Aussie Film-Focused Streaming Service Ozflix to Launch on Australia Day
Like Netflix or Stan, but only for homegrown movies.
It's a problem anyone with a Netflix or Stan subscription can relate to: scrolling through a lengthy list of titles but still having trouble finding something to watch. And, it's a problem that gets worse if you're looking for homegrown content; however a new Aussie-focused streaming option is aiming to fix that.
Meet Ozflix, the first video-on-demand service dedicated to Australian films. First announced back in 2015, it'll launch at 6pm on January 26 with a pay-per-view library of around 250 titles. With approximately 2000 Aussie-made films in existence, the streaming platform aims to become a one-stop-shop for local movies.
"We are committed to making each and every Australian feature film available," says Ozflix CEO Ron V. Brown, who has been involved in the Australian screen industry since the 1970s. That includes the first works crafted in the 1900s, the newest releases, and everything from Newsfront to Strictly Ballroom, The Castle, Ten Canoes, Wolf Creek and The Dressmaker.
The service will also feature three free original content shows that will delve into the history of local flicks, curate suggestions based on themes and directors, and discuss the careers of some of the country's most celebrated talent. Further original content is planned once Ozflix is up and running.
Viewers will pay $6.79 to stream a new release, and $3.79 for all other films. A curated weekly selection will offer five films for $5.79, and Ozflix will provide 50% of each rental fee directly to the distributor or filmmaker.
As well as promising an online home for Australian cinema fans both locally and around the world, the service comes with a hefty roster of high-profile support — actresses Deborah Mailman and Claudia Karvan, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert director Stephan Elliott, and Animal Kingdom producer Liz Watts among them. "This is basically an art gallery for Australian cinema," said Mad Max: Fury Road filmmaker George Miller.
Ozflix launches at 6pm on January 26, 2017. For more information, visit their website.