SXSW Pitch Finalist: FilmChain
The Forrest Four-Cast: February 16, 2020
Maria Tanjala, co-founder of FilmChain, is passionate about tech solutions that bring transparency and automation to creative industries.
To alleviate opaque accounting, delayed cash flow, and data asymmetry, manual processes of film productions of all sizes, FilmChain manages end-to-end financial transactions in media, powered by blockchain. Its automated platform collects and allocates revenues in real-time, from tickets sold to filmmakers’ pockets. It tracks rights, and offers performance predictions and analytics. Enterprises, film funds, Oscar-nominated producers are using the platform that paves the way to a transparent industry.
One of 50 finalists for SXSW Pitch 2020, FilmChain is the first collection service to use the blockchain technology to provide payment automation, lower the costs of film revenue collection and distribution, and significantly speed up the money flow end-to-end. They developed this solution in partnership with Imperial College in London, where the FilmChain HQ is located, and Creative Destruction Lab accelerator in Toronto.
See the FilmChain pitch in the category of Entertainment & Content Technology (3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Sunday, March 15) before a live audience and a panel of expert judges.
Winners in each of the 10 categories will be announced at the Pitch Awards Ceremony, at 6:30 pm Sunday, March 15. SXSW attendees are also invited to Meet the Finalists from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday, March 16. All SXSW Pitch events take place at the Hilton Austin Downtown.
Tanjala shared thoughts on why she loves being in London, why she’s fascinated with genomics, and how she’s learned resilience.
What is your top goal for FilmChain for 2020?
Getting the wider industry, from an indie producer to a big enterprise to understand and appreciate the value of transparency and automation. All our presentations at events at major festivals, such as Berlinale, Cannes, TIFF, AFM, are meant to educate the ecosystem about the benefits of technology, and to help them realize that the energy-draining and money-bleeding problems that they have used in the past can now be efficiently addressed.
Tell us your favorite thing about being based in London.
There are many things to love from the vast resources for art and technology events, but what I love the most about London is its diversity. In every bar, every subway and most workplaces, there will be multiple ethnicities, languages, cultures, accents and diversity in thought. You can learn so much about the world just from having a drink in Peckham on a Friday.
With the exception of FilmChain, what tech trend is your team most excited about?
It’s hard to speak in the name of the team, as we are all diverse and with many passions. But I am fascinated by genomics data and the efforts to better understand DNA datasets from under-explored populations. It’s not exactly xenobots or CRISPR kits, as they surely come with threats and challenges, but a better mapping out and processing of DNA data is very exciting to me.
If you weren’t working for FilmChain, what would you be doing?
FilmChain is the perfect blend of what I love — film and tech — and I have spent the past five years with Irina [co-founder Irina Albita] building two products – crewfund and FilmChain. But if our business didn’t exist, I’d be more involved with bold documentaries around the world exposing injustice and having an impact on society about themes that truly matter: our planet, communities, data privacy, human rights breaches.
What has the startup experience taught you about life?
Running a startup is an entire life massively condensed and on steroids. Both Irina and I feel tens of emotions sometimes even in one day. Two valuable skills it forges are to be even more resilient and more adaptable. Investor pitching can be soul wracking, and so is losing an important customer. But with great speed we get back up, jump onto the next task, and keep inspiring the team.
What’s your actual super power?
I’ve been told that I tend to see the good in people, which often gives me the opportunity and the patience to explore what’s more than meets the eye, or to give people second chances. My first undergrad degree is in sociology so I tend to invest people with the faith that they can be the best version of themselves, which I hope is a good thing?
Look for more interviews with other finalists in this space between now and the start of SXSW Pitch on Saturday, March 14. Visit this page to see all previous interviews in this series as well as a list of all finalists.
If you are an entrepreneur, check out the SXSW 2020 Startups Track, which runs March 13–17. This track brings together founders and funders and showcases exciting new companies, products, services, and business models across different verticals and industries.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
