Withoutabox

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Withoutabox
Type of site Film
Available in English
Owner IMDb (Amazon.com)
Created by David Straus, Joe Neulight
Website www.withoutabox.com
Alexa rank Negative increase 44,044 (April 2014)[1]
Launched January 2000
Current status Active

Withoutabox is a website founded in January 2000 by David Straus, Joe Neulight and Charles Neulight which allows independent filmmakers to self-distribute their films. The first product launched was the International Film Festival Submission system. Withoutabox works with film festivals and filmmakers all over the world. In January 2008, Withoutabox was acquired by IMDb, a subsidiary of Amazon.com.[2][3]

The Withoutabox website offers filmmakers a platform to search over 3000 film festivals on five continents and to submit their films to over 850 film festivals worldwide, including festivals such as Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival.[4][5]

Festivals can request submissions via the web and manage incoming submissions electronically, instead of the traditional route of sending in screener DVDs via mail. This allows festivals to market their event to over 400,000 active filmmakers already on the Withoutabox platform, accept submission fees from them electronically, and automatically notify filmmakers for acceptance into their event. Other services includes: streaming on the Internet via IMDb, and selling DVDs and video-on-demand downloads on Amazon.com via CreateSpace.[6][7]

Controversy[edit]

Withoutabox has attracted criticism in the years following its takeover in 2008 by IMDB, owned in turn by Amazon. Some filmmakers and festivals alike have accused the company of excessive charges, uncompetitive practices, outdated technology and the usual claims of aggressive litigation leveled at Amazon.[8][9][10]

Partners (partial list)[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Withoutabox.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01. 
  2. ^ Bizjournals.com
  3. ^ Independent Magazine
  4. ^ Indiewire.com
  5. ^ Allbusiness.com
  6. ^ Indiewire.com
  7. ^ Indiewire.com
  8. ^ 10th Nov, 2008 (2008-11-10). "With or Withoutabox - Independent, November 2008". http://www.independent-magazine.org/. Retrieved 2008-11-10.  External link in |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Kaufman, Anthony, ["Why Withoutabox Has 400,000 Indie Filmmakers, 1,000 Film Festivals -- and Frustrated Customers"], May 3, 2012, Indiewire.com
  10. ^ Swanson. Jen, "With or Withoutabox?", November 10, 2008, Independent Magazine (note this 2008 article pre-dates substantial newer developments noted in other articles).

External links[edit]

(owner of IMDb.com and Withoutabox)

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