NEWS: Netflix Rival ‘Iflix’ Launches $5M Search For Up-and-Coming Filmmakers in Asia2 min read
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Netflix is increasing its efforts in Asia after it commissioned more local content and began testing more aggressive price points, but one local rival is hitting back with a program to spotlight promising creators in the region.
Malaysia-headquartered Iflix, which operates in 26 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, just announced a $5 million programme to find 30 filmmakers across four of its largest markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Philippines. The company, which has raised nearly $300 million from investors that include Sky, offers a freemium service with a paid tier that costs around $3 per month. It claims an audience of “millions” of users.
The 12-month initiative will be run alongside Next 10 Ventures, a digital content program from ex-YouTube exec Benjamin Grubbs, with the aim of helping would-be or part-time filmmakers to fully pursue their passion.
“There’s ad revenue in some markets but it may not be sufficient enough to enable you to have a full-time career,” Grubbs, who was previously YouTube’s global director of top creator partnerships, told TechCrunch in an interview. “A commitment upfront to support creative storytellers is a positive element for the ecosystem… there are things people want to do without waiting for brand sponsorship.”
In addition to financing, the programme will provide mentoring, equipment and other assistance to produce content exclusively for Iflix.
Iflix launched its own original content program 18 months ago, and Craig Galvin — the company’s global head of content — said that the initiative isn’t just limited to creators’ local markets, which might be a logical assumption, given Netflix’s more global approach.
Instead, Galvin — who launched Iflix’s first short-form video program earlier this year — argued that there is the potential to reach Iflix’s global viewers.
Filmmakers wanting to apply to the program can do so on the website here.
One obvious comparison to the Iflix initiative is Viddsee, a Singapore-based streaming service that features short video content from independent filmmakers in Asia and beyond.
Founded in 2012, Viddsee has raised a little over $2 million to date, and it recently introduced a crowdfunding feature that allows filmmakers to raise money directly from its global audience. The company has also helped filmmakers to find brand sponsors in order to get the checks required to fund production.
Image credit: Iflix
