The submission platform reelport has been available for several months now with a new beta version at this link: https://beta.reelport.com (the previous website is still available at reelport.com). This platform is one of the first in Europe, created in 2004 and based in Germany, practically at the same time as the French shortfilmdepot.com.
From the beginning, reelport has allowed video uploads and was the first to implement payment per submission, at €2 per short film, a model that has been followed by other platforms in Europe, inaugurating what I have been calling the “reelport model“. Several weeks ago I dedicated a post to the pricing models of submission platforms.
New platforms had to emerge and competition had to increase for reelport to consider a change in its design and usability. This platform has gone 12 years without any changes or improvements from the filmmakers’ side. We all know that 12 years on the internet is a long time; to put it in perspective, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004, the same year as reelport.
I started working with the beta version a month ago to submit to the Leuven Short Film Fest, where they already required its use. This new version is very different from the previous one; there are many changes. In this post we will look at the three main changes and new features I have encountered.
First surprise: My username and password do not work on the new website. I have been using my account for over 10 years; I have saved data from dozens of short films, as well as our banking details. They explained that the change to the new database was very significant, and they have not been able to maintain user accounts. They were trying, but a month later it remains the same.
How is it possible that a company based on an online service does not maintain the accounts of its own users, who are its main asset? Let us imagine for a moment if the same thing happened with Facebook, Dropbox, Vimeo, Google, or any other online service. Madness.
If we think about it carefully, this problem reveals the perversion of this business model: The filmmakers who have to pay for submission are not their main asset; they are “obligated” to use it, they cannot choose. In other words, despite having to pay for this service, we are forced by the festivals themselves, their true assets. We must bear in mind that some of the most important European festivals use this platform exclusively.
I finally had to create a new account to be able to submit to Leuven.
Let us continue with the new features, this time with an improvement in the pricing model. Although they maintain the €2 per submission (“reels”), they no longer charge for video uploads. It may seem incredible, but in the previous version they charged to activate the upload button. Registering a short film included a “free” video upload, but if we had to upload new versions of the same film, we had to pay €3 per upload. Now, after a decade, this charge has been eliminated.
Page with the new reelport prices
Finally, one of the most significant improvements has been allowing the embedding of a Vimeo link for viewing by festivals, in line with other festival distribution platforms. Without doubt, good news as it greatly facilitates the registration of a film and improves viewing quality.
Although very late, the improvements to reelport are welcome. Despite this, the festivals that are part of this platform should be much more demanding regarding the seriousness and professionalism of this platform.
What experience do you have with reelport? Have you tried the new version?