Singapore-based Viddsee has struck a deal to stream select content from Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, starting with films from Discovery’s First Time Filmmakers (FTFM) initiative.
The deal kicks off this month with two series of documentaries produced under the initiative – Singapore Stories and Super Japan (see below for more details).
Other titles include Nanjing Calling, Korea Next and FTFM Vietnam. FTFM aims to nurture local filmmaking talent and support the local documentary filmmaking community. The films are available at www.viddsee.com/discovery.
Launched in 2012, Viddsee specialises in streaming short films and web series from across Asia and the Middle East on its social, web and mobile platform. The company raised $2.3m in its latest funding round with Japan’s CyberAgent Ventures (CAV) as lead investor.
“This is a great platform for us to showcase the rich pool of local filmmaking talent that we work with, and we hope this will inspire the next generation of filmmakers in bringing their stories to life in the digital space,” said Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, head of products – Southeast Asia, Charmaine Kwan.
“In delivering entertainment to our community, we’ve seen conversations grow very healthily around genuine and local stories, as it helps with the discovery of the world around us. We believe that Discovery’s FTFM films will satisfy some of that curiosity,” said Viddsee co-founder Derek Tan.
The full line-up of FTFM titles to be streamed by Viddsee includes:
Singapore Stories
Five 30-minute docs by budding Singaporean filmmakers in commemoration of Singapore’s 50th birthday.
Super Japan
Five 30-minute docs that celebrates Japan’s evolution into a global powerhouse. Subjects include free-diving female Ama divers, the Tokyo Metro system and the globalisation and worldwide influence of J-pop.
Nanjing Calling
Five 30-minute docs exploring how the Chinese city of Nanjing pulls off the delicate balancing act of supporting and growing technology and tradition as it prepares to host the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
Korea Next
Five 30-minute docs that unravels the next chapter of the ‘Korean dream’ in the 21st century.
First Time Filmmakers Vietnam
Four 30-minute docs from Vietnamese independent filmmakers as they explore stories of modernisation and change in one of Asia’s fastest developing societies.