Bengali films to be screened and distributed across US

(Credit: IANS) A Florida based Indian-American media group has launched a new venture for the screening and distribution of quality Bengali films through more than 19,000 retail outlets in the US and Canada.

Launched by Databazaar Media Ventures (DMV), a part of the Databazaar group of companies, the new venture will "ensure that quality Bengali films will now reach the entire foreign film viewing market in North America," Oney Seal, Founder & CEO of the group said.

"Our first release -"Dwando", from national award-winning director Suman Ghosh, is already available for pre-order wherever NRIs buy, rent or download movies - on Netflix, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, iTunes, and Blockbuster etc," he said.

For selected films DMV would work out exclusive partner agreements to ensure that acquired titles reach over 19,000 online and retail stores across the US and Canada, along with, theatrical releases in certain areas.

It "proves beyond doubt that we have implemented a winning business model that fulfils the wishes of both the Bengali film producer as well as the NRI film viewer in North America," Seal said.

Arijit Dutta, a founding Director of DMV looking after content and acquisition, said the revenue gap between production costs and domestic sales, which was plaguing modern Bengali cinema, will now be addressed through the opening up of the North American market.

Suman Ghosh and senior Indian-American journalist Devasish Ray, both founding directors of Databazaar Media Ventures, emphasized the massive reach and scope of the media spend that DMV is investing on each title it acquires. "This is unprecedented and is the critical ingredient for the success of every title", they added.

Databazaar Media Ventures acts as an exclusive gateway for Bengali films to North America, combining the latest in digital technologies with the best in traditional methods in a new, fusion distribution model that maximizes North American film revenues.

"We are the missing link that ensures the most effective marketing of modern Bengali films," Ray said.