Drafthouse Films Acquires Global Distribution Rights for Alex Winter's 'The YouTube Effect Documentary

The global distribution rights for Alex Winter's documentary "The YouTube Effect" has been acquired by Drafthouse Films.

Winter, who starred alongside Keanu Reeves in "Bill and Ted" films, has directed several films that have been showcased at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, including "Zappa," "Panama Papers" and "Deep Web".

"Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has a long history of collaborating with Alex Winter. It is a thrill to see Drafthouse Films dig in even deeper to distribute this incredible and very timely film", says Alamo Drafthouse Cinema founder Tim League. 

Winter also commented on the news, saying, "We're thrilled to be collaborating with Drafthouse Films and Kanopy on our release. The unparalleled scale of Google's YouTube has significant and problematic implications worldwide and has received much less attention than its competitors."

Winter also produced the film alongside Gale Anne Hurd from Valhalla Entertainment and Glen Zipper Zipper Bros. Films. 

"With ‘The YouTube Effect,' we want to shine a light on its benefits and dangers in the hopes of fostering a dialogue on how the platform can be made safer. YouTube is a platform as controversial as it is entertaining and yet, for far too long, the general public has been kept in the dark about how its algorithm can drive users down dangerous conspiracy theory rabbit holes", said Hurd.

Michael Cho, Mimi Rode, and Tim Lee of Olive Hill Media, Michael Y. Chow and Sue Turley of XRM Media, Kevin Lin of Metatheory and Ian Orefice, Rebecca Teitel, and Mike Beck for Time Studios will executive produce.