AFM continued conversations about the digital scene with the panel, ‘Youtube as a Distribution Powerhouse’, covering not just the trend of online creators taking on the industry, but whether these filmmakers need Hollywood at all.
Moderated by Lise Romanoff, CEO of Vision Films, the discussion centered around the video platform Youtube, where many digital creators get their start. 2026 has seen a rise in creatives building audiences on the site, and using that leverage to make big moves in the film industry. Curry Barker and Kane Parsons, the directors of two of this year’s biggest box office hits Obsession and Backrooms respectively, are examples of this, having built followings on the platform before making the leap into feature filmmaking—but what if that wasn’t necessarily the only pathway to success?
Photo Courtesy: AFM
Linda Nelson, CEO of Indie Rights, has a history of pioneering collaborations with digital platforms such as Amazon, Google, AppleTV, TubiTV, and others. She, as well as other industry powerhouses Amrita Punjabi, Romeo Duchene, and Luis Bannitz, took to the stage at AFM to examine the pros and cons of distribution on a platform like Youtube. With years of combined experience in reaching audiences, there is a strong argument that Youtube could become a dominant player alongside traditional theatrical distribution and legacy streamers.
Releasing to a built-in audience aside, Youtube offers real-time data and engagement metrics that might otherwise be inaccessible to filmmakers releasing on different digital platforms. Consider as well the nontraditional means of monetizing films that aren’t usually on the table with other distribution routes, such as filmmakers profiting directly from ad revenue, or utilizing membership platforms like Patreon.
Punjabi acts as Network Director for VA Media, a Youtube partner that collaborates with both major studios and independent filmmakers, licensing their content and bringing it to the site—creatives profiting from ad revenue in turn, and Duchene is VP of Strategic Content Partnerships at Boxoffice, which is responsible for Hollywood’s largest network of movie channels, and launched Moviesphere, Lionsgate’s full-length movie channel on Youtube. These panelists’ unique experiences make them passionate advocates for Youtube’s evolution from just a social media site, to the future of independent distribution.
