Streaming service Presto offers to salvage Tropfest after sponsors left ‘disappointed’
Australian streaming service Presto has thrown a lifeline to the disappointed Tropfest finalists offering to showcase their films on its platform, Mumbrella can reveal.
The offer from the Foxtel and Seven West Media-owned platform comes as major sponsors including Qantas, Somersby Cider, Uber and Nova Entertainment, have expressed their “surprise” and “disappointment” with the sudden axing of Australia’s best known public film festival.
Privately many corporate sponsors and partners are understood to be annoyed at the lack of consultation before the event’s axing less than a month before it was set to take place, with festival founder John Polson denouncing the “terrible and irresponsible mismanagement” which he claimed had caused it.
However this morning Presto told Mumbrella in a statement: “We’re certainly disappointed that such an iconic and popular event like Tropfest has been cancelled; however, we are currently exploring the possibility of showcasing the finalists’ films.
What’s Presto? Fairfax never mentions it when they run a yarn on Netflix.
Does Tropfest know about this offer, or did Presto just tell Mumbrella via press release?
Hi Easy PR opp,
We contacted Presto and they gave us the statement. Our understanding is that they have contacted organisers.
Cheers
Nic – Mumbrella
Personally I think this is a great move by Presto. Helping prop up Australian film would solidify Presto as an Australian brand capable of supporting and nurturing local talent.
Pretty sure Tropfest already has/had a broadcast partner in the form of SBS
http://www.sbs.com.au/movies/a.....015-update
Great to see a fellow streaming service offering support. We at Ozflix talked this morning about the very idea, but we won’t launch until the new year so can’t offer practical help this month. However the Presto offer is more than an “Easy PR opp” as has been suggested by the anonymous poster’s own handle.
The offer to ingest, stream, author pages and create the necessary support services in technology and marketing is not trivial, is a distraction from their main game and comes at a cost to the Presto organisation.
Bravo to them for reaching out, and bollocks to the cynics who revel in taking “Easy” pot shots, you suck!
Ron Brown,
CEO, Ozflix.tv