In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests erupting throughout the world, the Criterion Collection has announced it will offer the Black Lives collection to highlight black filmmakers, showcasing the likes of Kathleen Collins Cheryl Dunye, Maya Angelou, Charles Burnett and many more.
In addition to sharing the work of Black filmmakers, the video distribution service has also donated a sum of $25,000 USD in an “employee-guided fund" and committed to making a monthly contribution of $5,000 USD to a variety of US-based bail funds, community organizations, legal defence funds, initiatives aimed at addressing police reform and more.
This service is currently available for free through the streaming service's platform.
Image Credit: Criterion Collection
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Black Filmmaker Spotlight
- Creating collections that celebrate diverse filmmakers and underrepresented perspectives could be a profitable avenue for media and streaming companies
- Corporate Social Responsibility Integration
- Incorporating philanthropic efforts into business models could increase customer loyalty and employee satisfaction
- Free Access to Educational Content
- Providing access to educational content for free could be a disruptive innovation in the industry as it promotes accessibility and inclusivity
Where This Applies
- Media Streaming
- With an increase in the importance of diversity and representation, streaming services have an opportunity to showcase underrepresented perspectives
- Corporate Philanthropy
- As consumers become more socially conscious, companies need to incorporate philanthropic efforts into their business models to stay relevant
- Educational Content Providers
- With the rise of online education and the desire for self-improvement, providing accessible resources for free could result in widespread adoption and significant industry disruption
