Introducing Directors Collection: A New AVOD and FAST Platform for Auteur Cinema Enthusiasts
Weydemann Bros. and former Paramount executive Steffen Kottkamp are teaming up to launch Directors Collection, a new AVOD and FAST platform that aims to give festival, arthouse, and independent films a longer life beyond their initial release. The platform will focus on auteur titles and target a cinephile audience, offering online premieres, playlists, and thematic events to promote the films. Directors Collection seeks to address the issue of films losing visibility after the festival circuit and initial release, providing a solution that combines algorithmic reach with editorial curation to generate measurable revenues.
The platform is currently in the process of securing licensing deals at the European Film Market (EFM) to bring a curated selection of films to its audience. Directors Collection aims to keep films present in audience discovery flows through directorial voices, themes, seasonal moments, premieres, and re-discovery campaigns. By offering a platform that caters to a cinephile audience dissatisfied with mainstream SVOD offerings, the platform hopes to provide a space for independent cinema that may not have wide distribution.
Weydemann Bros. has a track record of producing acclaimed films such as System Crasher and The Outrun, while Steffen Kottkamp brings his expertise as a curator, producer, and former Paramount executive to the project. The collaboration between the two entities aims to create a platform that not only showcases independent films but also provides a sustainable revenue model for filmmakers beyond the traditional distribution channels. Directors Collection is poised to become a valuable resource for film enthusiasts looking for a curated selection of auteur-driven cinema.