While film festivals typically involve attending a physical venue and watching screenings for upcoming films, Filmatique has another approach to this event. The international film distributor, based in Brooklyn, began an online festival titled Talents Initiative, featuring projects from new filmmakers around the world, according to Variety. The platform was made available in 2017 and releases one new film each week that corresponds to a particular monthly theme.
The Talents Initiative addresses rising filmmakers’ wishes to have a place where their work could be released. Ten short films and five traditional films have been chosen for streaming. These projects will represent countries such as Brazil, Greece, Iran, and Venezuela. By featuring more obscure projects, Filmatique has increased exposure to these films and its own service.
Films featured at respectable festivals have made their way to the site. When accessing a film on Filmatique, a viewer is met with a summary of the film, a director’s statement, press reviews, and film stills. This formatting creates familiarity with the project and its purpose, engaging the viewer in a different way. Ursula Grisham, one of the company’s founders, stated that Filmatique is “a way of coaxing culture in the direction of increased inclusion and exposure to the human existence of people who perhaps have been marginalized or have experiences that we don’t identify with personally.”
The platform charges $4.95 per month and is accessible to viewers in the U.S. and Canada.
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