Presenting: The YouTube Screening Room
In continuation of an entry I made yesterday on YouTube's move into full-length film screenings... YouTube made it official today by revealing what it calls The YouTube Screening Room. As printed on the screening room website:
The YouTube Screening Room is a platform for top films from around the world to find the audiences they deserve. Every other Friday, you’ll find four new films featured in the YouTube Screening Room. These films always appear with the permission and involvement of the filmmakers, so be sure to rate, share and leave comments. This is your chance to not only watch great films from all corners of the globe, but also to converse with the filmmakers behind them. While the majority of these films have played at international film festivals, occasionally you’ll find films that have never before screened for wide audiences. All films playing in the YouTube Screening Room are displayed within our High Quality player to give you the best viewing experience possible. Be a part of a new generation of filmmaking and distribution and help us connect films and audiences in the world’s largest theater!
At the bottom of the page is a request for filmmakers and producers with films to contact YouTube if interested in having their works play in the YouTube Screening Room. Send an email with information about your film to ytscreeningroom@youtube.com.
Length requirements aren't specified, so I suppose both shorts and features are welcome.
Today's film debuts include Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?, a 2005 short written by Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know), directed by Miguel Arteta (The Good Girl) and starring John C. Reilly, Mike White and July; The Danish Poet, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 2007; Love and War, which is a stop motion opera from Sweden; and Our Time is Up, which was nominated for Best Live Action Short in 2006 and stars Kevin Pollak.
So, obviously all short films, and as I'm sure you've noticed, all films with either recognizable names, or impressive resumes, specifically award-winners. I expect that to change with time, and we'll see more and more projects created by and starring relative unknowns.
Go to the YouTube Screening Room to watch each film, and participate. I'll certainly be monitoring this and following up with my observations.
I’m looking for the greatest films ever uploaded on YouTube and your work gives me the perfect start. What criteria to you use for the rating of a film, number of views, critical reviews, awards?