02/04/2015 - Slovakia’s biggest arthouse distributor has started up its own VoD channel

Eat Your Bones by Jean-Charles Hue

The Slovakian theatrical release of Jean-Charles Hue’s drama Eat Your Bones [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] marks the emergence of a new VoD service helmed by the Association of Slovak Film Clubs (ASFK), called ASFK VOD. The association methodically coordinates Slovakian film clubs and, as a distributor, focuses solely on arthouse films. In the wake of Kinocola (see the news), which began to gather together domestic production on a VoD platform, and Film Europe (see the news), another domestic distributor has turned to an alternative distribution channel. “This VoD project stems mostly from the demand of aficionados for titles that we distribute, but we also want to expand our services as the biggest distributor of arthouse cinema in Slovakia,” ASFK’s Martina Pašteková told Cineuropa.

Eat Your Bones was made accessible on the new VoD portal on the day of its theatrical premiere, thus kicking off a trial period that continued throughout March, while more films should be added by the end of April. The “day and date” release is an exception, as Pašteková explains: “Other titles will be older. It’s still important for us to have people going to movie theatres.” The VoD platform will thus enable audiences to access films from ASFK’s distribution slate that have already premiered and are no longer available, or are scarcely accessible on the theatrical circuit. The current charge for the service is €1 for one viewing (valid for 24 hours) or €2 for 48 hours’ access, payable via SMS in the territory of Slovakia. 

Cineuropa asked the Association of Czech Film Clubs, an entity that is completely independent from ASFK, whether it was also preparing any online distribution. The association’s spokesperson, Radka Piskačová, confirmed that no standalone VoD portal would be launched; however, the association is taking steps with regard to VoD in general.