Kinema Partners with ITVS to Support Return to In-Person Documentary Screenings
Kinema, the social cinema platform, is announcing its partnership with the leading co-producer of independent documentaries for public media, ITVS, to bring screening events directly to communities through its Offline Cinema Player, which allows event pro
New York, NY(03 Jan 2022)
Kinema, the social cinema platform, is announcing its partnership with the leading co-producer of independent documentaries for public media, ITVS, to bring screening events directly to communities through its Offline Cinema Player, which allows event producers to play films directly from their computer. No DVD, DCP or internet needed. The screenings feature contemporary documentaries exploring timely topics and issues, including the deadly cost of U.S. immigration policy, the impact of incarceration on mothers, and the mounting pressure on American high school students to achieve.
The pandemic prevented in-person screening events over the past 18-months, however, audiences’ desire to gather and feel a part of something never diminished. Kinema’s platform enabled a wide range of hosts to create screenings through their virtual technology and create a sense of community through their curated slate of films. Now, as life returns to a new normal, in-person events are coming back.
This ITVS partnership is the first multi-location partnership where Kinema’s technology is being used to host a series of in-person events, most of them as part of the Indie Lens Pop-Up series. Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. The Kinema Offline Cinema Player offers Indie Lens Pop-Up partners a secure and easy way to download and screen select films at our most beloved public gathering spaces - public media stations, libraries, museums, universities, and more. Featuring select documentaries seen on PBS's Independent Lens, the flagship series produced by ITVS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics and social issues, to family and community relationships.
“Kinema is proud to partner with ITVS, one of the most prolific agents of diversity in the world,” said Ryan Harrington, Head of Film at Kinema. “ITVS has a similar mission to Kinema, sharing impactful films with communities who often do not have access to them. It means everything to us that they have chosen our technology to share these stories.”
Every season, there are hundreds of Indie Lens Pop-Up screenings, hosted by partners across the nation. Since its inception in 2005, more than 6,700 Indie Lens Pop-Up events have brought an estimated 400,000 participants together to discuss issues that impact local communities.
“Through community-led conversations, our Indie Lens Pop-Up program leverages the power of our incredible slate of films to amplify important messages about a variety of timely topics,” said Beatriz Castillo, Senior Director of Engagement Operations. “We are excited to leverage Kinema’s innovative platform to help fuel these critical community convenings.”
This partnership is crucial to the growth of Kinema as they look to work alongside traditional distributors to exploit their non-theatrical content, as well as independent filmmakers who are self-distributing.
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About Kinema
Founded in 2021, Kinema believes it can change the way people connect with each other through great storytelling. That’s why they are on an ambitious mission to build the world’s largest movie distribution network, bringing people together in a shared human-centered movie viewing experience that is impactful, thought-provoking, and engaging. To learn more about Kinema, visit kinema.com.
About ITVS
ITVS is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that has, for over 25 years, funded and partnered with a diverse range of documentary filmmakers to produce and distribute untold stories. ITVS incubates and co-produces these award-winning films and then airs them for free on PBS via our weekly series, INDEPENDENT LENS, as well as on other PBS series and through our digital platform, OVEE. ITVS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The National Endowment for the Humanities: American Rescue Plan, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Wyncote Foundation. For more information, visit itvs.org.