The traditional model of film distribution is being challenged, and a new player has entered the scene with a fresh approach. The recent release of the Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man, a film chronicling the life of The Beatles’ legendary manager, did not make its debut on Netflix, Amazon, or any other major streaming platform. Instead, it premiered on Olyn—a rising startup that brands itself as the “Shopify for filmmakers.”
But why does this matter?
Because Olyn is pioneering a novel way for filmmakers to distribute their content—one that puts creative control and revenue directly into their hands while leveraging the power of social referrals to drive sales. By removing traditional intermediaries, Olyn offers an alternative to mainstream streaming platforms, allowing independent filmmakers to compete on a more level playing field.
Olyn’s Disruptive Model: Empowering Filmmakers with Direct-to-Consumer Streaming
Founded by Ana Maria Jipa, Jeremias Buireo, Kiran Thomas, and Malcolm Wood, California-based Olyn introduces a game-changing approach to film distribution. Rather than selling content to streaming giants like Netflix or Amazon, filmmakers using Olyn retain up to 90% of their revenue. This direct-to-consumer model hinges on the filmmaker’s own marketing efforts, as well as partnerships with influencers, film critics, and content creators who embed purchase links in their content, blogs, and social channels.
In essence, Olyn transforms film distribution into an e-commerce-style experience, removing the traditional middleman and giving filmmakers complete control over their projects.
Jipa, CEO and co-founder of Olyn, emphasizes that the platform provides a full-fledged streaming solution for filmmakers:
“We provide all the tech that implies: from DRM, 4K streaming, casting, a full landing page that presents the film in the same way it might appear on Netflix or Apple TV, plus all the other tools such as geo-targeting, analytics, and audience data. Filmmakers promote their movie through PR, journalists, bloggers, and film critics. A recommendation from someone you trust carries far more weight than a suggestion by an algorithm.”
Why Filmmakers Are Turning to Olyn
For filmmakers, the biggest challenge isn’t just producing high-quality films—it’s reaching an audience. Traditional distribution deals often limit creative control and offer a one-time licensing fee, regardless of the film’s long-term success. Olyn flips this model, allowing filmmakers to earn based on viewership and audience engagement.
Additionally, Olyn provides powerful audience analytics, offering insights such as:
- Countries where the movie is performing best
- Total minutes watched
- A database of users who have viewed the film
This level of data transparency is unprecedented in the film industry. Unlike mainstream platforms, where filmmakers rarely get to interact with their audience, Olyn enables direct communication and audience-building, which is invaluable for promoting future projects.
Competing with Streaming Giants: Can Olyn Scale?
While Olyn’s revenue-sharing model is undeniably attractive, one of the biggest challenges it faces is competing with the sheer convenience and scale of major streaming services. With platforms like Netflix spending billions on marketing and content acquisition, independent filmmakers using Olyn must take on the burden of promoting their films themselves.
Perry Trevers, producer at Studio POW, which used Olyn to distribute Midas Man, acknowledges both the challenges and opportunities:
“Olyn has enabled us to think beyond traditional platforms, letting us become our own streaming service. It’s about empowering filmmakers to market and distribute films in a way that mirrors the direct-to-consumer success of e-commerce. It’s a chance to retain control over our work and redefine how movies reach their viewers.”
A Solution to Piracy? Olyn’s Global Reach
One of the most pressing issues in the film industry is piracy. Many users resort to illegal sources simply because a movie is not available in their country. Jipa argues that Olyn’s global accessibility can help address this issue:
“If someone can pay for a movie and watch it instantly, they’re much more likely to do so rather than seek out an illegal copy.”
By offering films directly to audiences worldwide, Olyn aims to reduce piracy by making content legally accessible and affordable.
Olyn’s Evolution: From Asset Cataloging to Film Streaming
Olyn’s journey into film distribution was not accidental. The platform initially started as a tool for cataloging physical assets, but its trajectory changed when entrepreneur and filmmaker Malcolm Wood joined as a co-founder. His film, The Last Glaciers, became one of the first titles launched on Olyn, proving the viability of the model.
Wood explains how independent filmmakers often bear significant financial risks to produce films on their own. Many choose to sell rights to specific markets while seeking alternative revenue models for other regions.
“Studio POW is self-financed. They created Midas Man. They had the freedom to sell the rights in the U.K. market to Amazon but found it more profitable to go direct-to-consumer in the U.S. using Olyn.”
The ‘Shopify for Filmmakers’ Analogy
Wood sees Olyn as the Shopify of the film industry, where every filmmaker can create their own distribution pipeline. He notes that the average film on Amazon in the U.K. receives only around 2,000 views per year—a statistic that highlights how many films fail to gain traction on traditional platforms. Olyn gives these films a second chance by allowing filmmakers to market their content directly to their target audience.
“With Olyn, a filmmaker can still sell their rights to certain markets to pre-fund the film, while also capitalizing on direct-to-consumer sales in regions where they retain rights.”
A Future of Filmmaker-Controlled Distribution?
One potential challenge for Olyn is whether it can maintain its quality standards as it scales. Some might wonder if the platform could become a home for adult content or lower-quality productions. Jipa addresses this concern:
“Right now, this is not the tone we want to set, and it would be easy to attract that category. At the beginning, we are ensuring that the films featured on Olyn are high quality. But in the long term, we aim to create a space where filmmakers, not the platform, decide what gets distributed. Our vision is to allow filmmakers to have full control over their work, eventually moving to a full SaaS model.”
Funding and the Road Ahead
While Olyn is still in its early stages, it has already raised $2.8 million—including $1.8 million from U.S. VC firm Hard Yaka and contributions from angel investors.
The company’s success will depend on how effectively it can convince independent filmmakers to embrace direct-to-consumer distribution and how well it can compete with mainstream streaming platforms.
But one thing is clear: Olyn represents a bold step toward democratizing film distribution, putting the power back into the hands of the creators. If successful, it could redefine how movies are marketed, sold, and watched—one film at a time.
