Mance Media Highlights 4K Ultra HD Content

LOS ANGELES: The catalogue of global distributor Mance Media boasts more than 20 first-run movies, TV series and documentaries shot in native 4K, with a refresh rate of two new titles monthly heading into 2016.

Highlights include the doc Circles of Life: Iceland 4K, directed by Reinhard Kungel; the theatrical feature film The Rumperbutts 4K, directed by Marc Brener; the time-lapse documentary Timescapes 4K, directed by Tom Lowe; the family fantasy film Scarlet’s Witch 4K, directed by F.C. Rabbath; the nature doc Grand Canyon 4K, directed by Roman Khomlyak; and the 80s drama The Toy Soldiers, directed by Erik Peter Carlson.

“It was during NATPE 2014 when 4K became the buzz word and various digital platforms were starting to put out feelers for content,” said Matthew Mancinelli, the CEO of Mance Media. “Since we are a lean and entrepreneurial studio, I decided to bring post production in-house and invested money in R&D.

“You would be surprised how much time it took to figure out how to embed 5.1 audio into a 4K movie using the new codecs. Especially when the 90-minute movie is nearly one terabyte in size.”

Mance Media has also filmed several experimental videos in 4K, including its new three-hour-long production 4K Fireplace with 5.1 surround sound, which is now available for purchase on any 4K TV through the M-GO and Amazon apps, as well as the set-top boxes Sony 4K Media Player, Roku 4 and Amazon’s Fire TV.

Mancinelli noted: “If you own a 4K television, sure enough you’ve seen the Mance Media logo in 4K. Our content makes up a lot of the 4K VOD/EST marketplace right now.

“Our 4K library is available to license globally for broadcast, VOD, mobile and streaming rights. Our next international market will be MIPTV in Cannes, France, in April 2016 and we aim to have 50 4K titles by that time.”

Next year, Mance Media plans to launch its own yet-to-be-named 4K app/channel, which has already been approved by a number of platforms. The company is looking for additional investors for the new app/channel. The investment will be used for new acquisitions, marketing and advertising.

Mance Media’s next 4K movie release is 3:13, a feature film directed by David Jaure. The story follows a man who becomes homeless during the 2008 recession. It recently won an award at the Florida International Film Festival.

“4K content distribution and the growing 4K television market adoption is a five-year plan for us, and we’re very excited for what’s to come,” added Mancinelli.