NEWCINEMA/ Launches as a New International Showcase for Independent Film

A new platform aims to give independent films a lasting home beyond the traditional festival experience.

The Bigger Screen has officially announced the launch of NEWCINEMA/, a new streaming initiative created to help independent filmmakers connect their work with audiences around the world. Described as "The International Showcase for Independent Film," the platform combines professional streaming with editorial promotion, offering filmmakers an alternative way to present their films through a carefully organised, ad-free viewing experience.

Unlike traditional film festivals, NEWCINEMA/ is not built around competition or limited screening schedules. Instead, filmmakers can publish their work through a simple one-time publication model, allowing audiences to discover films whenever they choose.

The platform features a growing collection of dedicated channels, including FEATURES+, SHORTS+, DOCS+, ANIMATED+, EXPERIMENTAL+, OBSCURE+, NEWVOICES+, MUSICVIDEOS+, and PICKS+, making it easy for viewers to explore independent cinema according to their interests.

"Every film on NEWCINEMA/ is here because someone wanted you to see it," says founder Kris De Meester. "That simple idea became the foundation of the platform. We wanted to create a place where filmmakers can publish their work professionally, where audiences can discover films without advertisements, and where independent cinema remains accessible regardless of where a film is in its journey."

Publishing a film on NEWCINEMA/ requires a one-time publication fee of US$29, covering professional transcoding, secure streaming through Whush using Vimeo OTT technology, and a dedicated editorial announcement in Final Cut Magazine. Filmmakers retain full ownership of their work and remain in complete control of their publication, including the territories where their film is available and how long it remains online.

For viewers, NEWCINEMA/ offers a premium, ad-free streaming experience focused entirely on independent cinema. Rather than relying on recommendation algorithms, the platform encourages exploration through its themed channels and editorial recommendations in PICKS+, where the NEWCINEMA/ team highlights films that have made a lasting impression.

The launch also strengthens the wider ecosystem of The Bigger Screen, joining initiatives such as Whush, the Auteur Cinema Archive, Final Cut Magazine, the Tarkovski Grant, and an international network of more than thirty film festivals. Together, these projects aim to support independent filmmakers not only during the festival circuit, but throughout the life of their films.

With its emphasis on discovery, filmmaker control and long-term accessibility, NEWCINEMA/ represents a new approach to online film publishing—one that places independent cinema, and the people who create it, firmly at its centre.

https://www.newcinema.org