These modern cinematic times are ruled by Hollywood blockbusters and often, it seems that the majority of movie theatres show the same type of movie over and over again. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that except that in such a climate, phrases like ‘social and political cinema’ begin to sound like contradictions. And even if such seemingly mythological creatures do exist, they’re certainly not within easy reach. But a new website aims to change all that. Brightwide is a venture co-founded by Livia & Colin Firth and Paolo De Leo which offers an alternative platform for the best documentaries and socially minded films.
For less than three pounds, anyone with an internet connection can watch Oscar winning documentaries like the Cove and new international festival favourites like No One Knows About Persian Cats. This fee is split between the filmmakers and the website’s expenses. And in today’s cinematic industry where slews of high quality films are lost in or don’t even make it to the distribution stage, De Leo explains that Brightwide has been welcomed by filmmakers as a way of getting their films seen. “I think the film makers that produce these kinds of documentaries have a determination to be listened to so (the website) has been resonating very well.”
That’s all very well and good but there’s still the issue of convincing viewers to sign up and pay for the type of conscientious films that Brightwide offers; films which many presume to be intimidating and sententious. De Leo explains that films are carefully selected to tackle these attitudes towards social and political drama, saying that “we consider engaging and entertaining to be two faces of the same coin” and that it’s not just a matter of “how well the documentary is researched but also how all that is conveyed into a message for the public.”
Brightwide aims to be more than a website for viewing films. It instead aims to create an “online community of film lovers and activists.” To sustain this community, the Brightwide team goes out of their way to select films that “open a discussion.” The website is an arena for debate and it is also a place for action. Each film is accompanied by information about the issues explored and links to relevant organisations and campaigns ranging from small groups to large established NGOs like Amnesty International. But De Leo makes it clear that the website “never suggests one single solution and always has a selection of different options,” so as to encourage the viewer to make their own decisions about the topics presented to them.
Having only recently gone online, Brightwide is still a developing website. De Leo describes it as “a small company made of people” but this small company has big aspirations. De Leo talks about eventually opening a Brightwide competition for film makers and using any eventual profits to launch the website in countries where viewers would not be able to pay the full cost for the films.
Brightwide’s tagline is “watch think link act” and that’s a tide-changing attitude to cinema. As long as websites like Brightwide exist, audiences will be reminded that film can be more than frivolous escapism; it can be the source of outrage, fascination and most importantly, the start of change.
