OSCAR WINNER SHAKES UP FILM FESTIVALS—AND HIS PIJAMA PLATFORM IS NEXT
Juan de Dios Larraín says Sundance needs a distribution makeover—and his direct-to-audience company is already making bold moves.
Oscar-winning producer Juan de Dios Larraín (A Fantastic Woman, The Eternal Memory) just threw down the gauntlet at Karlovy Vary: film festivals can't just premiere movies anymore—they've gotta help get them out into the world. Speaking at KVIFF Industry Days, the Chilean filmmaker argued that legendary festivals like Sundance should take notes from Karlovy Vary and evolve into actual distribution platforms.
"Every movie has an audience," Larraín told the crowd—and he's putting his money where his mouth is. According to Deadline, his company Pijama (co-founded with his brother Pablo Larraín) is now expanding into acquisitions, with plans to snag "three big films with great talent" in the coming months. The message is crystal clear: just because a film can't find traditional distribution doesn't mean nobody wants to see it.
Pijama's direct-to-audience model is the real deal—a fresh approach for filmmakers tired of the old festival circuit shuffle. With major movies reportedly in the pipeline, the Larraíns are proving that festivals and platforms can work together to actually get indie films (and prestige projects) in front of real viewers. The future of film distribution? It's looking way more democratic.
Sources · The Hollywood Reporter · Deadline