Asian Independent Film Platform Viddsee Lands Content Deal With Yahoo

There is a wealth of filmmaking talent across Asia, but it is very difficult for independent filmmakers there to gain exposure beyond occasional festivals. Founded earlier this year, Viddsee wants to raise the profile of the region’s film industry by growing its online distribution network. Back in November, the Singapore-based startup launched its Channels program to work with content partners. Now Viddsee has signed its biggest content partnership to-date with Yahoo.

The Yahoo-Viddsee deal will bring award-winning short films to a significantly larger audience, says co-founder Derek Tan. Viddsee’s “Asian Short Films” channel will be featured on Yahoo’s entertainment portals for Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Tan says that Yahoo “has a very strong entertainment portal in the Philippines where our channel sits. Also, in Singapore and Malaysia, Yahoo has a strong editorial reach where they can position our content together to garner more audiences.”

Viddsee originally focused on indie filmmakers in Southeast Asia, but now also includes content from Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Eventually, Viddsee hopes that its partnerships with Yahoo and other sites and organizations will create a strong network that will allow its to distribute films to audiences in other parts of Asia, as well as bring short films from those areas to Southeast Asia.

Viddsee is an example of how online platforms are changing the media industry by giving content creators a growing range of accessible distribution platforms. The most famous of these include iTunes, Vimeo On Demand, and Netflix, but smaller platforms like Viddsee can also help raise the profile of creators in niche markets.

The site has already gained support from an impressive roster of established filmmakers, including Camera d’Or-winning Singaporean director Anthony Chen, which has helped establish Viddsee within the Southeast Asian film industry and attract up-and-coming artists.