Is Relay the "Netflix" for Indie Films?
- Casey Makes A Mixtape
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 17
You've probably never heard of Relay. But if you like independent films - and we mean truly independent films - then you'll want to check it out.
The big streamers like Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, etc. are all just that - BIG. And very few of them license truly indie films anymore.
Sure, there's the occasional movie that gets picked up out of Sundance (already a lottery winner), but even that's rare today. The streamers make a lot of their own films and/or license other Hollywood studio films. So for the most part, independent movies are not widely available on those services (especially newer films).
For a while there has been talk online about how great it would be if there was a dedicated streaming services for indie films. And we're not talking about "IndieWood" films where some A-list actor cuts their day rate to work on a "low-budget" film (usually still made for multi-millions of dollars) hoping to do something different and maybe get an acting award. No. We mean indie films that might play film festivals around the world, but never get large scale or any traditional distribution. And not because they're bad. It's often simply because they don't have big stars in them or are not as commercially viable.
Enter Relay.
Relay is a global, low-cost streaming platform designed to provide audiences with an easy way to discover stories that matter to them and reward the movies and shows that drive audience viewership.
Relay brings together Filmhub’s vast catalog [over 20,000 titles] and industry expertise with a user experience built for discovery, transparency, and commercial impact.
Available now on Apple App Store, Google Play, Fire TV, and Roku for $4.99/month, Relay offers access to a constantly growing library of films, series, and creator-led content from around the world.
The good news is our film Casey Makes a Mixtape is now part of Relay and can be streamed on their service.
But the question is, do consumers have the appetite for another paid streaming service?
It's hard to say, but streaming fatigue is real. Lots of people are already paying for two or more services right now.
But fortunately Relay is only $4.99/month. Less than a cup of Starbucks coffee. So that means it's commercial-free. A lot of streamers have lower price tiers but they include watching ads.
Btw, we don't think Relay is really targeted at "general audiences" per se. Think of it like a smaller version of Criterion or maybe even Mubi. It's for film buffs looking to watch movies that you wouldn't normally see on the bigger mainstream services. That's not to say the films are all offbeat or weird. Not at all. There are all kinds of stories and genres represented, and yes, even some with well-known actors.
And we hope it's successful as it's another way that independent filmmakers can get their work seen and earn revenue from their films.
So if you're tired of the same old stuff on the other streamers, download the app to your Smart TV (or mobile device) or just watch in a web browser and see what you think.
Remember, you can also watch Casey Makes a Mixtape on all the other platforms listed below, as well as own it on Blu-ray.
Direct links for each streaming platform are below:
Thanks for supporting indie film!
