Twelve of the indiest-indies will now be available to view on the streaming platform, with more to come later this year.
While Amazon Prime and Netflix might race to pick up marquee films for streaming, Hulu has been quietly building a more niche catalogue that has included Criterion Collection films, and a dizzying amount of international productions. Now, the streaming platform has reached a deal with Slamdance Studios to exclusively host (starting today) 12 featured independent films, with more being added throughout the year.
For those unfamiliar, the Slamdance Film Festival is a year-round organization that gives a platform for emerging talent in filmmaking. As stated below, notable alumni include Christopher Nolan, Jared Hess, Oren Peli, Benh Zeitlin, and many others. If you want to put on your hipster glasses, it's the even indier Sundance.
Check out the official press release for a list of the current 12 films to feature on Hulu, as well as more information about the festival:
(LOS ANGELES, CA—January 28, 2015) Slamdance Film Festival's commercial distribution enterprise Slamdance Studios has announced that independent flm lovers will be able to stream a selection of its flms on Hulu beginning today.
Combining visionaries of independent flm and Slamdance's unique and trusted brand, 12 feature programs from Slamdance alumni will be available to stream at launch and new programs will be added monthly to Hulu. Hulu viewers will be able to stream the titles on tablets, smartphones, gaming platforms and other internet-connected devices. Viewers can access Slamdance Studios at http://www.hulu.com/companies/slamdance
Broaching subjects such as: an origin of major competitive sports, genre bending, the dissolution of marriage, rebel youth and the erosion of online privacy, Slamdance will debut with a wealth of diverse flms for Hulu viewers. Premiering in this collection is the short DIY about the world of do it yourself flmmaking that includes interviews with Chris Nolan, the Russo Brothers, Penelope Spheeris, and Rian Johnson.
Slamdance Film Festival has set its self apart in the world of indie flm as the only festival programmed "by flmmakers for flmmakers". On several fronts its flm democracy has found success. Filmmakers who frst showcased their work at Slamdance have now generated over 11 billion dollars at the Box Offce (source: Box Offce Mojo) from acclaimed alumni: Christopher Nolan, Oren Peli, Marc Forster, and Anthony & Joe Russo, among others.
"If you want to see the best in true indie flmmaking come and experience Slamdance on Hulu," said Peter Baxter, Slamdance President & Co-Founder.
Slamdance Studios' new agreement with Hulu follows recent distribution success with Nicole Teeny's Bible Quiz, winner of the Festival's Grand Jury Prize that is now playing on Netfix. Slamdance's ambition of showing its flmmakers work commercially online was initially seen when it became the frst festival to show part of its 2010 festival program online through a partnership with Xbox. The festival organization now receives over 7,500 submissions annually and unspools its 21st edition January 23rd-29th, 2015. The frst Slamdance programs available to stream on Hulu at launch will be:
D.I.Y. (Directed by Peter Baxter, Ben Hethcoat & Eric Ekman) A documentary about the do it yourself flmmaking movement.
Bindlestiffs (Directed by Andrew Edison)
Three high school virgins, suspended on a bogus graffti charge, fee to the inner city in an attempt to live out the plot of The Catcher In The Rye - A book they have neither read or understand.
The First Season (Directed by Rudd Simmons)
A documentary about the trials and tribulations of a couple attempting to survive their frst season as dairy farmers.
Hybrid (Directed by Monteith McCollum)
A documentary about Milford Beeghly, a radical farmer in the 1930's who pioneered the process of genetically enhanced crops - considered a madman, this documentary is a portrait of one man's obsessive vision with plants.
American Jihadist (Directed by Mark Claywell)
Isa Abdullah Ali grew up in the ghettos of America's capitol and was surrounded by physical and psychological violence. American Jihadist looks at what role violence and a lack of hope for the future play in the development of radicalism.
OK, Good (Directed by Daniel Martinico)
A character study of Paul Kaplan, an unremarkable actor whose increasing inability to communicate in situations where there's no script slowly turns him into a ticking time bomb of inner rage.
Omaha (The Movie) (Directed by Dan Mirvish)
The story of a young man who returns home from a trip abroad to confront not just his peculiar family and friends, but also a pair of Colombian jewel thieves and a roving gang of Iowa kickboxers, culminating in a showdown at Carhenge.
Slam (Directed by Marc Levin)
The story of Ray Joshua, an original, gifted young MC trapped in a war-zone housing project known as Dodge City.
Stranger Things (Directed by Eleanor Burke & Ron Eyal)
Stranger Things is the story of an unexpected encounter which leads to a surprising friendship between a vulnerable young woman and a streetwise homeless man.
Terms And Conditions May Apply (Directed by Cullen Hoback)
This flm reveals the information corporations and governments are legally taking from you and the consequences of clicking “I accept.”
Tony (Directed by Gerard Johnson)
A thriller centered on a serial killer in a rundown London suburb.
Trailer Park of Terror (Directed by Steven Goldmann)
Six troubled high schoolers and their leader become lost after their bus crashes during a raging storm. They seeks refuge for the night in an abandoned trailer park, managed by a sexy woman, Norma.
Wild In The Streets (Directed by Peter Baxter)
An ancient football game is the lifeblood of an English market town and the origin of
soccer, rugby, and American football.
More Slamdance Festival Films will continue to be added throughout the year.
About Slamdance
Slamdance is a year-round organization and flm festival that serves as a showcase for the discovery and development of emerging independent talent and innovative flmmaking. Slamdance is the only festival programmed entirely by flmmakers and is a fertile ground for new flmmakers to begin their careers. The festival began as an alternative to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and they continue to run concurrently.
Notable Slamdance alumni who frst gained notice at the festival include: Christopher Nolan (Interstellar), Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity), Marc Forster (World War Z), Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), Lena Dunham (Girls), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Anthony & Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin), Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) and Lynn Shelton (Humpday). Box Offce Mojo reports alumni who frst showed their work at Slamdance have accumulated over $11.5 billion in the Box Offce to date.
Slamdance's On The Road events and Slamdance Studios' developing commercial distribution platform continue to increase opportunities for flmmakers both internationally and domestically. In partnership with Vimeo On Demand, Slamdance Studios is developing Slamdance 20, a collection of twenty festival award winning and audience favorite flms; titles include Matt Johnson's The Dirties, Andrew Edison's Bindlestiffs, and Daniel Martinico's OK, Good. The 2014 On The Road tour was presented by CreativeFuture.
Over 2,500 submissions competed for prizes in the 2014 Slamdance Screenplay Competition. This year’s Grand Prize winner was the Original Teleplay Search For Life by Andrea Janakas, which was awarded a total of $7,000 in cash prizes. Submissions for the 2015 Slamdance Screenplay Competition will open on February 23rd.
2015 Slamdance Film Festival Sponsors include Digital Bolex, The International Fusion Doc Challenge, Directors Guild of America, Pierce Law Group, CreativeFuture, Writers Guild of America West, Different By Design, Carhartt, Festival Scope, Final Draft, Park City's Treasure Mountain Inn, and Salt Lake City's BlueStar Juice Bar & Cafe, Beehive Distilling, and Xmission. Slamdance is proud to partner with sponsors who support emerging artists and push the boundaries of independent flmmaking.
Additional information about the Slamdance Film Festival is available at www.slamdance.com
