16/09/2019

Genre And Cult Streaming Platform Spamflix Launches In The US And Partners With Fests

by Bedatri Choudhury on Forbes

When Markus Duffner, a project manager at the Locarno Film Festival and Julia Duarte, former producer of São Paulo International Film Festival, started Spamflix, a VoD platform, in October last year, they wanted to create a platform that gave viewers access to rare and under-seen cult genre films which find it harder to find mainstream distribution. Adding to its attractions, the streaming service also decided to allow its users to participate in thematic quizzes, and take up challenges solving puzzles and playing other online games. To add to the already exciting lineup, the duo decided to feature bonus content like behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with genre film directors.

Spamflix’s goal is to become a platform where genre enthusiasts come together and find access to films that are difficult to source. In fact, the name Spamflix was inspired by the Spam Sketch in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the subject of Duffner’s immense admiration and doctoral thesis!  

The platform works on a pay-per-view business model, with every film available to stream for 72 hours after being purchased for $5. Moving away from the subscription-based streaming service model, Spamflix wants to remain accessible to genre fans all over the world without tying them down to a contract. There are also options to buy discounted film packs which, for example, allow the viewer to watch five films for $13.

After successfully partnering with several collaborators, including Sitges, Spamflix will be an official partner at the Fall editions of Austin’s Fantastic Fest and New York’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, launching with a meticulously curated selection of films specifically targeted for American audiences. “The US is one of the major markets for VoD, but plenty of independent films still struggle to find their audience there. While American festival premieres help some of these films to find a distribution, many end up disappearing. Spamflix aims to make these films available in a carefully curated and slow-paced growth platform,” said Duffner.

Read the full article on Forbes through the link below.