Film Annex

Film Annex is a U.S.-based online film distribution platform and Web Television Network which sponsors content creators via an ad-supported video platform. It was founded in 2006 by Italian businessman Francesco Rulli.
The site differs from other online video platforms like Vimeo and YouTube in several significant ways. First, all uploaded films are reviewed by an editorial team to ensure that they are professionally made, not user-generated. Second, filmmakers who upload their work to the site receive 50% of revenues generated by advertisements shown on their Web TV channels. Film Annex thus sponsors content creators and finances their future productions. Third, filmmakers and bloggers can join Film Annex's professional blogging platform, The Annex Press, and get paid for their blogs.
The Model
For all Web TV channels, advertisements are shown before the video plays and are also displayed along the side of the channel page. Both content creators and content curators get paid 50% of the revenues generated by the advertisements shown on their Web TVs. Filmmakers who get their work featured on the Film Annex homepage can bring in additional weekly revenue.
Notable Channels
A number of well-known artists and organizations have Film Annex channels. The most notable is Roya Mahboob of Afghan Citadel Software Company who started in partnership with FilmAnnex. Women's Annex aims to empower women of Afghanistan and Central Asia by educating them online and giving them a platform to share their stories and make money from blogging. Women's Annex is managed by Afghan women, and they produce videos and blogs about education, business, and sports amongst other topics. About 300 female student bloggers in Afghanistan are trained by the Women's Annex staff. Roya Mahboob was named to the TIME 100 in April 2013.
American screenwriter and director Abel Ferrara. also has a channel on Film Annex. Abel Ferrara TV broadcasts Ferrara’s videos, including excerpts from his films, news about his latest projects, and interviews with the filmmaker and other members of his creative team.
Philanthropy
In 2012, Film Annex partnered with Roya Mahboob, founder and CEO of the Afghan Citadel Software Company (ACSC), to launch the Afghan Development Project. The project aims to show the world the new face of Afghanistan by broadcasting current event videos, interviews, and news clips as well as archival material directly from Afghan Youth Development. Mahboob is most proud of supplying technology training to students in 40 schools with the help of Italian-born New York businessman Francesco Rulli. Mahboob says it is a chance for girls to broaden horizons. The Afghan Development Project is fully funded by Film Annex. Film Annex is one of the international partners of "We Believe In Balloons", a campaign whose goal is to create space for self-expression through the arts in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan.
Mahboob and Film Annex are also partners, along with Film Annex Capital Partners, in Citadel of New York, LLC, formed in July 2012 as a Joint Venture company. Citadel of New York was founded to develop and promote Examer, which is an Interactive and Educational Social Networking platform with a Micro Scholarship Payment System. Citadel of New York acquired a ten percent equity position in Afghanistan’s Esteqlal Football Club in October 2012.
In 2013, Film Annex and its President Francesco Rulli, sponsored the New York Judo Open of the New York Athletic Club, the NYAC Judo Club chaired by Kevin Earls and Owen Tunney. Competition Directors were Mel Appelbaum, Dr Arthur Canario, and John Walla.

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