providers will support independent filmmakers using Powerflix. This platform is essentially a monitoring for content and to get that content to the world. “
Powerflix will provide free demonstration videos and in -depth tutorials for filmmakers, which makes it easy to see and understand how the platform works and how filmmakers can benefit from their tools. Powerflix is the only aggregation platform that offers a flexible price structure together with curated paid service options and supplements. The paid service options start as low as $ 399, making it much cheaper than any other option.
“We believe that all filmmakers will eventually use Powerflix in some capacity,” Harper added. “The beauty of the tool is that you only have to upload your assets once, and since you want to deliver these assets to downstream platforms or partners, it will be available with a click on a button. The automated analysis reporting and royalty payments are already better than Existing methods used by traditional distributors and platforms, so this is a service that benefits everyone in the industry. Today’s launch is just the beginning, and we are pleased to get feedback from the film community and hope to continue to build the ultimate solution to a dilapidated problem. “
Prior to the launch, a limited number of filmmakers received private beta access to provide feedback to the product team before launch.
“Filmmakers cannot Solly rely on the market for independent film acquisitions anymore,” spent Schwartzman. “It is not a battle for our business – it is only the reality of how distributors have been forced to drive based on consumer and buyer’s behavior. As a filmmaker, we cannot continue to cross their fingers and hope for the large outcome, which is becoming more and more unpredictable. It is too often we see that films debut with very competitive, highly appreciated film festivals, with known role, strong reviews and interesting storytellers involved, just to be unsold. So filmmakers have to plan for the scenario “We got the offer we wanted” even before they make their movie. Thankfully, and as we have seen in other creative industries, it is not unknown to find success with a DIY release strategy. After all, independent movies are created in a DIY environment, so why stop there? You just have to be willing to do the job and find the right tools to get it out there. We built Powerflix to bring all the necessary pieces of a release under a roof at the best available prices. ”
Interested filmmakers can visit Powerflix.com To create a free account and see how the platform can support its movie.
