Combining the power of the social and mobile web, and bolstered by broadcast and sponsorship partners, a new independent film finance and distribution platform has been launched in Canada.
Developed with support from a Vancouver start-up and one of the country’s largest theatrical exhibitors, the new platform gives movie fans the chance to develop an early stake in projects and promote the creative teams they love.
It’s called CineCoup, and in partnership with Cineplex Entertainment, the new program was unveiled at the Banff World Media Festival and is set to launch this fall.
CineCoup is a national initiative that seeks to leverage social and mobile media channels to create, consume and share content.
Filmmakers who apply to CineCoup with a feature film concept can advance through a gamified application process, organizers describe, one that’s designed to develop and package their concept while building audiences early. The top teams with the strongest projects will be optioned for development, and one project in each language will be financed for production and receive a guaranteed release in Cineplex theatres in Summer/Fall 2013.
"Through first-hand experiences working on both the traditional and social marketing side of film, I witnessed a disconnect between how the industry operates, and how the current generation of content creators and consumers behave," CineCoup Founder and CEO J. Joly, explained. "CineCoup is designed to bridge this gap by re-imagining the development, financing, and distribution of original feature films."
Recently announced as 2012 cohort for GrowLab, a high profile tech accelerator that supports quick-to-market entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship, CineCoup will first launch as a pilot in English and French-language Canada before rolling out internationally.
"We applaud CineCoup's innovative new approach to filmmaking," added Michael Kennedy, Executive Vice President, Filmed Entertainment, Cineplex Entertainment. "Cineplex is an innovative company that has embraced technology to improve the movie-going experience and create great new entertainment offerings for our guests. We definitely want to be a part of this creative new initiative."
The new initiative, it seems, has deep roots theatrical history, with cinematic history cited as a strong motivation.
"Consider the Nouvelle Vague and cinema of the 60s," Joly says. "Armed with new ideas, music and portable technology, the youth counter culture of the day redefined the medium. They brought a refreshing style and voice that sidestepped the traditional industry, and gave birth to a golden era of film that was both creatively and financially prosperous. Cinecoup's inspiration comes from this movement."
Cineplex Entertainment owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,359 screens serving approximately 66 million guests annually, from headquarters in Toronto, ON.
The company top theatrical brands like Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres.
CineCoup is creating a new model for feature film development, financing and distribution, coming to Canada in the fall of 2012.
GrowLab is an accelerator for companies looking to quickly grow their consumer Internet, social gaming, mobile or cloud based business by leveraging extensive networks rooted in Vancouver, BC and San Francisco.
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