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Mubi

Type of site	OTT platform Film production Film distributor Film criticism Publishing
Available in	Brazilian Portuguese Dutch English French German Italian Malay Spanish Turkish
Headquarters	London, England
Founder(s)	Efe Cakarel
Key people	Efe Cakarel (Founder & CEO)
URL	mubi.com
Launched	February 14, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-02-14)
Current status	Active

Mubi (/ˈmuːbi/; stylized as MUBI; the Auteurs before 2010) is a global over-the-top service streaming platform, production company and film distributor. MUBI produces and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers, which are exclusively available on its platform. The catalogue consists of world cinema films, such as arthouse, documentary and independent films. Additionally, it publishes Notebook, a film criticism and news publication, and provides weekly cinema tickets to selected new-release films through MUBI GO.

MUBI's streaming platform is available in over 190 countries on the web, Android TV, Chromecast, Roku devices, Apple Vision Pro, PlayStation, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and LG and Samsung Smart TVs, as well as on mobile devices including iPhone, iPad and Android.

History

The Auteurs was founded in 2007 by Turkish entrepreneur Efe Çakarel. The next year, in 2008, the American home-video distribution company Criterion Collection partnered with The Auteurs to begin a video-on-demand service.

In 2010, the Auteurs changed its name to "Mubi" or "MUBI", a two-syllable word with no specific meaning that rhymes with "movie", its creators stating that they wanted "a name all audiences can say and spell, without the burden of exclusionary meaning."

In January 2022, MUBI announced the acquisition of arthouse cinema production and sales company The Match Factory.

Prior to the 79th Venice International Film Festival world premiere, MUBI entered the TV industry by acquiring The Kingdom Exodus miniseries and bringing out the first two seasons of the original series in director's cuts.

In 2023, the company announced MUBI Fest, its annual film festival, to be held in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. The event was expanded to cities in Europe, the United States and Canada a year later.

In February 2024, MUBI acquired a majority stake in Benelux distributor Cinéart.

Publication

MUBI Notebook (online)

MUBI's International film publication named Notebook, is composed of daily online publications freely accessible via the website (same as streaming), which has been an essential part of the website's relevance as a curated cinema streaming service.

The online publication includes a wide variety of coverage of cinema from interviews, features, columns, news, as well as coverage of selected major film festival such as Cannes, Berlinale, Toronto, Sundance, and Rotterdam.

Since 2009, the publication has featured an ongoing column named "Movie Poster of the Week" by writer Adrian Curry, which curates and discusses mostly contemporary movie posters. The column's focus allows space to discuss and highlight many territory-specific posters of well-known films around the globe.

The publication is also known for its focus on a wider range of world cinema and highlight of independent, artist-driven, and experimental cinema. Since its beginning in 2009 its contributors have often published writings on sections from major film festivals that are often ignored by other publications such as Toronto International Film Festival's Wavelengths, the Berlinale Forum Expanded, and the New York Film Festival sections Views from the Avant-Garde (until 2013), Projections (2014–2018), and more Currents (2019 - current). Throughout the years, the most consistent coverages of these sections in MUBI Notebook has been made by writers Michael Sicinski and David Hudson.

In the same form as other online publications of cinema and art at large, MUBI Notebook, is open to the public for pitching and it states its pitching guidelines very clearly on its website.

Notebook Magazine (print)

In 2021 MUBI launched the Notebook Magazine, editorially independent semiannual print magazine with limited sale. The magazines are sold globally via both a subscription service (purchased separately from the streaming service) and in selected bookstores around the world. The magazine is only available in English language and has no digital archive or version available.

Since issue 4, MUBI states that "Each issue will come with an exclusive surprise, just for subscribers."

The magazine has publish editions with articles, interviews, and often with special materials written by filmmakers themselves. The magazine's focus is based on themes and has highlighted the work of filmmakers, artists, writers, and industry professionals with thematically resonance to the edition's focus. Some of the highlighted professionals include Yasujiro Ozu, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Emma Seligman, Mike Leigh, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Park Chan-wook, Jean-Luc Godard, Tsai Ming-liang, Pedro Costa, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Tacita Dean, and Sergei Loznitsa, among many others.

In issue 3, MUBI began a muti-issue series named “Things a Filmmaker Should Know” inaugurated by Tsai Ming-liang. Which since has been followed by contributions from Pedro Costa (issue 4), Tacita Dean (issue 5), and Sergei Loznitsa (issue 5).

Although the magazine publication schedule is June and November, it has also had publications delayed by one or more months.

Podcasts

In 2021, MUBI launched two original podcasts. An English language podcast called MUBI Podcast produced and hosted by Rico Gagliano, and a Spanish language podcast titled MUBI Podcast: Encuentros, produced in collaboration with La Corriente del Golfo, the production house founded by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. In 2023, MUBI launched an Italian-language podcast, MUBI Podcast: Voci Italiane Contemporanee, in collaboration with Chora Media, hosted by critic Gianmaria Tammaro.

MUBI Productions

MUBI Productions and co-productions include Port Authority (Danielle Lessovitz), Farewell Amor (Ewka Msangi), Our Men (Rachel Lang), Memory (Michel Franco), My First Film (Zia Anger), Bring Them Down (Christopher Andrews), One Fine Morning and If Love Should Die (Mia Hansen-Løve), Gasoline Rainbow (the Ross brothers), Rosebush Pruning (Karim Aïnouz), Father, Mother, Sister, Brother (Jim Jarmusch), Witches (Elizabeth Sankey), Magic Farm (Amalia Ulman) and The Mastermind (Kelly Reichardt).

MUBI Releases

MUBI is also a film distributor. In addition to releasing films on the platform, it started distributing theatrically in the United States and United Kingdom in 2016, and in Latin America and Germany in 2021.

See also

• Cinephilia
• Curzon Home Cinema
• Fandor
• The Film Detective
• FilmStruck
• Indieflix
• Kanopy
• List of streaming media services
• Netflix
• Shudder
• Tubi
• Vulgar auteurism

References

1. Etherington, Darrell (2019-12-12). "MUBI's production effort nets it a sundance selection as the company goes cashflow positive". Tech Crunch. Archived from the original on Apr 14, 2023.
2. "What kind of films does MUBI show?". MUBI FAQ. Archived from the original on Apr 30, 2024.
3. Pendlebury, Ty (Dec 16, 2016). "Bring on the popcorn! Mubi makes its Roku debut". CNET. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
4. Broussard, Mitchel (10 November 2016). "Apple TV Universal Search Now Includes MUBI, Hopster, and CW Seed". MacRumors. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
5. Langridge, Max (19 February 2014). "MUBI streaming film app now on Samsung Smart TVs". What Hi-Fi?. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
6. "iTunes Store: MUBI". appstore.com.
7. "Google Play: MUBI". play.google.com.
8. ^ "Why did we change our name to MUBI? - Film Forum on mubi.com". March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012.
9. "Mubi - a branding story with a twist". Novanym. 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
10. Grater, Tom (January 14, 2022). "Mubi Makes A Splash With Acquisition Of Arthouse Sales & Production Powerhouse The Match Factory". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
11. Roxborough, Scott (July 27, 2022). "Mubi Takes Lars Von Trier's TV Show 'The Kingdom Exodus'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
12. Tabbara, Mona (2024-06-06). "Mubi unveils Mubi Fest to take place in nine cities worldwide (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
13. Ritman, Alex (February 6, 2024). "Mubi Buys Majority Stake in European Indie Distributor Cinéart". Variety. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
14. "Notebook | MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
15. "Movie Poster of the Week – Notebook | MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
16. "Michael Sicinski – Notebook | MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
17. "David Hudson – Notebook | MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
18. "Pitching Guidelines | MUBI". mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
19. "Notebook Magazine". MUBI. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
20. "Where can I find the list of stockists/participating stores for Notebook? - MUBI FAQ". help.mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
21. "What languages is Notebook published in? - MUBI FAQ". help.mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
22. "Is there a digital version or a digital archive of the magazine? - MUBI FAQ". help.mubi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
23. "Introducing Notebook Magazine | Issue 0". letterboxd.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
24. Williams, Megan (2022-07-04). "Mubi's Notebook magazine is a celebration of cinema in print". Creative Review. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
25. Greene, Steve (May 26, 2021). "MUBI Launching Film Podcast Next Week with Debut Episode on Paul Verhoeven". IndieWire.
26. De La Fuente, Anna Marie (June 15, 2021). "Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna's La Corriente del Golfo, Streamer MUBI Launch Spanish-Language Podcast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
27. "MUBI Podcast: Voci Italiane Contemporanee". MUBI.com. September 28, 2023.
28. Grobar, Matt (August 1, 2023). "'Gasoline Rainbow' Release Set With Mubi Ahead Of Pic's Venice Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
29. Whittock, Jesse (14 May 2024). "Andrea Arnold Deal; Brosnan First Look; Disney+ CEE Original; Mark Rylance Theater Casting; Brit Horrors Debut In Cannes Market; ITV Diversity Label — Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
30. Keslassy, Elsa; Ritman, Alex (26 May 2024). "Mubi Swoops on Andrea Arnold's Cannes Competition Entry 'Bird' for North America (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
31. Roxborough, Scott (17 April 2024). "Mubi Picks Up Elizabeth Sankey's 'Witches' Worldwide". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
32. Keslassy, Elsa; Ritman, Alex (18 May 2024). "Mubi Acquires Magnus von Horn's Chilling Cannes Competition Entry 'The Girl With the Needle'". Variety. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
33. Whittock, Jesse (4 October 2024). "Mubi Buys Daniel Craig-Starrer 'Queer' For Multiple Territories". Retrieved 4 October 2024.
34. "Charades, Mubi Re-Team on 'Bring Them Down,' With Barry Keoghan, Christopher Abbott (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 11 May 2023.
35. Roxborough, Scott (10 October 2024). "Mubi Acquires 'Grand Theft Hamlet' for U.S., Global Streaming (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
36. Dalton, Ben (23 September 2024). "Mubi acquires Ariane Labed's Cannes title 'September Says' for UK, Germany". Screen International. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
37. Grobar, Matt (19 December 2024). "Mubi Eyeing 2025 Release For Amalia Ulman's Dark Comedy 'Magic Farm' Starring Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff, Simon Rex & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
38. Wiseman, Andreas (3 September 2024). "Tilda Swinton Musical 'The End' Sells To Mubi For UK, Germany & Austria". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
39. Tabbara, Mona (2 May 2024). "Charades, Mubi board Seán Dunn's 'The Fall Of Sir Douglas Weatherford' starring Peter Mullan". Screen International. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
40. Goodfellow, Melanie (26 June 2024). "Mubi Takes North America & Multiple Key Territories For Miguel Gomes' Cannes Best Director Picture 'Grand Tour'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
41. Shaffer, Ellise (13 August 2024). "Venice Competition Title 'Harvest,' Starring Caleb Landry Jones, Acquired by Mubi for U.K., Germany and More". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
42. Ravindran, Manori (17 May 2022). "IFC Films Buys Jessie Buckley's 'Hot Milk' From HanWay, MUBI Strikes Multi-Territory Deal (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
43. Kroll, Justin (20 September 2024). "Josh O'Connor To Star In Kelly Reichardt's Next Film 'The Mastermind' From Mubi". Retrieved 20 September 2024.
44. Leffler, Rebecca (15 May 2024). "Mubi, Le Pacte take in László Nemes' 'Orphan'". Screen International. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
45. Ritman, Alex (30 September 2024). "Mubi Acquires Alex Ross Perry's 'Pavements' for Multiple Territories Following Venice Premiere". Variety. Retrieved 30 September 2024.

External links

• Official website

• Film websites
• Internet properties established in 2007
• PlayStation 4 software
• Social cataloging applications
• Subscription video on demand services
• Online film databases
• TvOS software