Snag Films

Hopefully there’s a business model here.

Snag Films is the just-launched site for (free) web-distribution of documentaries via web widgets. Founded by Ted Leonsis, Ex-AOL exec and Chairman of web-widget technology company Clearspring, it’s been dubbed “Hulu for documentaries.”

More from Variety:

IndieWire will supply SnagFilms with archival content, news, analysis, blogs and film reviews. IndieWire will also feature SnagFilms’ virtual movie theater widgets, including IndieWire editorial picks from the SnagFilms library

Initial plans call for 90 seconds of ads to unspool before the feature; those ads will follow the film around the Web to wherever it gets posted. Ad revenue will be shared with filmmakers.

Distribs supplying films to Snag include PBS, National Geographic, IndiePix, Arts Alliance America and Koch Lorber.

The startup also purchased indie film news site indieWIRE, to provide content.

Some examples:

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Doc Dig

Henry Miller Asleep and Awake

Filmed when the author was 81, HENRY MILLER ASLEEP AND AWAKE is a voyage of ideas about life, writing, sex, spirituality, nightmares, and New York that captures the warmth, vigor and high animal spirits of a singular American artist. The man is Henry Miller and the room is his bathroom. It’s a miraculous shrine covered with photos and drawings collected by the author over the course of his long and fruitful life. Graciously, in his raspy, sonorous voice, he points out the highlights of his improvised gallery, speaking of philosophers, writers, painters,mad kings, women, and friends.