FilmStruck To Launch Oct. 19
Turner’s New Subscription Service Features the Largest Streaming
Library of Contemporary & Classic Arthouse, Indie, Foreign & Cult Films
The Criterion Channel Premium Add-On Tier Offers Unlimited Access to
the World-Renowned Criterion Collection
Three Different Subscription Plans Available for a Film-Lover’s
Paradise On Amazon Fire TV, Web, iOS & Android Devices
ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Filmstruck–Global media company Turner announced today it will launch FilmStruck,
the company’s first domestic subscription video-on-demand (SVOD)
service, on October 19. Developed and managed by Turner
Classic Movies (TCM) in collaboration with the Criterion
Collection, FilmStruck will feature the largest streaming library of
contemporary and classic arthouse, indie, foreign and cult films as well
as extensive bonus content, filmmaker interviews and rare footage,
making it a must-have service for serious film lovers. Later this year,
FilmStruck will also become the exclusive streaming home to the
world-renowned Criterion Collection library, where die-hard film
aficionados can gain access to the Criterion Collection’s entire
streaming library through FilmStruck’s exclusive premium add-on tier,
The Criterion Channel. FilmStruck will be available exclusively on Amazon
Fire TV, web, iOS and Android devices at launch, and
on Apple TV and other platforms and devices in the coming months.
Film fans who sign up at www.filmstruck.com
can explore FilmStruck’s curated and constantly refreshed library with a
special 14-day free trial. Subscriptions to FilmStruck are available in
three different pricing tiers:
-
FilmStruck Subscription – $6.99/month – offering
hundreds of constantly refreshed, hard-to-find and critically
acclaimed films, plus exclusive bonus content including hosted
introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage -
FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel Subscription – $10.99/month
– offering everything in the FilmStruck subscription plus unlimited
access to Criterion’s entire streaming library of films and special
features, along with channel-exclusive original programming such as
filmmaker profiles, master classes, and curated series by celebrated
guests from the film world and beyond -
Annual Subscription – $99/year for FilmStruck + The
Criterion Channel (a $30 annual savings)
“Turner smartly identified a strategic way to move into the
direct-to-consumer business by creating an over-the-top offering that
was additive to the TV landscape, with programming not readily available
in the streaming marketplace and that was completely differentiated from
what TCM already offers,” said Coleman Breland, president of Turner
Content Distribution and TCM. “FilmStruck super-serves a niche and
devoted audience of film fans and will be a strong addition to Turner’s
portfolio of leading brands.”
“FilmStruck is a departure from the timeless Hollywood classics that we
offer at TCM and a genuinely distinct offering for the streaming
marketplace, focusing on a thoughtfully curated experience around
hard-to-find, critically acclaimed, independent films from the most
celebrated libraries in the world,” said Jennifer Dorian, general
manager of TCM and FilmStruck. “By combining the expertise at TCM
and the Criterion Collection – two of the leading authorities in film
preservation and history – we have created something really special that
is a must-have for passionate film lovers.”
“Joining forces with the team at TCM has been a dream come true, and
we’re very excited about our new home,” said Peter Becker, President of
The Criterion Collection. “FilmStruck is the first streaming platform to
give movies the kind of deep, rich treatment that viewers have come to
expect from The Criterion Collection, and The Criterion Channel opens up
thrilling new ways for us to connect our passionate audience with the
films and filmmakers they love.”
FilmStruck’s impressive library will feature a deep roster of constantly
refreshed films from such celebrated indie studios as Janus Films,
Flicker Alley, Icarus Films, Kino, Milestone, Zeitgeist, Film Movement,
Global Lens, First Run Features, Oscilloscope Laboratories and Shout
Factory, along with movies from Hollywood’s major movie studios,
including Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Among the hundreds
of critically acclaimed and award-winning titles to be featured on
FilmStruck are Babette’s Feast, Blood Simple, Blow-Up, Breaker
Morant, A Hard Day’s Night, Mad Max, Metropolis, Moulin Rouge, My Life
as a Dog, Paths of Glory, The Player, A Room with a View, Seven Samurai,
The Seventh Seal, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Stardust Memories,
The Trip to Bountiful, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Woodstock.
Additionally, beginning on November 11, FilmStruck will become
the exclusive streaming home to The Criterion Channel, offering the
largest streaming collection of Criterion films available, including
classic and contemporary films from around the world, interviews and
conversations with filmmakers and never-before-seen programming. The
channel’s weekly calendar will feature complete Criterion editions,
thematic retrospectives, live events, short films, and select
contemporary features, along with exclusive original programming that
aims to enhance the Criterion experience for the brand’s dedicated fans
as well as expanding its reach to new audiences.
Following the same curatorial expertise as TCM, FilmStruck’s massive
library will feature over 70 fully curated and constantly refreshed
programming themes, along with such as exclusive bonus content as hosted
introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage.
Themes include:
-
The Beauty of Italy – a collection of films that
highlight the beauty of Italy, from the shores of the Mediterranean to
the peaks of the Alps -
Cinema Passport – a monthly “franchise” showcasing the
work of countries rich in film history and culture -
Contemporary Israeli Cinema – see the country through
the eyes of its people in this collection of modern works -
Directed by Mike Leigh – highlighting the films that
make this iconic director beloved by film festivals and critics and
remind us that normal life is not always the norm -
Early Kubrick – the early films of renowned director
Stanley Kubrick show how this cinematic visionary got his start and
ultimately found his way into moviemaking -
Food for Thought – a collection of films that
tickles the tongue by prominently featuring food -
Icon – a bi-monthly “franchise” featuring the work of a
different iconic star with each installment, beginning with legendary
actors Marcello Mastroianni and Ingrid Bergman -
The Masters – a monthly, director-focused “franchise”
highlighting acclaimed directors including Akira Kurosawa, François
Truffaut, Fritz Lang and Chantal Akerman -
Neo Noir – explores a collection of celebrated films
that pay homage to the gritty and dark genre -
Panic Room – a monthly “franchise” that explores cult
and indie horror film, hosted by actor-comedian Lucky Yates -
Political Documentaries – exploring filmmakers who
documented democracy in action. -
World Discoveries – a monthly “franchise” hosted by film
critic Alicia Malone spotlighting cinematic gems from burgeoning film
industries around the world
Additionally, FilmStruck will offer cinephiles exclusive bonus content
such as archival footage and newly produced pieces offering viewers a
wealth of exclusive content including:
-
Mini Documentaries – FilmStruck will offer in-depth
looks at different franchises or themes each month, beginning with The
Masters and Icons franchises, as well as the Political
Documentary and Music by Michel Legrand themes -
Point of View (POV) – celebrities and experts will offer
their retrospectives on the various franchises and themes each month,
including director Mike Leigh exploring his own work, and Edoardo
Ponti discussing a collection of films highlighting the majestic
Italian country side from the Beauty of Italy theme -
Supplemental Material – FilmStruck will offer audio
commentaries, original film trailers and filmmaker interviews to
provide additional context and insight into the featured films
To provide additional historical context to films, franchises and
themes, FilmStruck will feature hosted introductions from film critics,
actors and more, including:
-
Bill Hader – the Emmy® award winning actor will provide hosted
introductions and insights into director Akira Kurosawa and
screenwriter Sam Fuller -
Alicia Malone – Film reporter, critic, TV host and writer
Alicia Malone has been a correspondent for CNN, Access Hollywood,
E!, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, MTV and
Fandango, among others: she will host the monthly World Discoveries
franchise in additions to various themes on FilmStruck -
Lucky Yates – Actor and comedian Lucky Yates voices Dr.
Algernop Krieger on FX’s Archer and will host the month Panic
Room franchise in addition to various themes on FilmStruck
For more information on FilmStruck, please visit www.filmstruck.com
For additional information including product images, videos and host
bios, please visit pressroom.turner.com/filmstruck.
About FilmStruck
FilmStruck is a new subscription on-demand service that offers film
aficionados a comprehensive library of films including an eclectic mix
of contemporary and classic art house, indie, foreign and cult
films. Developed and managed by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in
collaboration with the Criterion Collection, FilmStruck will be the new
exclusive streaming home for the critically acclaimed and award-winning
Criterion Collection, including the Criterion Channel, a new premium
service programmed and curated by the Criterion team. FilmStruck is
Turner’s first domestic direct-to-consumer offering launching in October
2016.
Connect with FilmStruck
Website:
www.filmstruck.com
Pressroom: pressroom.turner.com/filmstruck
Facebook: facebook.com/filmstruck
Twitter: twitter.com/filmstruck
Tumblr: filmstruck.tumblr.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/filmstruck
About the Criterion Collection
Since 1984, the Criterion Collection has been dedicated to publishing
important classic and contemporary films from around the world in
editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning,
original supplements. No matter the medium—from laserdisc to DVD and
Blu-ray to FilmStruck, the streaming service developed in collaboration
with Turner Classic Movies—Criterion has maintained its pioneering
commitment to presenting each film as its maker would want it seen, in
state-of-the-art restorations with special features designed to
encourage repeated watching and deepen the viewer’s appreciation of the
art of film.
About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner
Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network
that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest
film libraries in the world highlighting the entire spectrum of film
history. TCM features the insights of hosts Robert Osborne and Ben
Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests
and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. Currently in its
22nd year as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers
critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along
with annual programming events like 31 Days of
Oscar® in February and Summer Under the Stars in
August. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through events as the
annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic
Cruise, as well as through the TCM Classic Film Tour in New York City
and Los Angeles. In addition, TCM produces a wide range of media about
classic film, including books and DVDs, and hosts a wealth of material
online at tcm.com and
through the Watch TCM mobile app.
TCM is a division of Turner,
a Time Warner company. Turner creates and programs branded news,
entertainment, sports, animation and young adult multi-platform content
for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include
CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN.com, TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV,
Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report,
iStreamPlanet and ELEAGUE.
Contacts
Publicity Contacts
Rachelle Savoia – Turner Communications
(404)
878-2293
rachelle.savoia@turner.com
or
Kendel
White ? TCM and FilmStruck
(404) 575-9258
kendel.white@turner.com
or
Courtney
Ott ? Criterion Collection
(646) 230-6847
courtney@cineticmedia.com
