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Source: Fandor
On March 4th, 2021, the CBS All Access streaming service will rebrand itself as Paramount+, reflecting the recent merger of Viacom, the company that owns major motion picture studio Paramount, and CBS, one of the three original television networks. Paramount+ will be the latest in a long line of streaming services dedicated to showcasing a specific studio’s cinematic library, one that includes Disney+, Warner Brothers’ HBO Max, and Universal’s Peacock. As one can see, all of these services specialize in the content of their parent companies with little room for anything else they do not own. While this is beneficial for those seeking to legally view one of their favorite blockbusters or classics, those seeking to view independent cinema will have to look elsewhere. Even Netflix, the service that laid the groundwork for the streaming culture that has developed over the past decade, has become such an industry giant that even its output can no longer be considered “independent”.
Indeed, finding an abundant source of films made outside the mainstream studio system is becoming a greater challenge with each passing day, but that does not mean it’s impossible. In a world where large corporations are giving their high-profile content heavy amounts of promotion, there are some services that have minimal resources to advertise their products than the products themselves, much of it consisting of little-known, but still high-quality works of independent cinema. These are services with much to offer which is why we’ve decided to help out and promote some of these platforms. So without further ado, here are some of our favorite independent cinema streaming services:
Fandor – it was just recently announced that digital media company Cinedigm would acquire this service, and while a relaunch is expected to occur in the near future, we hope that it will do little to detract from this haven for independent cinema. With a total of over 4,600 titles, Fandor holds a wide variety of films in its library, one that consists of international features, documentaries, and other works of cinema outside the mainstream. It’s so far uncertain as to how much Cinedigm’s acquisition of the service will impact the type of content featured, but considering that CEO Chris McGurk hopes the site will reach one million subscribers within the next twenty-four to thirty months, there’s hope that this new strategy will be able to introduce more people to the world of independent cinema.
Indieflix – the name may suggest that this is merely a branch of the streaming giant Netflix, but in reality, it’s a fully independent service, much like the cinematic content it has to offer. Through a mixture of on-demand streaming and a handful selection of live-TV challenges, Indieflix has all sorts of film, from short to feature-length, from classic to contemporary, the list goes on. While working closely with filmmakers to ensure the best possible viewing experience is a top priority for the service, Indieflix also strives to use their content as an educational resource, hoping that those who view the films they present will gain awareness of the world around them and the complex issues currently plaguing modern society. It’s a difficult task, but one with the potential to change the world for the better.
Kanopy – for those whose budget may not allow for much in terms of paying for entertainment, this might be the best service for one to delve deeper into independent cinema and all that it has to offer. Through an arrangement with several public libraries and universities, Kanopy currently has over 30,000 titles ranging from documentaries to classics available for no charge whatsoever. The only requirement is a connection to either one of the aforementioned institutions, either a university profile or a library card (the latter of which is the best option for those not currently enrolled in college). Other than that, there is absolutely no cost for Kanopy whatsoever, so it’s an ideal service for those seeking to open themselves up to a larger cinematic would without having to worry too much about the expense.
Mubi – one of the challenges that often comes with having a streaming service is having to decide what to watch when there are so many options to choose from. For those who struggle with such a decision, Mubi provides a solution by finding the right balance between variety and ease in choice. This is a site that keeps its present content levels low but frequently rotating, allowing a title to be available for around thirty days before being removed and replaced with another. This does make it difficult to revisit a favorite film from time to time, but the upside is the potential for a new film that one might not have known of before to join their list of favorite films. Foreign films are a prominent feature of Mubi, so this is an especially good service for those curious about expanding their tastes beyond the English language.
OVID – even by independent streaming standards, this is among the smaller services, but as it’s been proven already, low quantity is not an indicator of low quality. There are currently just over 800 titles listed on OVID that fall into one of three categories: films that highlight social/political issues relevant to the current world; international works of the animated, documentary, and/or experimental mediums; and the best of arthouse cinema from around the world. OVID currently plans on releasing anywhere between twenty-five to thirty new titles with each passing month, but don’t expect the service to become too overwhelming so quickly. The main focus is still to connect people and their histories to one another on a global scale, and considering what’s available so far on the site, there’s little about OVID to worry about.
