Distribber — a do-it-yourself distribution service that allows filmmakers to place movies on digital platforms such as iTunes, Netflix and Hulu — announced Tuesday that it has teamed up with independent distribution company Abramorama to provide video-on-demand distribution for Abramorama’s upcoming movies.
“Time to Choose,” a climate change documentary directed by Charles Ferguson and narrated by Oscar Isaac, is the first film to benefit from the partnership. It will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video starting on September 9 and on select domestic digital platforms thereafter.
Distribber, which was acquired by GoDigital.com last year, allows filmmakers without Hollywood connections to submit their movies to some of the most popular streaming services. Distribber charges a flat fee that ranges from $950 for a full-length movie on Netflix to $5,000 for cable video-on-demand. Filmmakers keep 100 percent of the revenue they earn from the platforms they choose, and if the film isn’t accepted, Distribber refunds the cash, minus a $120 processing fee.
“Our alliance with Abramorama provides a great value-based proposition for independent filmmakers,” Nick Soares (pictured), Distribber.com and GoDigital.com’s CEO, said in a statement. “Our goals are aligned in two distinct and complementary ways: maximizing visibility for great films and economic vibrancy for filmmakers. Abramorama has had sustained success with independent films over the years and we look forward to extending that to global digital platforms.”
“We are thrilled to work closely with Nick and his team at GoDigital/Distribber.com,” Abramorama President Richard Abramowitz added.
“Distribber.com’s model is the perfect extension of our work, allowing producers to maximize the revenue generated in the digital marketplace that results from the excitement we create in the theatrical process. We’re particularly happy that through this partnership, audiences all around the United States will be able to experience Charles’ incisive depiction of climate change and ways to cure the pandemic.”
11 Films That Could Ignite Independent Box Office (Photos)
The Wolfpack Crystal Moselle’s documentary Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance is about the seven Angulo children, who were home-schooled by their parents and confined to their New York apartment. Everything changes when one of the brothers escapes. Magnolia Pictures opens it Friday.
Magnolia Pictures
Eden This French import follows DJ Paul, who pioneers the electronic dance music genre “French Touch” and, with his band Cheers, crosses party paths with Daft Punk. It debuts on June 19 via Broad Green Pictures.
Broad Green Pictures
Infinitely Polar Bear Featuring Mark Ruffalo as a manic depressive dad trying to win back his wife (Zoe Saldana) by caring for his two precocious daughters, this first feature from writer-director Maya Forbes is prickly but charming. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” writer-director J.J. Abrams is an executive producer. Sony Classics opens it on June 19.
Sony Classics
The Overnight The full-frontal hijinks of Jason Schwartzman and Adam Scott have brought a degree of notoriety to writer-director Patrick Brice’s sex comedy “The Overnight.” But reviews out of Sundance make clear the lighthearted romp has more than that going for it. Taylor Schilling (“Orange is the New Black”) co-stars and Mark and Jay Duplass are executive producers. It opens on June 19 via The Orchard.
The Orchard
The Tribe This Ukrainian drama is set in a boarding school for deaf children that is rife with crime. Director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy’s tale, in Ukrainian sign language with no subtitles, follows a new arrival who crosses the line when he falls for a girl he’s assigned to pimp. Drafthouse rolls it out on June 17.
Drafthouse
Big Game Featuring Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States, the film depicts the brash actor stranded in the wilds of Finland when terrorists shoot down Air Force One. His hopes for survival rest with a 13-year-old boy (Ommi Tommila). Felicity Huffman and Jim Broadbent co-star in the thriller directed by Jelmari Helander and set for a June 26 release by EuropaCorp.
EuropaCorp
Cartel Land Matthew Heineman’s documentary follows two vigilante groups — Autodefensas and Arizona Border Recon — that take on the Mexican drug cartels along the border. Heineman won top documentary director honors at Sundance for this unsettling look at the contemporary wild West, which was also honored for cinematography. Orchard rolls it out on July 3.
The Orchard
Do I Sound Gay? Writer-director David Thorpe’s smart and funny documentary takes a look at the speech patterns and stylings that make a “gay voice.” Margaret Cho, Tim Gunn and George Takei weigh in, too. It opens July 10 via IFC Films.
IFC Films
Tangerine The Caitlin Jenner story this ain't. The comedy-drama, another Sundance film, takes a look at the grittier transgender life of prostitute Sin-Dee Rella. Just out of prison, she and her trans friend Alexandra meet at Donut Time and chase down her cheating boyfriend and pimp Chester. Magnolia Pictures will debut it on July 10.
Magnolia Pictures
Amy The British documentary on the life and tragic death of torch singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse directed by Asif Kapadia drew raves at the Cannes Film Festival. It features new footage and tracks recorded by Winehouse in the months before her death and debuts July 10 via A24.
A24
War Room Alex Kendrick directs this faith-based drama about a Christian family facing marital issues. Karen Abercrombie stars as a wise older woman fighting to save the family. It opens via TriStar on August 28.
TriStar Pictures
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From Samuel L. Jackson as a U.S. President stranded in a Finnish forest in ”Big Game“ to the hell-bent transsexual prostitutes of ”Tangerine,“ larger-than-life characters abound