FDM launches new platform for digital distribution

Freestyle Digital Media is launching its new platform for digital distribution, cable and VOD.Company made the announcement Wednesday at the opening day of the American Film Market.FDM touted the digital VOD platform as being capable of increasing independent filmmaker revenues through improved marketing efficiencies of day and date theatrical, and optimizing returns from direct-to-video releases.Susan Jackson, co-founder of Freestyle Releasing, founded FDM and will oversee day-to-day operations of the new company. The new company is offering distribution of DVDs in retail rentals, kiosks and by-mail, subscription streaming services, Pay-TV and specialty markets (airlines, hotels, cruise).''We felt it was imperative to be able to offer our content partners a direct channel to the expanding multi-screen ecosystem to enable the growth of their digital distribution business by optimizing revenues from every IP VOD channel plus include rental kiosks, streaming subscriptions and the DVD market,'' Jackson said.Freestyle Digital Media will launch with a slate that includes ''The Nutcracker in 3D'' and ''Nativity!'' It will release ''In My Sleep'' and ''Sarah Palin: You Betcha!'' on Nov. 8. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com