Submarine Channel
A few weeks ago YouTube launched The Screening Room, “a platform for top films from around the world to find the audiences they deserve”. We of course applaud this initiative. For one, because the screening room shows films that exceed the normal maximum of 10 minutes on YouTube. And two, the films get the VIP treatment: they are being displayed in YouTube’s new High Quality Player.
What remains unclear is who exactly programmes the films. Even in the “about section” we didn’t find any reference to who selects the films and on what grounds. We heard that YouTube cooperates with Sundance Channel and Wholphindvd.com (two excellent partners, no doubt about it), but it isn’t mentioned anywhere on the platform.
Anyway, we checked out the films that are now available – every two weeks, there are four new films online – and we are not disappointed. We especially like Ryan, that wonderfully made animation film about the tragic life of filmmaker Ryan Larkin. This little gem by Chris Landreth won the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 2004.
