The recent debut of the Brian Epstein biopic "Midas Man" on Olyn, a startup billing itself as "Shopify for filmmakers," marks a significant shift in the film distribution landscape. Instead of relying on traditional streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon, Olyn's innovative approach harnesses the power of social referrals to promote à la carte streaming content.

Founded by Ana Maria Jipa, Jeremias Buireo, Kiran Thomas, and Malcolm Wood, Olyn allows filmmakers to maintain control over their work while providing audiences with a seamless streaming experience. By cutting out the middleman, filmmakers can retain up to 90% of their revenue, a stark contrast to the typical revenue-sharing models employed by mainstream streaming platforms.

The Olyn model relies on filmmakers' marketing budgets, combined with the influence of content creators, film critics, and social media personalities. These distribution partners embed purchase links within their content, blogs, and social channels, effectively turning movie distribution into an e-commerce-style engagement. This peer-to-peer approach not only increases revenue for filmmakers but also provides a more personalized and trusted recommendation system, as Jipa notes, "a recommendation from someone you trust carries far more weight than a suggestion by an algorithm on a streaming platform."

Olyn's platform offers filmmakers a comprehensive suite of tools, including DRM, 4K streaming, casting, and analytics. This enables them to track viewership, including country-specific performance, minutes watched, and a database of users who have viewed their movies. According to Jipa, this level of control and data access is unprecedented, allowing filmmakers to build a loyal audience and promote their work more effectively.

While Olyn's model presents a compelling alternative to traditional streaming platforms, it also places the onus on filmmakers to drive marketing and partnerships. Perry Trevers, a producer at Studio POW, which used Olyn to distribute "Midas Man," sees the platform as a step in the right direction, empowering filmmakers to market and distribute films in a way that mirrors the direct-to-consumer success of e-commerce.

One of the most pressing issues in the film industry is piracy, often driven by the unavailability of content in certain regions. Olyn's global reach, Jipa argues, can help combat this issue by providing a legitimate and convenient way for users to access content.

Olyn's foray into film streaming was partly inspired by co-founder Malcolm Wood's experience as a filmmaker. Wood launched his own film, "The Last Glaciers," on the platform, which initially began as a way to catalog physical assets. He likens Olyn to "Shopify for filmmakers with a referral link," highlighting the platform's potential to democratize film distribution.

Major streaming services typically offer lump-sum licensing deals, whereas Olyn allows filmmakers to monetize their work directly based on viewership. This shift in revenue models could have significant implications for the film industry, particularly for independent filmmakers who often struggle to compete with bigger productions.

However, Olyn's platform also raises questions about the potential for adult content distributors to utilize the service. Jipa acknowledges the challenge, stating that the company aims to create a space where filmmakers, not the platform, decide what gets distributed. In the long term, Olyn envisions a full SaaS model, giving filmmakers complete control over their work.

Olyn has raised a modest $2.8 million in funding, comprising $1.8 million from U.S. VC firm Hard Yaka and contributions from angel investors. As the platform continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the film industry and whether it can successfully compete with the convenience and scale of major streamers.