Classic cult film streamer Cultpix has signed a content rights partnership with the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI), formerly known as the Taiwan Film Institute.
The agreement, the fast-growing streamer’s 50th, will kick off with two films, “The Fantasy of the Deer Warrior” (1961) and “The Bride Who Returned from Hell” (1965), which have both been digitally restored by the TFAI.
The partnership was revealed at the ongoing Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France. It coincides with this year’s spotlight on Sweden as the focus country. Stockholm-based Cultpix is participating for the third consecutive year.
Rickard Gramfors, CEO and co-founder of Cultpix, said: “We are elated to mark our 50th partnership with the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, a cornerstone in the preservation and promotion of global cinema heritage. This collaboration underscores our dedication to curating a diverse and enriching catalogue of cinematic treasures for our global audience.” Gramfors will be participating in a panel discussion at the festival.
Meanwhile, Cultpix will also become the first international SVOD platform to showcase the films of South African cinema pioneer Tonie van der Merwe in partnership with Stream Go Media. The filmmaker’s oeuvre encompasses over 400 movies created under “the B-scheme,” an apartheid-era subsidy program. These films, exclusively tailored for the Black majority audience, emerged as a medium of empowerment, depicting Black heroes prevailing against the backdrop of adversity.
“These South African blaxploitation films represent a fascinating paradox of their time,” Gramfors said. “They were a product of a politically charged environment, yet they became emblematic of strength and resistance for the Black community. We’re proud to share this impactful piece of cinematic history with our global audience.”
Cultpix was launched in 2021 with 400 titles and since then has trebled its inventory to more than 1,200. Film rights partners include American Genre Film Archive, Something Weird Video, Vinegar Syndrome, Nikkatsu, Danish Film Institute, the Hungarian Film Archive, le Chat Qui Fume and Deaf Crocodile.
The Lumière Film Festival runs over Oct.14-Oct. 22.