19/12/2014 - Aerofilms has launched the Scope50 initiative in the Czech Republic

Czech distributor Aerofilms is among five European distributors that are set to launch the Scope50 project in collaboration with the Festival Scope VoD platform for film professionals. Soda Pictures (UK), Gutek Films (Poland), Cinefil Co (Hungary), Stadtkino (Austria) and Aerofilms will invite film aficionados to pick the next European film for their domestic distribution. A different title could be chosen for each country. “We want to make viewers a part of the selection process and give them a chance to decide which film they want to see in cinemas,” says Ivo Andrle, of Aerofilms, on the subject of updating the old distribution model. 

“We hesitate in buying an interesting film in some cases, as we do not have enough faith in their commercial potential. Scope50 will help us to pick the right film, thanks to the direct interaction of the audience,” Andrle explains. The initiative is also supported by the EU’s MEDIA programme in the Audience Development sub-section.

“Streaming will be provided on a new platform developed for this particular project, which will be prepared by the Festival Scope team. Fifty viewers will be watching films here, evaluating them and discussing them afterwards,” reveals Anna Lísalová, of Aerofilm. The chosen aficionados will have two months to watch ten pre-selected European titles that have not yet been picked up for domestic distribution. The most active members of the project will also have the chance to participate in the creation of a marketing campaign for the “winning” title. “If this innovative model of selection for Czech distribution proves itself, we would like to get films into the domestic distribution circuit under the Scope50 brand in the future as well,” adds Lísalová. The enrolment of “jurors” will continue until the end of the year. Selected aficionados will watch films throughout January and February to identify the most desirable European film for Czech distribution, which will then hit domestic theatres in the summer.