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Kinema Acquires Show & Tell, Expanding into Short-Form Documentary

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. -tell-expanding-into-short-form-documentary.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, December 28th 2025 at 9:07 GMT by TheWrap
      Locale: California, UNITED STATES

Kinema Bets Big on Short-Form Documentary with Acquisition of 'Show & Tell' Platform

Kinema, the burgeoning global video platform focused on short-form content, has made a significant move into the documentary space by acquiring Show & Tell, a curated marketplace for short, impactful documentaries and visual storytelling. This acquisition signals Kinema’s ambition to become the destination for viewers seeking digestible, high-quality non-fiction narratives, while simultaneously providing filmmakers with an expanded platform and revenue opportunities. The deal, announced on October 26th, 2023, represents a substantial investment in the future of short-form documentary distribution and underscores the growing appeal of this format within the broader streaming landscape.

What is Show & Tell? A Niche Finding its Footing

Show & Tell (showandtell.market) isn't your typical video platform. Founded by filmmaker and entrepreneur Sarah Elder in 2018, it’s a curated marketplace specifically designed for short-form documentaries – typically ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. The platform distinguishes itself through its rigorous selection process; Show & Tell doesn't simply host any documentary uploaded. Instead, a team of curators meticulously reviews submissions, prioritizing works that are visually compelling, emotionally resonant, and often tackle social issues or explore unique perspectives. This curation ensures a consistently high quality of content, attracting viewers who appreciate well-made, impactful storytelling in bite-sized packages.

Prior to the acquisition, Show & Tell had built a community of over 10,000 filmmakers and a dedicated audience of documentary enthusiasts. It operated on a revenue-sharing model, allowing filmmakers to license their work for use by brands, educational institutions, and other organizations. This licensing aspect was key to its success; it provided creators with a sustainable income stream beyond traditional festival circuits or limited broadcast deals. The platform's focus has been particularly strong in areas like social justice, environmentalism, and human interest stories – topics that resonate deeply with audiences seeking authentic and meaningful content.

Kinema’s Vision: Short-Form Dominance & Documentary Expansion

Kinema (kinema.global) itself is a relative newcomer to the streaming world, but it's rapidly gaining traction by focusing on short-form video across various genres. Founded in 2021 by former Vimeo executive Zachary Hamilton and entrepreneur David Cohen, Kinema’s core strategy revolves around recognizing the changing consumption habits of modern audiences. Attention spans are shrinking, and viewers increasingly prefer content that can be consumed quickly and easily – often on mobile devices. Kinema caters to this trend with a library featuring everything from short films and music videos to animation and educational content, all under 15 minutes in length. They've already secured partnerships with numerous creators and distributors, building a diverse catalog of engaging short-form video.

The acquisition of Show & Tell is a strategic expansion of Kinema’s offerings, marking its formal entry into the documentary space. Hamilton articulated this vision clearly in TheWrap article: “Show & Tell has built an incredible community and curated a truly exceptional library of impactful short documentaries. We believe that these stories deserve to be seen by a global audience.” By integrating Show & Tell's content and filmmaker network, Kinema aims to significantly bolster its documentary catalog, attracting new viewers and providing existing filmmakers with a larger reach.

Synergies and Future Plans: What This Means for Filmmakers and Viewers

The acquisition presents numerous potential synergies. Kinema’s established platform and marketing infrastructure will provide Show & Tell's filmmakers with access to a much wider audience than they currently enjoy. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Kinema is committed to supporting Show & Tell’s existing revenue-sharing model, ensuring that filmmakers continue to be fairly compensated for their work. Furthermore, Kinema plans to leverage its technology and data analytics capabilities to help filmmakers better understand audience engagement and optimize their content distribution strategies.

For viewers, the acquisition means a richer selection of high-quality short documentaries available on the Kinema platform. The curated nature of Show & Tell’s library ensures that users will consistently encounter compelling and thought-provoking stories they might not find elsewhere. Kinema also intends to integrate Show & Tell's curation expertise into its overall content strategy, potentially expanding the range of documentary topics featured on the platform.

The Broader Context: The Rise of Short-Form Documentary

This acquisition reflects a larger trend within the film industry – the growing recognition of short-form documentaries as a powerful and viable storytelling medium. While feature-length documentaries still hold significant cultural weight, shorter formats offer several advantages: they’re easier to produce, more accessible to audiences, and well-suited for distribution on digital platforms like Kinema and social media. The rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels has further fueled the demand for short-form video content, creating new opportunities for documentary filmmakers to reach wider audiences.

Kinema's investment in Show & Tell is a clear signal that short-form documentaries are not just a fleeting trend but a significant force shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling. The combination of Kinema’s technological expertise and Show & Tell’s curated content promises to create a compelling platform for both filmmakers and viewers, solidifying Kinema's position as a leader in the evolving landscape of short-form video streaming.

This acquisition will be closely watched by other platforms looking to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for concise, impactful documentary narratives.