Handfuls of streaming platforms have redefined how audiences consume film and television, but a selection handpicked by some of the industry’s leading names has not been among them—until now.
“There is a significant audience for streaming high-quality films, and a growing percentage of that audience is looking for a more personal, curated viewing experience,” said Jeff Bronikowski, president of Tribeca Shortlist, a freshly launched feature film streaming service. “We set out to create Tribeca Shortlist with this goal in mind: bring discerning movie lovers a new premium streaming destination powered by human curation for discovering and enjoying great films.”
The Oct. 1 launch of Tribeca Shortlist marked nearly a year’s worth of work between Tribeca Enterprises and Lionsgate. Unlike its streaming contemporaries, Shortlist’s offerings are selected by a discerning panel of industry experts to bring quality film to home audiences for a $4.99 monthly fee. That fee will be hiked to $5.99 in the new year. The venture is beginning with 150 selected Lionsgate titles with plans to rotate 50 of those titles each month.
“There’s tremendous value in human expertise and its ability to guide trusted discovery, provide relevant context, and enable appreciation of original storytelling,” Bronikowski explained to Backstage. “Our handpicked collection and original Shortlist content helps cut through the clutter of an endless array of box art.”
So rather than reading never-ending crowdsourced reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and the like, Tribeca Shortlist prides itself on its panel of “Shortlisters,” all of whom, Bronikowski added, share a deep passion for filmmaking as an art form. “We look for a wide range of partners, including popular actors, directors, insiders, and influencers who know and love movies,” he said. Some of these Shortlisters include industry names like John Leguizamo, Matthew Modine, and Morgan Spurlock. “Our Shortlisters help define our voice, and we work closely with Lionsgate, Tribeca Enterprises, and our in-house team to identify and develop these relationships.”
The real question is what these Shortlisters have in store for their first batch of 150. Critically lauded titles such as “City of God” and “Amélie” made the cut, as did “Chasing Amy,” “The Producers,” and “Crash”; by most counts, there seems to be something for everyone.
It’s not lost on Bronikowski, however, that there may very well be crossover between his own Tribeca Shortlist and other streaming juggernauts like Amazon and Netflix. He notes that less than half of his streaming service’s October launch titles are available on competing SVOD services. Additionally, Tribeca Shortlist is a fraction of the cost of such competitors. It further differentiates itself by being custom-made for the avid film buff rather than the everyday “Netflix and chill” type.
“We pick titles that we think are quality films that will resonate with our audience, regardless of their availability on other services,” Bronikowski said. “Often, great movies get lost on services with huge catalogs. We focus on selecting titles that we believe our audience will love, a curated collection of great films with the added value of personal recommendations from trusted experts, influencers, and filmmakers so that people who want to sit down and watch good movies can easily find them.”
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