“Our ambition is to create a European network,” Putna explained. “Our ambition is to find broader audiences, specifically in countries where LGBT films can’t always be distributed easily because of political and societal restrictions.”

OUTtv had been in discussions about a new strategic partnership with Amsterdam-based Cinemien prior to the Covid-19 crisis. But when the closure of cinemas severely impacted the Benelux distributor, these discussions converted into talks of a full takeover and the deal was closed on July 1.

Putman has committed to keeping the “Cinemien DNA intact” and will retain the brand, which will continue to release arthouse fare alongside the LGBT titles which comprise OUTtv’s core business.

“We intend to keep Cinemien as the brand for distributing films in theatres,” he said. “We really respect the history Cinemien represents, being the first film distributor in the 1970s to focus on feminism in film, and also being connected to the LGBT community.”

Cinemien was founded in 1974 by Phil van der Linden and Nicolaine den Breejen, and has handled the release of titles such as Todd Haynes’ Carol, Thomas Vinterberg’s Festenand Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher as well as many of the films of French director François Ozon.

Based in Utrecht, TV channel OUTtv was launched in the Netherlands in 2008 and is available in several European countries, primarily broadcasting films and entrainment aimed at LGBT viewers.

The Cinemien acquisition follows OUTtv’s takeover of leading German LGBT film distributor Pro-Fun Media in 2018.

As well as theatrical releases, the latest deal could see Cinemien films broadcast on the OUTtv platform and “create new revenues on the digital side” for the distributor’s library titles.

“We already have a huge number of followers on social media,” said Putman. “That will definitely make it easier for us to support filmmakers in getting their films to the audiences they are looking for.”

With Covid-19 lockdown measures being eased across Europe, the intention now is for OUTtv to “use the marketing channels we have to get people back to the cinemas.”

Putman is a regular attendee at the Berlinale but said he would leave his teams in Benelux and Germany to oversee acquisitions going forward.

“My role will not be on the frontline of running the business,” he stated. “I trust the people (at Cinemien and Pro-Fun) to do this. They have the knowledge and expertise. Of course, on the marketing side, that’s where we come in to help those films and to give them bigger exposure.”

In the past 25 years Pro-Fun has grown into the largest distributor in Europe for LGBTI films with more than 400 titles in its portfolio and publishes several titles every year in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

OutTV strengthens the growth of its activities in the German-speaking heart of Europe; this acquisition enables both parties better to jointly serve the gay and open-minded target group by combining market expertise and knowledge.

The new combination will cover the entire range of film and video exploitation; the promotion and launch of films, documentaries, TV series both in the cinema and on DVD/Blu Ray, as well as digital exploitation via OutTV’s channels and digital platforms.

OutTV will also launch its German-language TV channel with various distributors in Germany and Luxembourg on 1 August. Further expansion will soon follow at Unity Media and Amazon, among others, for both the OutTV channel and the interactive TV platform OutTV Pro.

Following the acquisition in Germany, OutTV intends to enter new markets in Europe, including launches in Spain, Israel and Eastern Europe.

Since 2008, the lifestyle TV channel has been focusing on gay and open-minded audiences, including drama series, talk shows, documentaries and films. OutTV can be viewed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Sweden. Since January, OutTV has also had its own app: OutTV Pro (available for iPhone and Android).

Since 2008, the lifestyle TV channel has been focusing on gay and open-minded audiences, including drama series, talk shows, documentaries and films. OutTV can be viewed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and Sweden. Since January, OutTV has also had its own app: OutTV Pro (available for iPhone and Android).