Online Distribution

From 4docs

The internet provides huge scope for short docs. Once your film is on the internet it changes the distribution model, any number of people, anywhere, can see it.

The problem that comes hand in hand with exponentially expanding outlets is discernment: if everyone’s short doc is on the web, how can a viewer with limited eyes and viewing time know that yours is the high quality doc they really need to see? In the old-fashioned world, marketing and onside journalists were a key to this, and word of mouth, but online, there’s more room for viral transmission (like word of mouth but quicker and with a much larger ambit), and for peer rating.

Online Distributors

There are a number of new online distributors, mostly advertising funded, who may consider taking your film for their service (although many like Joost and itunes don't deal with individual filmmakers over short films, but only with aggregators who can represent multiple films at a time). Here are the ones you can approach individually. For an agent to bundle your film into a collection, see Distributors and Sales Agents.

Babelgum A free, revolutionary Internet and Mobile TV platform supported by advertising, Babelgum combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet. They have an annual short film competition, with a documentary category, with cash prizes judged by the likes of Spike Lee. This year the winners were announced at Tribeca Film Festival

Cinelan Three minute documentaries produced by leading documentary filmmakers like Steve James (Hoop Dreams). You submit an idea to them and if they like it, they pay you a small advance against your share of advertising revenue later down the line. Morgan Spurlock is involved as is Karol Martesko-Fenster who is also at Bablegum. On their site they say "CINELAN represents a new approach to non-fiction film: complete, must-see, three-minute stories made by documentary filmmakers from around the world, including many of the industry’s best and brightest. Their films, held to the highest cinematic standards, are licensed for exclusive use by CINELAN. We offer these films for syndication either in editorial context, or as stand-alone features, on an advertising revenue-share or license-fee basis. We deliver the films completely ready to roll, through our content delivery networks, or yours. For online partners, we offer two means of access: password-protected entry to our film portal, where you can choose the films you want to use, or via our automated delivery processes, which deliver relevant films to accompany text stories on your pages".

Jaman Having curated and assembled one of the world's largest online libraries of feature films and documentaries, Jaman provides filmmakers and studios a secure way to distribute and market films worldwide. Submit online.

Reframe Reframe is to help individual filmmakers, distributors, archives, libraries and other media owners to digitize and sell their work using the internet, and to become a one-stop location for anyone seeking these films. Run by the Tribeca Institute.

Snag Films SnagFilms is a website that offers full-length documentary films for free viewing online and they allow people to “snag” a film and put it anywhere on the web. They offer non-traditional distribution and share their online ad revenue with the filmmakers. They do take shorts as well as adipex feature docs. You can apply online IF your film has been selected by one of the major regional or national film festivals on their drop down list.

Current TV Current TV is a cross-platform media company that aims to work with its young adult audience to create and distribute content that informs, enriches and inspires. The VC2 department (viewer created content), is always looking for new short documentary film talent to produce self-contained 7-8 minute films that tell a story, profile a character/ group or share an idea. You can upload your film, or they also do acquisitions. More info here Current TV

Self-Distribution Online

Revver Revver is a video-sharing platform with unique technology that tracks and monetizes videos as they spread virally across the web.

VODO New voluntary donation payment system backed by Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and the Arts Council. You register your Pay-Pal account and let your films travel the P2P download sites for free. The project comes from the maker of Steal This Film, a short documentary backed by the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation that has been downloaded over 4 million times weight loss pills. Several Foundation short films such as Small Town Boy and Talk to Me are registered to VODO.

YouTube YouTube is a consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos worldwide through the internet. YouTube allows for users to easily embed videos in websites or blogs, create groups and channels, and customize their options. Up to 10 mins in length only.

BBC Film Network The Film Network is a BBC site. It is an opportunity for short films to be showcased along side profiles of the film-makers. In addition, the site allows site users to comment on and rate the films, exchange ideas and access advice sections. The submission process involves filling out a form giving the details of the film, ensuring the rights and clearances are in order and a hard copy of the film. There is editorial control over what goes on the site – so not everything submitted is accepted onto the Network. If it is licensed, the BBC has a non-exclusive right to make your film available through streaming technology and by way of download. After downloading, films self-destruct from the users computer after a month.

Shooting People Shooting People is an online community of around 40,000 members mainly in the UK, New York and Los Angeles. It was set up in 1998. Members can upload films for peer-review. You are automatically entered into Film of the Month, for whichever month you upload during (tip:best to upload at the front half of the month). The top 3 films as voted by the members get shown to one of the Shooting People patrons such as Mike Figgis or Morgan Spurlock for a personal review. One such documentary that got a review is Joe Butcher's Christian Bale Rant: Batman Edition about which Morgan Spurlock said "Fucking awesome! That's all I can fucking say about this. Fuck, I'm going to watch it again". Members pay £30 a year for full access to the site and all the filmmaking services. Shooting People is a partner in the creation and running of the 4Docs website.

Current TV Current TV is a cross-platform media company that aims to work with its young adult audience to create and distribute content that informs, enriches and inspires. The VC2 department (viewer created content), is always looking for new short documentary film talent to produce self-contained 7-8 minute films that tell a story, profile a character/ group or share an idea. You can upload your film, or they also do acquisitions. More info here Current TV

The Smalls The Smalls is an online showcase for non-commercial creative work. They offer a platform where emerging talent can display work to fellow members of a creative community, but also to subscription members in the broadcast, film and advertising industry. They run an annual short film competition and promote other creative opportunities.