• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Arts & Entertainment

Indie film buffs now have their own streaming service

By
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
Kristin Marguerite Doidge
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 8, 2015, 10:46 AM ET
"City of God" is one of 150 titles on Tribeca Shortlist's roster of curated films.
"City of God" is one of 150 titles on Tribeca Shortlist's roster of curated films.Courtesy Miramax
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

In a sea of streaming movies, a new video service wants to curate quality films for viewers.

Tribeca Shortlist thinks decision fatigue is keeping would-be film lovers from watching some of cinema’s best offerings, so for $5.99 a month, the subscription video on demand (SVOD) service is offering a selection of just 150 critically acclaimed classic, indie, art house, and foreign films.

Titles include Crash, Annie Hall, Fargo, City of God, Chasing Amy, Amelie, and The Producers—available via streaming to the web and mobile devices—with 50 or so new titles rotating in each month. The company plans to add exclusive new releases in early 2016.

“[The idea] came from conversations throughout our parent companies and a general sense that the massive amount of choice for premium content has left some of the home entertainment audience in a search spiral,” says Jeff Bronikowski, president of Tribeca Shortlist. “We feel through a leaner, more curated experience those people can commit to a movie and enjoy that time more quickly.”

The company isn’t offering specifics on the number of subscribers it’s targeting, but Nielsen’s Total Audience Report released last month revealed the share of American homes with SVOD rose to 45% in the second quarter of 2015, up from 38% a year ago. Bronikowski feels confident that “a growing percentage of that audience is looking for a more personal, curated viewing experience.”

 

Tribeca Shortlist is a joint venture between Tribeca Enterprises and Lionsgate (LGF), with key licensing partnerships with major studios—including MGM, Sony Pictures (SNE), Miramax (DIS), and Magnolia Pictures at launch—to acquire content. It plans to connect with more studios and independent filmmakers in the coming months to add premium content to its library, banking on the Tribeca name (and co-founder Robert De Niro’s endorsement of its vision and mission) as a key driver of its success.

But as America continues to cut the cord on cable, SVOD has become a crowded space, with big players like Netflix (NFLX), Amazon (AMZN), Hulu, and HBO going strong, as well as niche offerings popping up like Shudder for horror flick fans and Vessel for YouTube devotees. There’s also competition from free platforms like Comcast’s Watchable (CMCSA) and Verizon’s Go90 (VZ). And then there’s the fact that many of the titles curated by Tribeca Shortlist are already featured by its larger rivals.

So with all those choices and overlap, is there really space for Tribeca Shortlist to fit in?

Bronikowski sees his service as a complement to the options that are already out there. A big feature he’s hoping sets it apart from the competition is its “Shortlister” feature with recommendations from directors, actors, and other industry insiders, including actor John Leguizamo and director Morgan Spurlock, who create their own “shortlists” of films and introduce them through brief video clips.

Some industry experts think Tribeca Shortlist is on to something with a thoughtful catalogue of acclaimed films at a reasonable price.

Jonathan Taplin, director of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at USC and an expert on new media and film was also the founder and CEO of the first SVOD service, Intertainer, founded in 1996. Curation is needed when it comes to choosing films to watch, he says, and it’s something he feels isn’t really being done by anyone else in the marketplace.

“I think the approach [of Tribeca Shortlist] is very smart,” says Taplin. “Netflix, for example, has good television offerings but really doesn’t offer good films.” And for Taplin, showcasing the artistic achievements of cinema without the clutter of straight-to-DVD fare is perhaps more important now than ever before.

“Without the art, no amount of technological innovation or entertainment marketing savvy is going to get you to go to the movie theater or to swipe or click to find the best movie,” he says. “The art is what gives us vision, and without the human element to help decipher what’s good and what isn’t, most of us will opt out altogether.”

The service is currently offered on the web at TribecaShortlist.com on iPads and through AirPlay or Chromecast, with additional mobile streaming options (including iPhone and Android) slated for the coming months.

About the Author
By Kristin Marguerite Doidge
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Matt Freese stopping a soccer ball entering the goal
SuccessCareers
Team USA’s goalkeeper passed on Manchester United, the club that helped shape David Beckham’s career, for Harvard—and has zero regrets
By Preston ForeJune 23, 2026
15 hours ago
mex
North AmericaWorld Cup
After FIFA priced them out of their own World Cup, many Mexicans take their TVs to the street
By Megan Janetsky and The Associated PressJune 23, 2026
16 hours ago
gg
CommentaryWorld Cup
CPJ: press freedom must endure the American World Cup
By Gypsy Guillén KaiserJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
toy
Arts & EntertainmentBox office
A $1 million horror film and a 30-year-old franchise are saving Hollywood’s summer
By Jake Coyle and The Associated PressJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
duck
North AmericaMexico
Mexico City’s unofficial duck soccer mascot stole the presidential press briefing
By The Associated PressJune 22, 2026
1 day ago
Steve Jobs became a billionaire thanks to a Pixar gamble. Now ‘Toy Story 5’ is breaking box office records thanks to that bet
Arts & EntertainmentSteve Jobs
Steve Jobs became a billionaire thanks to a Pixar gamble. Now ‘Toy Story 5’ is breaking box office records thanks to that bet
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 22, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
18 hours ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Investing
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
18 hours ago
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 22, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 22, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.