Frequently Asked Questions
Our platform enables global screening tours – online and offline – through an innovative video delivery platform with a full suite of rights management tools for content owners and event management tools for screening hosts.
We’re seeking feature length films, at festival quality level that we think will perform well with Kinema Hosts. Short films and serials are welcome. To submit your film visit kinema.com/filmmakers.
We review and curate all films before enabling a film access to Kinema tools, hosts and audiences. We encourage you to apply here!
Sometimes yes! However we have found that Kinema hosts are most interested in either a series of shorter films, or one short film on the longer side (~40 minutes).
We facilitate the non-theatrical exhibition of your film. Non-theatrical exhibitors (aka Hosts) book showings of your film through Kinema.com. Showings can be in-person, virtual live, and virtual on-demand. You can also enable watch now rentals directly to audiences. We do not acquire films, you maintain your rights.
We're part subscription, part revenue share and have plans to fit all budgets, check out all pricing details here.
Platform
Promotion varies films to film, based on content and quality, but could potentially include:
Your film generates revenue through licensing fees, ticketing, and rentals. Hosts either pay a licensing fee to book a showing of your film, or they sell tickets and split the revenue with you.
We’re your operational partner in running your screening tour. We take care of all the logistics of a screening tour including: promotion to Kinema hosts, film delivery via the offline cinema player or a live virtual cinema, customer service, reporting, payments and payouts.
Nope. As long or as short as you’d like! At minimum we recommend the film be visible on the platform for one year, with a booking window of at least 4-6 months.
Your film is uploaded, stored remotely on AWS, encrypted at rest, in storage and in transit. We employ DRMs from Widevine, PlayReady & Fairplay.
Once you sign your licensing agreement and begin your subsciption, within 48 hours you will receive a link to begin onboarding your film assets and create your booking page. You can then get your booking page up as fast as you can collect and upload your meta data.
In order for us to secure and QA the film, we also require a minimum of 48 hours between when you upload your film and closed captioning files and when the first screening can take place.
You set the minimum and maximum rate for individual tickets to a showing of your film, as well as the ticket split. Standard revenue split on ticketing is 50/50 between you and the host, after 10% to the platform for processing and credit card costs.
Yes! We will provide you with a standard and recommended rate care, but you can entirely customize. Licensing fees are determined by host type and audience size.
Technical Video Specifications
The following mezzanine specifications are in order of preference.
QuickTime Mezzanine File Format - preferred
Container
Video Specifications
Audio Specifications
MPEG-2 Mezzanine File Format
Container
Video Specifications
Audio Specifications
Banner Image
Gallery Images
Film Poster
Company Logo
Absolutely. We encourage you to list all your past films on Kinema.
We do not, but we do provide your preferred contact information and speaking rates to hosts within their own event management console.
We do not, and it is not necessary. Our Offline Kinema Player allows Hosts to safely and securely access and play your film without the internet.
We are a partner based distribution network. All of our Hosts have their own audiences that they market their screening of your film to. We do however curate and select films that we think will perform well with our hosts and audiences. But ultimately it is up to them if they choose to book and pay to show your film.
We request these upfront with the film. Any new subtitle or cc files will require us to re-upload and re-encrypt the film, and you may incur additional costs.
You will have access to an insights dashboard that provides information on your bookings, tickets/rsvps, pricing and payouts. We care deeply about the privacy of paying screening hosts and their audience members. At this time we are not offering access to the number of views or time watched for the virtual screenings within that dashboard. However, if the attendee has opted in to share their email with you then you will recieve that information.
To host a screening:
Both! You can choose up to three ways to hava a screening:
In-Person: We provide you with a secure way to download the film for a limited time. You will need to download to the computer you will be using for the event.
Virtual Live: A live streamed synchronous viewing of the film at a scheduled date and time. You will be provided with an event link for your audience to register. They will be provide with instructions for accessing. They will watch in sync, and can live text chat. You also have the option to live broadcast a Q&A after.
Virtual On-demand. Set a window of time, between 1-30 days, in which your audience can watch the film on their own time.
We review all screening requests to ensure the film is ready for you. So while most events are approved within a couple hours, please allow for up to 48 hours for your event to be approved.
If your event is within 48 hours, contact hello@kinema.com or engage the chat box in the bottom right corner of your screen.
In-person Events: Yes. The film screens just like a movie theater. You or your projectionist on site will start the film. Make sure to download from Offline.Kinema.com.
Live Virtual Events: Yes, the film will automatically start at the designated time. Show up early. The virtual room opens 30 minutes before the start time.
On-demand Events: No. The film is available within the window of time you have chosen, up to 30 days. Once an audience member starts the film, they will have 24 hours to finish it. They can watch as many times as they’d like within that 24 hour rental period.
We recommend either attending a virtual screening to experience it first-hand. You can also reach out to us directly to schedule a a demo.
Simply send them the link to your event page –You can find this link by going to your host management page and clicking “manage screening.” From there, you will see the option to “view screening” which is the link you will send out to your guests.
No, our account and ticket is unique to you. In order to preserve the security of the film, each person must have their own Kinema account and ticket to attend.
As the host, your account will automatically be provided with one free ticket. For secure access, each attendee must have an account and ticket.
You can screen any movie from our available library. These films are carefully curated and have been licensed to allow for screening events. If you would like to request another movie, please email hello@kinema.com.
Public screening events are listed on our Events page and are open to anyone to attend. They are also listed in our upcoming screenings and available in search engine results.
Private screenings have a dedicated event page with information on how to get tickets. This page can only be accessed through a unique link you share with your guests.
While we advocate for freedom of speech, we also value safe spaces for conversations. The chat function in your virtual cinema has an automated filter to block inappropriate content. As the host, you also have the ability to delete messages and block users.
Payouts are available 1-2 business days after a ticket is purchased.
Yes. You can charge for tickets and donate the proceeds to any cause, person, or place of your choice. However, you will still need to input your bank info on your Stripe account. This could be your own account, and then you can make the donation separately or add the bank account of the non-profit of your choice.
At this time there is not an option to donate on top of the ticket price, or on top of a free ticket.
Yes
Yes. All payment information is submitted and securely stored with our payment processor, Stripe, a PCI-certified Service Provider Level 1.
We recommend watching on a non-mobile device and using the latest version of Chrome. If you are still encountering issues, please try refreshing your page. If that doesn’t work, contact us at hello@kinema.com or via the chat option in the bottom right corner.
Yes, you can with Safari on iOS 12 or later.
At this time, chat is only available on laptop or desktop computer.
Yes! Connect your computer to the TV with an HDMI cable to watch on your TV.
You can also cast to your TV like this.
Closed captioning is available if the filmmakers have provided these. Captions can be enabled in the video player for Virtual and On-demand via the following:
To enable captions:
It depends! Generally yes, as our mission is to make films accessible to anyone, anywhere. However, the film's availability is based on the rights the filmmaker or distirbutor enables on the platform.
In the top-right corner of any page, click your initials and select Account Settings from the drop-down menu. You will be emailed a link to reset your password, please check your junk folder if you do not see an email from hello@kinema.com
As the host, if you cancel your event then all of your guests will be refunded for their tickets. If you paid a licensing fee upfront, you can cancel and receive a refund up to 2 weeks in advance of your event.
If your event is ticketed and you cancel your event, then all of your guests will be refunded for their tickets. If your event is free and you paid a licensing fee upfront, you can cancel up to 2 weeks before your event to still receive a refund.
You will either receive an invite to a specific screening event, or you can find a public screening in the Events section.
You will need a Kinema account to attend any screenings. Sign up for or log into your account.
To secure a ticket, visit a screening event’s page, and select ‘Tickets’. If there is a ticket price, enter your credit card information to buy a ticket. You’ll get an email with your ticket info and how to join the screening (be sure to check your spam, junk, or promotions folders!)
You can now rent select films to watch immediately. All our films are available on our home page. If a film is available to Watch Now you will see a Watch Now Rental button. Click on the button to purchase your rental! Guests will then have 48 hours to complete their rental once having started.
Live Virtual Events: Yes, the film will automatically start at the designated time. Show up early. The virtual room opens 30 minutes before the start time - and there are sometimes pre-movie surprises that you don’t want to miss.
In-person Events; Yes. The host or projectionist on site will start the film when they or the audience is ready.
On-demand Events - No, the film is available to you within a window of time selected by your Host. You can watch at any time during that time frame. Once you start the film you will have 48 hours to complete it. You can watch as many times as you’d like within that 48 hour rental period.
Watch Now Rentals - No the film is available to you for 48 hours. You can watch as many times as you’d like within that 48 hour rental period.
Yes! Ticket limits are set by the hosts of a screening. If it is marked as sold out, unfortunately there are no additional tickets available, and you’ll have to purchase a ticket for a different screening or reach out to the host directly.
No. Your account and ticket is unique to you. Each person must have their own account and ticket to attend.
Double check your spam, junk, or promotions folder in case the confirmation was filtered out. If you don’t see it, log into your Kinema account and go to your Tickets section in the upper right hand corner – all purchased tickets will be there. If you see a charge on your credit card, but no tickets there, contact us at hello@kinema.com.
Sharing is caring! Send them a link to the event page!
Yes
In the top-right corner of the Kinema homepage, select ‘Log In’ and follow the onscreen prompts. You can edit your account by clicking your initials in the top-right corner and Account Settings.
In the top-right corner of any page, click your initials and select Account Settings from the drop-down menu. You will be emailed a link to reset your password, please check your junk folder if you do not see an email from hello@kinema.com
No, your account is unique to you. A friend must create an account to host or attend a screening event. If you share an account, and both try to watch the film, one will be kicked out.
Yes. All payment information is submitted and securely stored with our payment processor, Stripe, a PCI-certified Service Provider Level 1.
We recommend watching on a non-mobile device and using the latest version of Chrome. If you are still encountering issues, please try refreshing your page. If that doesn’t work, contact us at hello@kinema.com or click the chat box in the bottom right corner.
Yes, you can using Safari on iOS 12 or later.
At this time chat is only available on laptop or desktop computer.
Yes! Connect your computer to the TV with an HDMI cable to watch on your TV.
You can also cast to your TV like this.
We strongly recommend all filmmakers provive closed captioning files. However in a few cases they are not available.
You can enable closed-captioning by clicking on the “CC” button in the lower-right corner of the player.
To enable captions:
All tickets are final and non-refundable unless the host or Kinema has canceled the screening.