{{short description|UK-based video-on-demand (VOD) platform}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox website | name = FilmDoo | logo = FilmDoo Logo.png | caption = | url = {{url|https://www.filmdoo.com}} | alexa = | commercial = | type = streaming video / educational technology | registration = | owner = | author = Weerada Sucharitkul (Founder) | launch_date = | current_status = Active | revenue = }} '''FilmDoo.com''' is a UK-based video-on-demand (VOD) platform that specialises in independent and world cinema.
Described by Guy Lodge of The Guardian as "one of the more discerning new streaming services on the block,"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/26/suite-francaise-clouds-of-sils-maria-while-were-young-review|title=Suite Française; Clouds of Sils Maria; While We're Young; A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night; Conspirators of Pleasure – review|last=Lodge|first=Guy|date=26 July 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> the platform has received media attention for giving international releases to films that had previously received no home video distribution.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
FilmDoo has partnered with online film festivals, including UniFrance's MyFrenchFilmFestival.com<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-02-19|title=Award winners and record-breaking figures for the 8th MyFrenchFilmFestival!|language=en-US|work=MyFrenchFilmFestival|url=https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com/en/newsitem?newsitem=15164|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> and the ArteKino Festival,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/blog/2017/12/01/artekino-festival-competition-win-an-online-pass-to-an-exciting-range-of-new-european-cinema/|title=ARTEKINO FESTIVAL COMPETITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FILMDOO: WIN AN ONLINE PASS TO AN EXCITING RANGE OF NEW EUROPEAN CINEMA|date=2017-12-01|work=FilmDoo|access-date=2018-06-28|language=en-US}}</ref> and over 50 distributors, including Peccadillo Pictures, Film Movement and Third Window Films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/distributor/|title=WHO WE WORK WITH {{!}} FilmDoo|website=FilmDoo|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> The platform has also compiled and distributed various short film compilations, including gay- and lesbian-themed compilations from the New Queer Visions festival strand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/films/new-queer-visions-men-from-the-boys|title=New Queer Visions: Men from the Boys|website=FilmDoo|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/films/new-queer-visions-lust-in-translation/|title=New Queer Visions: Lust in Translation|website=FilmDoo|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref>
FilmDoo has been elected secretary of EuroVoD, a network of European Video on Demand platforms specialising in art-house films and independent cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurovod.org/about|title=EUROVOD - Network of European Independent VoD Platforms|website=EUROVOD - Network of European Independent VoD Platforms|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702175825/http://www.eurovod.org/about|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Representatives of FilmDoo have spoken and presented at events hosted by various festivals and organisations, including the 77th Venice International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abbatescianni |first=Davide |date=5 September 2020 |title=The future of European VoD discussed at Venice Production Bridge |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/392122/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=Cineuropa}}</ref> 2018 Cannes Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/media-events-71st-cannes-film-festival|title=MEDIA events at the 71st Cannes Film Festival|work=Digital Single Market|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref> Berlin's European Film Market,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mapping the Way: EFM STARTUPS Build Industry Solutions |url=https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/industry-programme/event-schedule/event-detail-page_18690.html |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=European Film Market |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214140745/https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/industry-programme/event-schedule/event-detail-page_18690.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Trieste Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wemw.it/2010/09/19/programme-2017/|title=Programme 2018|work=When East Meets West|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180117/http://www.wemw.it/2010/09/19/programme-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thessaoniki International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www2.filmfestival.gr/en/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/26288-newsletter-october-2017|title=Newsletter October 2017|work=Thessaloniki Film Festival|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-gb}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Odesa International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oiff.com.ua/en/festival/news/programa-digital-media-day-popovnilasja-novimi-spikerami-2016-07-08-09-07-00.html|title=EN NEW SPEAKERS AT DIGITAL MEDIA DAY 07 2016 {{!}} News|website=oiff.com.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=REDISTRIBUTE:ECONOMY |url=https://cphdox.dk/conference-2021/redistribute-economy/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=CPH:DOX Documentary Film Festival}}</ref> and European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eave.org/programmes/ties-that-bind-2018/|title=TIES THAT BIND 2018 — EAVE|website=eave.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
In recent years, the company has seen an expansion into online education, launching two video-based learning platforms in 2021, named FilmDoo Academy and FilmDoo Language Learning.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 April 2022 |title=FILMDOO'S EXPANSION INTO FILM- & VIDEO-BASED LEARNING: THE JOURNEY SO FAR |url=https://www.filmdoo.com/blog/2022/04/11/filmdoos-expansion-into-film-video-based-learning-the-journey-so-far/ |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=FilmDoo}}</ref> Representatives of FilmDoo have since presented at edtech and education events organised by groups as the British Council in Indonesia<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2021 |title=UK-INDONESIA: ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS SERIES |url=https://www.britishcouncil.id/sites/default/files/uk-id_programme_v.6_1.pdf |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=British Council}}</ref> and the Language Flagship in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SUBMITTING A PILOT PLAN |url=https://thelanguageflagship.tech/blended-learning-pilots-2022-draft/blended-learning-pilots-2020/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=The Language Flagship}}</ref>
== History ==
The platform was officially launched at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.<ref name=":3" /> According to FilmDoo CEO and co-founder Weerada Sucharitkul, "The word 'Doo' in 'FilmDoo' means to watch or see in Thai, so FilmDoo means to watch a film in Thai."<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/blog/2016/09/14/get-to-know-the-filmdoo-team-filmdoo-co-founder-weerada-sucharitkul/|title=GET TO KNOW THE FILMDOO TEAM: FILMDOO CO-FOUNDER – WEERADA SUCHARITKUL|date=14 September 2016|website=FilmDoo|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> Sucharitkul reports that the name was originally suggested by her mother and that it was chosen "because [they] wanted a non-English word to really reflect the international element of the business from the very beginning."<ref name=":4" />
Later that same year, FilmDoo was selected as a finalist for the 2015 MassChallenge accelerator program.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 May 2015|title=MassChallenge Reveals 2015's Most Promising Startups|url=https://masschallenge.org/media/masschallenge-reveals-2015s-most-promising-startups|access-date=5 June 2020|website=MassChallenge}}</ref>
In July 2016, FilmDoo announced the launch of two new short film channels on new media network, Ownzones: FilmDoo Horror for international horror films; and FilmDoo Asian for Asian shorts, both of which are available internationally by subscription.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/blog/2016/07/14/filmdoo-and-ownzones-to-bring-curated-asian-and-horror-short-film-collections-to-an-international-audience/|title=FILMDOO AND OWNZONES BRING ASIAN AND HORROR SHORTS TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE|date=14 July 2016|website=FilmDoo|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
In the summer of 2016, FilmDoo also launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs with the goal of raising £95,000.<ref name=":5" /> On 7 November 2016, the site reported to have raised "a total of approximately £235,000 (including investments off the platform)".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmdoo.com/blog/2016/11/07/filmdoo-wraps-up-crowdfunding-campaign-with-more-than-230k-in-investments/|title=FILMDOO WRAPS UP CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN WITH MORE THAN 230K IN INVESTMENTS|date=2016-11-07|work=FilmDoo|access-date=2018-06-28|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2017, FilmDoo were accepted for the French Tech Ticket, a one-year program funded by the French government to support startup companies from around the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-02-16|title="We would love to be able to stay on in France and to grow our team here." A year in France by FilmDoo|language=en-US|work=Paris&Co|url=https://www.parisandco.com/view/content/5750/full/1/7865|access-date=2020-06-05|archive-date=5 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605175420/https://www.parisandco.com/view/content/5750/full/1/7865|url-status=dead}}</ref>
That same year, FilmDoo received sponsorship from Creative Europe for a proposed "Multi-Language/Multi-Modal Automated Film Tagging Service."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.creativeeuropeuk.eu/funded-projects/multi-language-multi-modal-automated-film-tagging-service|title=Multi-Language / Multi-Modal Automated Film Tagging Service {{!}} Creative Europe Desk UK|website=www.creativeeuropeuk.eu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> On 19 February 2018, the platform named Fassoo was presented at the European Film Market by Patrick Ndjiki-Nya and William Page as part of the EFM Startups event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/horizon/programme/efm-startups/efm-startups.html|title=EFM Startups|website=www.efm-berlinale.de|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
In 2018, FilmDoo were selected for the seventh edition of Concours d’Innovation Numérique, a French government grant scheme run by Bpifrance, in order to support the launch of their planned language learning platform, LanguageDoo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.entreprises.gouv.fr/files/files/directions_services/numerique/appels-a-projets/cin/laureats-7e-releve-concours-mondial-innovation-juillet2017.pdf|title=Dossier de presse - Lauréats CIN 7|language=fr|access-date=2018-06-25}}</ref>
In the summer of that same year, FilmDoo launched a channel on Amazon in the United States,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://incubateurs.parisandco.com/Actualites/A-la-une/We-would-love-to-be-able-to-stay-on-in-France-and-to-grow-our-team-here.-A-year-in-France-by-FilmDoo|title="We would love to be able to stay on in France and to grow our team here." A year in France by FilmDoo|date=2018-02-16|website=incubateurs.parisandco.com|language=fr-FR|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref> where a selection of short films are available on a subscription basis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Video/b?_encoding=UTF8&benefitId=vdpfilusrp3d3sp21we&node=2858778011|title=Amazon.com: Prime Video|website=www.amazon.com|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref> At the same time, the FilmDoo Aggregate program was launched as means of distributing films to other third party platforms, including Amazon.<ref name=":6" />
At the 2020 North Europe edition of the Fusion International Film Festival, FilmDoo announced the launch of FilmDoo Services, a platform that provides film distributors, brands, distributors and film commissions with services and consultation in the fields of distribution and marketing.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-19|title=FilmFocus ISSUE 05|url=https://issuu.com/fusionfilmfests/docs/london_2020_digital_issue|access-date=2020-06-08|website=Issuu|language=en}}</ref> On October 28, 2020, FilmDoo CEO Weerada Sucharitkul received first prize in the UK & France round of She Loves Tech, the "world's largest startup pitch competition for women and technology."<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 November 2020 |title=She Loves Tech 2020 - UK & France |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmbfEygvxY |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref> In December of the same year, FilmDoo was one of thirty companies selected for Barclays' and Techstars' Female Founders First, a programme that provides "trailblazing, female-led technology companies with resources to grow, scale, and advance."<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 17, 2020 |title=Female Founders First |url=https://rise.barclays/content/dam/thinkrise-com/documents/Barclays_FFF_Lookbook_Final_2020-12-17b.pdf |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=Rise}}</ref>
In January 2021, supported by a grant from the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe, FilmDoo launched FilmDoo Academy, an online learning platform that allowed users to create video-based quizzes using videos from YouTube and Vimeo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2022 |title=FilmDoo: From international film streaming service to interactive language learning platform |url=https://okrfinancial.com/startup-filmdoo-edutainment-language-learning-platform/ |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> This was later followed by the launch of an additional platform, FilmDoo Language Learning, which allowed users pull from FilmDoo's own film catalogue to create online, video-based language lessons.<ref name=":0" /> In May, 2021, FilmDoo Academy was selected as one of the "Elite 200" education technology startups selected to compete in the GSV Cup pitch competition, held at the ASU+GSV Summit between August 9 and August 11.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Elite 200 |url=https://www.asugsvsummit.com/presenting-company-video-library |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=ASU+GSV Summit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sucharitkul |first=Weerada |date=21 May 2021 |title=FilmDoo Selected for GSV Cup Elite 200; Will Compete for $1M in Prizes in World's Largest EdTech Pitch Competition |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/filmdoo-selected-gsv-cup-elite-200-compete-1m-prizes-sucharitkul/ |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref> That same year, FilmDoo was selected for the Belgium-based Start it @KBC accelerator program, along with the 500 Startups Global Launch Singapore accelerator program, both of which supported the company's expansion into online learning and edtech.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2022 |title=FilmDoo reveals the educational power of film. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFuaJNQyn1M |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2021 |title=5 Questions with Weerada Sucharitkul, FilmDoo |url=https://techcollectivesea.com/2021/08/17/5-questions-with-weerada-sucharitkul-filmdoo/ |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=Tech Collective}}</ref>
From March to July, 2021, FilmDoo partnered with the Media & Learning Association in Belgium to conduct a pilot study on the former's edtech tool and platform.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Sucharitkul |first=Weerada |date=13 October 2021 |title=MLA study on FilmDoo's Edtech Platform reveals potential for improving motivation |url=https://media-and-learning.eu/type/featured-articles/mla-study-on-filmdoos-edtech-platform-reveals-potential-for-improving-motivation/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=Media & Learning}}</ref> The study was moderated by Julia Schieber from the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg and funded by the Creative Europe MEDIA sub-programme.<ref name=":7" />
In 2021, FilmDoo also launched a pilot of their online learning services with UK banks NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland, where FilmDoo's video-based learning tools were used to support corporate diversity and inclusion training.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sucharitkul |first=Weerada |date=21 September 2021 |title=How FilmDoo pivoted to online learning by leveraging the power of films and video in the pandemic |url=https://e27.co/how-filmdoo-pivoted-to-online-learning-by-leveraging-the-power-of-films-and-video-in-the-pandemic-20210915/ |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref>
== In the media ==
In May 2015, FilmDoo's acquisition of two new Indonesian titles and their new deal with distribution company Trinity were covered by Variety, with Asia Bureau Chief Patrick Frater writing that, with these new developments, "FilmDoo has bolstered its Asian credentials".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/asia/filmdoo-asian-acquisitions-1201500516/|title=Cannes: FilmDoo Polishes Asian Credentials With Acquisitions, Catalog Addition|last=Frater|first=Patrick|date=19 May 2015|website=Variety|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
Similarly, in April 2016, FilmDoo received coverage from IndieWire for giving international releases to more than twenty "Vintage South African films" from distributors Retro Afrika Bioscope.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 April 2016 |title=Vintage South African Films to Be Released Internationally via FilmDoo Streaming Platform |url=https://shadowandact.com/vintage-south-african-films-to-be-released-internationally-via-filmdoo-streaming-platform |access-date=27 February 2022 |website=Shadow and Act}}</ref> In June that same year, Screen Daily published an article on the release of fourteen Southeast Asian films on FilmDoo.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/territories/asia-pacific/filmdoo-launches-platform-for-southeast-asian-cinema/5104504.article|title=FilmDoo launches platform for Southeast Asian cinema|website=Screen Daily|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
FilmDoo's 2016 crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs received attention from several media outlets, including Screen Daily,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/indie-vod-service-filmdoo-launches-crowdfunding-campaign/5109200.article|title=Indie VOD service FilmDoo launches crowdfunding campaign|website=Screen Daily|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> Crowdfund Insider<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2016/09/89758-video-demand-platform-filmdoo-seeks-nearly-100000-seedrs-app-launch-business-development/|title=Video-On-Demand Platform FilmDoo Seeks Nearly £100,000 on Seedrs For App Launch & Business Development|date=1 September 2016|website=Crowdfund Insider|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> and VODzilla.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://vodzilla.co/blog/vod-news/filmdoo-launches-crowdfunding-campaign-to-drive-international-expansion/?platform=hootsuite|title=FilmDoo launches crowdfunding campaign to drive international expansion {{!}} VODzilla.co|website=VODzilla|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>
The company's acceptance into the French Tech Ticket programme was covered by French publication Les Échos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://business.lesechos.fr/entrepreneurs/communaute/0211700030480-le-programme-french-tech-ticket-se-professionnalise-apres-une-annee-de-test-304675.php|title=Le programme French Tech Ticket, étendu à 70 start-up étrangères - Les Echos|website=business.lesechos.fr|language=fr|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref>
On May 27, 2020, FilmDoo CEO Weerada Sucharitkul featured as a guest speaker on Fast Forward, a webcast run by consultancy The Catalysts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cultural Exchange and the Power of Film with Weerada Sucharitkul|url=https://www.catalysts.agency/webcast/weerada-sucharitkul|access-date=2020-06-08|website=THE CATALYSTS|language=en-US}}</ref>
On September 8, 2021, Sucharitkul featured as a guest on Money FM 89.3 show The Breakfast Huddle, where she discussed the company's expansion into online, video-based learning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2021 |title=Mind Your Business: How FilmDoo is using world cinema to power a language and culture edtech |url=https://www.moneyfm893.sg/guest/weerada-sucharitkul-filmdoo/ |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> That same year, Sucharitkul was selected for VOD Professional's list of 50 VOD Professionals 2021, a list of "the most influential people working in the UK’s OTT industry over the past 12 months."<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2021 |title=50 VOD Professionals 2021 |url=https://www.vodprofessional.com/50vp2021/ |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=VOD Professional}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://www.filmdoo.com/|name=Official website}} * [https://twitter.com/FilmDoo Page on Twitter] * [https://www.facebook.com/filmdoo/ Page on Facebook] * [https://www.youtube.com/c/Filmdoo Page on YouTube] * [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQrR7iCmKeONIacmuJ9Ivw FilmDoo Trailers channel] * [https://www.languagelearning.film/ FilmDoo Language Learning]
Category:Video on demand services