Cinemata is a platform for social and environmental films about the Asia-Pacific. Cinemata highlights essential yet underheard stories, increasing filmmakers’ reach, engagement, and impact, helping audiences discover thought-provoking videos.
With almost 5,000 films, Cinemata’s contributors and audiences include
- filmmakers and film curators
- journalists and media makers
- educators and researchers
- advocates and activists
- civil society and nonprofit organisations
Cinemata welcomes contributions in a variety of styles and genres, including documentary, fiction, animation, experimental, and more.
We regularly feature and promote great films, as well as highlight key contributors through EngageMedia’s Featured Filmmaker series.
Why "Cinemata"?
“Cinemata” comes from the combination of “cine”, which means “motion picture”, and “mata”, which means “eye” in several regional languages:
- In Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, and Filipino, the word for “eye” is “mata”
- In Tetum (East Timor), the word for “eye” is “matan”
- In Vietnamese, the word for “eye” is “mắt”
- In Thai and Lao, the word for “eye” is “ta”
“Cinemata” represents our focus on highlighting Asia-Pacific perspectives and connecting issues, films, and filmmakers in the region.
What makes Cinemata different from other video platforms?
Cinemata has most features expected in a modern video platform, including some still not found in many platforms:
- Download videos in multiple transcoding dimensions (240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p) or in h264, h265, or vp9 profiles, as well as download the original file
- Save videos in a playlist and share them online
- Upload videos in various codecs (h264, h265, mkv), including support for Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHD
- Publish videos immediately once approved as a Trusted User (contact [email protected] to apply for Trusted User status)
Curated and Context-rich
While other platforms accept raw clips, Cinemata focuses on self-contained, stand-alone content. We collect and feature videos that
- focus on critical Asia-Pacific events and social and environmental issues
- are well-produced, innovative, engaging, and entertaining
- promote new and underheard stories
Engagement and Impact
More than just watching videos, we want our audiences to engage with social issues and contribute to creating impact:
- to learn more about the issues and contexts
- to share such learnings with peers and communities
- to contribute to wider campaigns and movements
- to become advocates and changemakers
Free, Open Source, and Secure
Developed by WordGames in partnership with EngageMedia, Cinemata is built on MediaCMS, “a modern, fully-featured open source video and media CMS”.
Cinemata is the result of the redevelopment of EngageMedia’s previous video site, which once hosted the videos in Cinemata today. This previous site was based on Plumi, an open source “video-sharing content management system based on Plone and produced by EngageMedia in collaboration with Unweb.me”.
If you’re interested in Cinemata’s source code, check out MediaCMS on GitHub.
Latest Videos on Cinemata
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Kopi O Khau Sikit Kurang Manis - #IPCMCNow Human Rights Documentaryby FreedomFilmNetwork on 14/06/2021
Kopi O Khau Kurang Manis (2006): While criminals are getting more creative in committing crimes on civilians, the Malaysian Royal Police stops by the roadside to tapau *Kopi O Khau Kurang Manis ikat tepi satu!* Where are they when Malaysians need them? This film by Andrew Sia, unfortunately, […]
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POCA BOY - #IPCMCNow Human Rights Documentaryby FreedomFilmNetwork on 14/06/2021
16 and bound to house. This is the story of Ang, a 16-year-old boy placed under POCA (Prevention of Crime Act 2015), and the events that precedent his house arrest. POCA Boy, a film by Sevan Doraisamy, produced by KiniTV and Fredom Film Network. Check out our #IPCMCNow Playlist: […]
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Chilli Powder and Thinner - #IPCMCNow Human Rights Animationby FreedomFilmNetwork on 14/06/2021
Based on true events, this short animation tells the story of three young Malaysian boys who suffered custodial torture after being arrested by the police.
