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New York City- based Video publisher Cinelan forged a partnership with Cinetic Rights Management (CRM) to support the digital distribution of the short films made as a part of FOCUS FORWARD, a global documentary initiative conceived by GE and Cinelan

Through its FOCUS FORWARD initiative, Cinelan is focused on providing high-quality, engaging, and authentic three-minute, non-fiction films on a range of topics. The FOCUS FORWARD team includes such award-winning documentary filmmakers as Joe Berlinger, Lixin Fan, Liz Garbus, Alex Gibney, Morgan Spurlock, Phil Cox (News - Alert), Barbara Kopple, Nelson George, and Jessica Yu. FOCUS FORWARD depicts a series of 30 compelling non-fiction stories developed by documentary filmmakers about the incredible human power of ideas and invention.

Through its global network of world-class documentary filmmakers, Cinelan also provides stand-alone and episodic content to the expanding premium channel market.

Cinetic Management offers its clients ongoing, complementary access to financiers, producers, and distributors through Cinetic Media's transactional and consulting relationships, so that artists and filmmakers can take greater control of the filmmaking process. Through its digital entertainment curation service, called FilBuff, CRM curates the best original contents for online audiences regardless of their viewing platform.  Under the terms of the agreement, CINELAN will leverage CRM’s digital distribution expertise across all digital platforms to take the FOCUS FORWARD productions to the widest possible worldwide audience.

The 30 documentaries will gradually premiere as curated collections within the programs of the world's most prestigious film festivals, starting in January 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by an exclusive 60-day window on video sharing site Vimeo (News - Alert), Cinelan revealed in a press release.

Additional FOCUS FORWARD films will premiere as curated collections at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), all strategic partners of the program, and at major festivals in Asia, Australia, North America, Europe, Africa, South America, and the Middle East throughout 2012.

CRM will bring the films to worldwide audience by releasing them on its extensive distribution network of VOD platforms including Comcast (News - Alert), Time Warner, iTunes, Xbox and Amazon, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.

“CRM's digital distribution relationships are the perfect complement in our effort to deliver these compelling films to audiences worldwide. CRM has a proven track record in supporting emerging independent filmmakers and is a great fit with Focus Forward's goals,” Cinelan's Managing Director Douglas Dicconson explained in a statement.