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Getting Started with The Reelist
Welcome to The Reelist. We’re thrilled you’re here. We’re excited for you to join us in celebrating independent films and the storytellers behind them, and we can’t wait for you to explore everything the platform has to offer.
This introductory guide to The Reelist walks you through what’s available on our platform and how to make the most of your membership - our catalog, behind-the-scenes content, and community features that make us different from other streaming services. If you haven’t already signed up for your two-month free trial, you can sign up here. Here's why you should join us:
- Curated Collection: The Reelist features curated indie films handpicked by our team of filmmakers and film lovers. We don’t believe in just watching films - we want you to experience them as part of a community, just like you would in a theater or at a film festival.
- Support Filmmakers Directly: With The Reelist's upfront funding model, your subscription directly supports the creators behind the screen. This means more authentic stories and groundbreaking films, made with fair, guaranteed compensation going directly to filmmakers.
- Exclusive Access: Enjoy exclusive interviews, Q&As, and behind-the-scenes content. The Reelist ensures you're always involved in the filmmaking process, from start to finish.
- Engage with Community: You're not just subscribing to a service, you're joining our community. The Reelist offers forums, watch parties, and exclusive events where you can chat, debate, and connect with fellow indie film lovers. We’re cultivating a space where your opinions and discoveries matter.
Let’s get started.
1. Discovering The Reelist’s Curated Film Collection
The Reelist is your new go-to platform for a curated indie film experience. You won’t find any algorithm-driven, mass-produced content here - at The Reelist, every film is created and selected by filmmakers who share a true passion for cinema.
We believe there are stories that only indie can tell, and we’re giving those stories a place to live, grow, and be shared. We’re excited for you to explore everything we have to offer, and can’t wait for you to experience these films with us.
Start exploring our collection here, and don’t forget to check back as new films and behind-the-scenes content are added.
2. How Your Membership Supports Independent Filmmakers
Most streaming platforms play filmmakers through revenue share calculated after the fact, based on streaming numbers. At The Reelist, your love for indie cinema directly translates into tangible support for filmmakers. Our upfront funding model means that your subscription dollars aren’t just another drop in a corporate bucket - instead, a large portion of membership fees go straight to the creators, providing upfront and guaranteed funding for them to produce their next work.
The Reelist is committed to ethical distribution. We ensure filmmakers receive fair compensation, unlike other platforms that prioritize profit over people. When you choose The Reelist, you’re not just watching films - you’re supporting the artists who make them possible.
3. Filmmaker Interviews, Behind-the-Scenes Content, & More
We’re bringing the film festival experience to your TV screens at home. Every film in our catalog comes with additional content that puts the work in context - production diaries, director interviews, Q&As, and behind-the-scenes footage covering the process of how the film was made. You’ll gain an insider perspective on the filmmaking process, from start to finish.
4. Building a Community of Film Lovers
Our discussion forums and events at The Reelist are built around the same idea as the platform itself: that enjoying indie films should be a shared experience. Members here can discuss films, debate decisions, share discoveries, and even connect directly with the filmmakers behind the work they’ve been watching.
We’re bringing together a community of film lovers, just like at a screening or film festival. And we’re connecting filmmakers with the indie film lovers who are directly helping to fund their work.
Your indie film journey isn’t just tied to the festival circuit anymore - with The Reelist, you'll always stay connected. We’re excited for you to jump into whatever conversation catches your attention first.
FAQ
A portion of every membership fee goes directly to filmmakers as guaranteed funding. The Reelist employs an upfront funding model, ensuring that filmmakers are compensated fairly for their work no matter how many people stream it. This approach allows filmmakers to focus on creating without financial strain and assures subscribers that their support directly benefits indie creators.
Unlike mainstream platforms that rely heavily on algorithms, The Reelist offers a curated selection of films handpicked by our dedicated team. We’re focused on high-quality, original content that tells important, original stories that wouldn’t necessarily find a wide audience on a mainstream platform.
The Reelist features a wide range of films including independent narrative features, documentaries, international cinema, and short film. New titles are added regularly, but some current favorites are The Waiting Game, about a small not-for-profit fighting for justice against the NBA, and Call Me Dancer, about a street dancer from Mumbai balancing his love for his art with his parents’ expectations. We’re committed to featuring a diverse range of films with unique perspectives and stories from around the world.
The Reelist is built around community engagement. You can join discussion forums, participate in watch parties, and engage in themed film clubs. These features are built around our existing catalog and are designed to connect you with other indie film enthusiasts with real, substantive conversations about our films.
The films in our catalog are all accompanied by exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, filmmaker Q&As, and interviews. Some films have more extras than others, but our goal is always to give you access to the conversation around the film instead of just a standalone feature.