The Auteurs

We all think the same thing, with online downloads the DVD is becoming obsolete. And companies like Hulu and Comedy Central who basically run online streaming pump out garbage. Why can't there be a website that will stream videos like 8 1/2 and Charade or even popular movies like A Clockwork Orange and Birds? Movies that I can appreciate for their style and cinematic beauty. Well, the wait is over and the introduction of The Auteurs has come.

"The Auteurs is the fastest growing online destination for lovers of independent, foreign and classic film; an online cinema, anytime, anywhere. The Auteurs will give you the latest buzz from the Cannes Film Festival or a restored masterpiece personally chosen by Martin Scorsese (he's a member, too!). A social network that can let you find a visual gem that will definitely not be released in the local multiplex and allows you to find a girl in Tokyo who loves Kubrick (she actually exists, her name is Yuko and she’s into Wong Kar-Wai too…). The Auteurs invites you to watch, discover and discuss distinctive visionary films from all over the world.

Founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel, The Auteurs is backed by Celluloid Dreams, The Criterion Collection and Costa Films, supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, and is the exclusive partner of The World Cinema Foundation. The Auteurs is based in Palo Alto, New York, Paris, and London."

"Four things that were on our minds when we first dreamt the Auteurs: Number one: why can’t you just watch In the Mood for Love in an airport lounge? Number two: why is it so hard to get hold of Antonioni’s complete filmography? Number three: Wouldn’t it be great to instantly send Tati’s Playtime to a friend if you think they need it (there’s nothing like film therapy)? Number Four: why do films on the Internet look just awful? And that was that. We simply couldn't resist the idea of everyone having their own online film library… your little cinema, anytime, anywhere… after all not everyone can make it to the Cannes Film festival… less if you are a school teacher or you live in Winnipeg (or both)… but that doesn't mean you can’t recite all of Kubrick’s films in reverse chronological order or that you are not desperate to watch the latest Kitano film that is definitely not going to be released in your local multiplex.

And that’s our point; popular doesn’t always mean good.

Our film library is brimming with visionary films that wouldn’t fill a single cinema in Australia for a week – not even a day… but say you searched the world (all of it), you might just find an audience of a thousand for this rare cinematic treat. And we don’t think a thousand people should be ignored just because they happen to live in different time zones or far away from Australia cinemas… if someone needed to make such a precise film, it means that, someone, somewhere needs to watch it. More importantly… that someone might be you. Or Scorsese (he happens to be a member too…)

The Auteurs is not just about discovering wonderful new cinema or classic masterpieces. It’s also about discussing and sharing wonderful films… which makes us like a small coffee shop… a place where you can gather and talk about alternative endings, directors cuts or whatever those frogs in Magnolia meant… heated debates and passionate arguments are welcome… Hollywood films such as say Annie Hall or Royal Tenenbaums too… at the end of the day it doesn't matter where films come from, as long as they come from someone’s mind…"

Follow them on twitter as well at @theauteurs.

All quoted text from www.theauteurs.com (why try and say what they have already said perfectly).