Tag: SVOD
Explore subscription-based streaming platforms and how indie filmmakers secure licensing deals.
-
Film vs. Music Streaming — Exclusivity, Payouts, and Future Convergence
Streaming transformed both the film and music industries, but the two have evolved very differently. Both film and music streamers offer vast libraries on demand and use subscription models (often with ad-supported tiers), delivering entertainment across devices. However, a closer look reveals divergent strategies: film/TV platforms fiercely guard exclusive content to stand out, while music
-
Where to Distribute Your Indie Film (Based on Its Genre)
Self-distribution isn’t about throwing your film onto the biggest platform and hoping for the best. It’s about strategic placement, getting your film in front of the people who are most likely to watch, love, and share it. And that starts with genre. Each film genre comes with a different culture of viewership. Horror fans flock
-
Turning Indie Films into Revenue Streams Via Licensing
Film licensing is the process by which the rights to distribute, exhibit, or broadcast a film are granted to a third party. This can take many forms: a TV channel buying the rights to air your movie for six months, a streaming platform acquiring exclusive distribution for a region, or a foreign distributor licensing the
-
Stop Waiting for a Sales Agent Start Studying Film Sales
Filmmakers love to say, “I’ll worry about distribution later.” But later is too late. By the time your film is finished, the die is cast. The tone, the length, the genre, the rating, the platform fit, the market positioning. All of it’s baked in. So if you made every decision assuming someone else would handle
-
Want to Make Money Off Your Indie Film? Stop Obsessing Over Theaters
Most indie filmmakers treat the box office like it’s the final boss. But here’s the truth: it’s barely the tutorial level. Theaters are nice for prestige. They’re great for premieres, red carpets, Instagram posts, and a handful of press quotes. But financially? They are not your finish line. For most independent films, they’re a vanity
-
You Can’t Upload to Amazon Anymore, But You’re Not Out of Options
If you were hoping to release your indie film directly to Amazon Prime Video, it may already be too late. Amazon Prime Direct, once a wide-open platform for filmmakers to upload their work without a middleman, has quietly finished phasing out open submissions from independent creators. No fanfare. No press release. No dramatic public takedown.
-
Your Film Isn’t Too Niche. It’s Exactly What Streamers Want.
The idea that your story needs to be “universal” to succeed is outdated, false, and frankly, dangerous. For years, filmmakers from marginalized communities were told to smooth the edges of their culture. To make their characters “more relatable.” To replace specificity with sameness. All in the name of “marketability.” But in 2023, the numbers told
-
AVOD, SVOD, or TVOD? How to Pick the Right Release Strategy for Your Indie Film
It’s the question every indie filmmaker eventually has to face: where should your film live? Should you put it on a paid platform and aim for prestige? Drop it on an ad-supported streamer and reach the masses? Sell it directly to fans? AVOD. SVOD. TVOD. Three distribution models. Three radically different outcomes. And no, there’s
-
The Distribution Checklist You Need Before You Ever Hit Record
Here’s a horror story too many indie filmmakers have lived through: You’ve wrapped your shoot. You’ve locked the edit. You’re celebrating your final color pass. Then you get the distribution offer. And with it? A deliverables checklist that makes your stomach drop. Suddenly, your finished film… isn’t finished enough. And fixing it? Expensive. Time-consuming. Sometimes
-
What I Wish I Knew Before Releasing My Indie Film
Distribution is where most indie filmmakers go to die—or at least to disappear quietly. After the blood, sweat, and credit card debt of production, it’s easy to think your job is done. But distribution is not dessert. It’s not a celebration. It’s the war after the war, and most of us walk into it completely
-
The One Stat Netflix Prioritizes Above All
Here’s the brutal truth Netflix doesn’t advertise, but their internal documents (leaked in 2023) confirmed: completion rate is king. Not views. Not likes. Not even watch time in minutes. If viewers don’t finish your film, the algorithm assumes something’s wrong—and it buries your title. It gets recommended less. It drops lower in search. It quietly
-
Getting Your Film on Digital Platforms and What Indie Filmmakers Need to Know
Getting your film on a major streaming platform like Amazon Prime or Apple TV isn’t as simple as uploading it to YouTube. These platforms aren’t just libraries—they’re curated ecosystems, and each has its own submission process, technical standards, and distribution gatekeepers. Some platforms allow direct submission. Others require going through a content aggregator or distributor.
-
How to Forecast Indie Film Profits
Table of Contents Understanding ROI for Micro-Budget Films 1. Festival-First Distribution Strategy 2. Straight-to-Streaming Strategy 3. AVOD/SVOD/TVOD Hybrid Strategy 4. Theatrical-First Distribution Strategy 5. Decision-Making Framework for Selecting a Distribution Strategy Final Thoughts on Forecasting Sources Micro-budget indie films (under $1?million) can follow very different distribution paths, each with its own revenue opportunities, cost structures,
-
How to Predict Which Films Will Dominate Streaming for Years
Not every film that debuts on a streaming platform enjoys long-term success. Some movies trend for a few weeks before fading into obscurity, while others maintain steady viewership for years, generating revenue long after their initial release. Identifying films with long-term streaming potential before they break out can be a valuable skill for investors, distributors,
-
How Film Investors Make Money from Streaming Revenue Models
The way films generate revenue has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with streaming platforms becoming the dominant force in film distribution. For investors looking to fund independent films or production companies, understanding the different streaming revenue models, AVOD (Advertising-Based Video on Demand), SVOD (Subscription-Based Video on Demand), and TVOD (Transactional Video on Demand), is
-
Micro-Windowing, What It Means for Buyers, and the Future of Film Distribution
The traditional release model for films has been changing rapidly, and one of the most significant shifts in recent years is the emergence of “micro-windowing.” This strategy allows distributors to carve out shorter and more precise release windows across different platforms, maximizing revenue while adapting to evolving audience behaviors. For film buyers, whether independent distributors,
-
The Future of Indie Film and How Streaming Is Reshaping Movie Distribution
The rise of streaming has transformed the way independent films reach audiences. In the past, securing a theatrical release was the gold standard for indie filmmakers, often followed by DVD sales, television licensing, and eventually digital downloads. Today, streaming platforms dominate the market, providing indie filmmakers with both new opportunities and significant challenges. On one
