It’s been a whirlwind of a year for our Slamdance class of 2016!Just seven months ago, a group of first-time filmmakers trekked to Park City, Utah to premiere their very first feature films at Slamdance Film Festival. In subsequent months, these films screened to sold out audiences at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood and ArcLight Cinemas Chicago, as part of our Slamdance Cinema Club series.
Now, we're proud to report the stellar online distribution and VOD success of these films. Their success is the fuel to our fire and serves to validate the power and possibility of indie filmmaking and doing it yourself.
BUDDYMOON
dir. by Alex Simmons
Synopsis: Jilted groom David is convinced by his excitable best man Flula to continue with his planned honeymoon, a backcountry trek in the mountains of Oregon, in a highly comedic ode to friendship and the great outdoors.
After this bromantic comedy took home the Slamdance Audience Award for Narrative Feature, it went on to sweep the festival circuit, winning the Audience Award at the Florida Film Festival, Las Vegas Film Festival, and Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. Buddymoon was released on iTunes on July 1st, 2016 with MGM (Orion Pictures) and Gravitas Ventures and managed to sweep the charts on that one, too!
6/24/2016
#4 on iTunes Pre-Order List (all genres)
6/30/2016
#1 on iTunes Pre-Orders (all genres)
7/3/2016
#1 on iTunes best seller list (independent)
7/5/2016
#7 on iTunes best sellers (comedy)
7/5/2016
#18 on iTunes best seller list (all genres)
www.buddymoonthemovie.com
LOS PUNKS; WE ARE ALL WE HAVE
dir. Angela Boatwright
Synopsis: A cobbled-together family of Hispanic youth comprise the thriving backyard punk scene of South Central and East L.A.: bands, fans, and production are interwoven into a sub-culture of thrash, noise and pits.
Angela's feature documentary was an instant hit at the Slamdance Film Festival, being among 1st films at the festival to sell out their premiere screening. Their VOD release was no different, being a strong contender amongst this year’s most successful independent films and music documentaries.
6/16/2016
#32 on iTunes best sellers (independent)
#4 on iTunes best sellers (music documentaries)
www.lospunksfilm.com
FURSONAS
dir. Dominic Rodriguez
Synopsis: Like any community, the Furry world is one with gossipers, dreamers, followers, whistleblowers and the one guy who wants to rule them all.
In Park City, the Fursonas crew took home the Spirit of Slamdance Award for their college thesis film, and a distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures. The film has been buzzing ever since, being featured in Esquire, The Examiner, and on NPR’s Press Play with Madeline Brand. On their VOD release date, Fursonas landed on the iTunes best seller lists.
5/10/2016
#4 on iTunes best sellers (all genres)
6/16/2016
#31 on iTunes best sellers (independent)
6/16/2016
#31 on iTunes best sellers (documentary)
www.fursonasdoc.com
HOW TO PLAN AN ORGY IN A SMALL TOWN
dir. Jeremy LaLonde
Synopsis: When a famous sex columnist attempts to host an orgy with old high school acquaintances in her conservative hometown, keeping secrets becomes the least of her problems.
This comedy featured in our Beyond Program has hit the top of the iTunes charts in their home country of Canada!
6/28/2016
#3 on iTunes Canada's best sellers (all genres)
www.facebook.com/SmallTownO
EMBERS
dir. Claire Carre
Synopsis: After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory.
Slamdance Presents released Claire's indie sci-fi at the ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood for a week long screening with nightly panel discussions on various topics related to the film. Coinciding with our theatrical release was Embers’ VOD release with The Orchard. On their release day, they hit #3 on iTunes New and Noteworthy list for Sci-Fi! Two weeks later, Embers still stands strong on the independent and sci-fi best seller lists!
8/2/2016
#3 on iTunes New and Noteworthy (sci-fi and fantasy)
8/3/2016
Featured film on Hulu
8/16/2016
#25 on iTunes best sellers (sci-fi and fantasy)
#25 on iTunes best sellers (independent)
www.embersmovie.com
THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK
dir. Brian Golden Davis
Synopsis: Artists from different walks of life vie to win the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, the only art competition of its kind sponsored by the U.S. government.
Brian sold his car to complete this documentary feature. By the end of his week in Park City, Davis took home the Slamdance Audience Award for Doc Feature, Grand Jury Prize for Doc Feature, and a distribution deal with Lionsgate and Animal Planet. The film went live on iTunes and VOD this month and has unsurprisingly thrived!
8/16/2016
#28 on iTunes best sellers (independent)
8/16/2016
#14 on iTunes best sellers (documentary)
www.themilliondollarduckfilm.com
See THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK in theaters with Slamdance Cinema Club!
Monday, October 10th. 8PM at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood
Thursday, October 20th. 8PM at ArcLight Cinemas Chicago
Purchase tickets here