Indie Screenings
Encyclopedia
Indie Screenings, invented by Spanner Films
and coded by Torchbox, is an online film distribution system which ‘cuts out the middle man’. The system gives anyone, anywhere access to licenses to screen certain independent films and keep any revenue for themselves. It launched with Franny Armstrong
's climate change blockbuster The Age of Stupid
which has now been screened 1474 times.
The Guardian
described Indie Screenings as taking social justice films into the fast lane. Channel 4
called Indie Screenings technology “the future of film distribution”. The Pixel Report said that Indie Screenings has the potential to change significantly the way people access films.
which was simultaneously screened at 71 other venues around the UK. The film was followed by a panel discussion between Franny Armstrong
, environmentalist George Monbiot
and economist Lord Nicholas Stern, with Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan
, Vice President of the Maldives, vlogging in.
partnered with The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, a UK based non-profit dedicated to promoting independent filmmaking, to launch ‘Indie Screenings’ technology for use by other film makers. Good Screenings launched in March 2010 with 7 films available for individuals or groups to license - such as The End of the Line
and Erasing David
. Each film is picked by the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation team for its potential to engender positive social change.
The license fees set by Good Screenings are calculated on an individual basis according to a number of metrics - such as who you are, where you want to screen, which country you're in and how many people will watch. The lowest fee is £1 (for a school screening in e.g Sierra Leone) and the highest £12,000 (for a multinational corporation screening to 1,000 or more people in eg America). Good Screenings charge a one-off licensing fee and make no claims on any profits made from screenings.
Channel 4 said of Good Screenings,“that's the beauty of the system - you screen the film, raise awareness of the key issues, help the film-makers earn a living to go on to make their next film for good, and then you get the cash you make on the night.”
Speaking in The Guardian Beadie Finzi, director of Channel 4 Britdoc Foundation, says Indie Screenings could prove a catalyst as more social action film-makers join up and enjoy a wider audience for their films.
Spanner Films
Spanner Films is a small London-based documentary company founded by film director Franny Armstrong in 1997. Notable productions include the no-budget epic McLibel - the story of a postman and a gardener who took on McDonald's and won, with courtroom reconstructions by Ken Loach, and Drowned Out ,...
and coded by Torchbox, is an online film distribution system which ‘cuts out the middle man’. The system gives anyone, anywhere access to licenses to screen certain independent films and keep any revenue for themselves. It launched with Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong is a British documentary film director working for her own company, Spanner Films, and a former drummer with indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy...
's climate change blockbuster The Age of Stupid
The Age of Stupid
The Age of Stupid is a 2009 British film by Franny Armstrong, director of McLibel and Drowned Out, and founder of 10:10, and first-time producer Lizzie Gillett...
which has now been screened 1474 times.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described Indie Screenings as taking social justice films into the fast lane. Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
called Indie Screenings technology “the future of film distribution”. The Pixel Report said that Indie Screenings has the potential to change significantly the way people access films.
Launch
Indie Screenings launched at London’s Royal Society for the Arts in May 2009 with a screening of The Age of StupidThe Age of Stupid
The Age of Stupid is a 2009 British film by Franny Armstrong, director of McLibel and Drowned Out, and founder of 10:10, and first-time producer Lizzie Gillett...
which was simultaneously screened at 71 other venues around the UK. The film was followed by a panel discussion between Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong
Franny Armstrong is a British documentary film director working for her own company, Spanner Films, and a former drummer with indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy...
, environmentalist George Monbiot
George Monbiot
George Joshua Richard Monbiot is an English writer, known for his environmental and political activism. He lives in Machynlleth, Wales, writes a weekly column for The Guardian, and is the author of a number of books, including Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain and Bring on the...
and economist Lord Nicholas Stern, with Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan
Mohammed Waheed Hassan
Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan is one of the leading political figures in The Republic of the Maldives and the current Vice President of Maldives, having been sworn into office on November 11, 2008 as the first ever elected Vice President...
, Vice President of the Maldives, vlogging in.
History
Spanner FilmsSpanner Films
Spanner Films is a small London-based documentary company founded by film director Franny Armstrong in 1997. Notable productions include the no-budget epic McLibel - the story of a postman and a gardener who took on McDonald's and won, with courtroom reconstructions by Ken Loach, and Drowned Out ,...
partnered with The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, a UK based non-profit dedicated to promoting independent filmmaking, to launch ‘Indie Screenings’ technology for use by other film makers. Good Screenings launched in March 2010 with 7 films available for individuals or groups to license - such as The End of the Line
The End of the Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat
The End of The Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World And What We Eat is a book by journalist Charles Clover about overfishing. Clover, an environment editor of the Daily Telegraph , describes how modern fishing is destroying ocean ecosystems. He concludes that current worldwide fish...
and Erasing David
Erasing David
Erasing David is a 2009 dramatized documentary film from the United Kingdom. Stating that as of today the UK is "one of the three most intrusive surveillance states in the world, after China and Russia", director and performer David Bond tries to put the system to the test...
. Each film is picked by the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation team for its potential to engender positive social change.
The license fees set by Good Screenings are calculated on an individual basis according to a number of metrics - such as who you are, where you want to screen, which country you're in and how many people will watch. The lowest fee is £1 (for a school screening in e.g Sierra Leone) and the highest £12,000 (for a multinational corporation screening to 1,000 or more people in eg America). Good Screenings charge a one-off licensing fee and make no claims on any profits made from screenings.
Channel 4 said of Good Screenings,“that's the beauty of the system - you screen the film, raise awareness of the key issues, help the film-makers earn a living to go on to make their next film for good, and then you get the cash you make on the night.”
Speaking in The Guardian Beadie Finzi, director of Channel 4 Britdoc Foundation, says Indie Screenings could prove a catalyst as more social action film-makers join up and enjoy a wider audience for their films.