New initiative applies inDrive's "Fair Choice" philosophy to film distribution, introducing a self-sustaining model that expands access to socially impactful cinema while improving economic opportunities for filmmakers.

July 2026 – Alternativa, the global nonprofit film initiative supported by inDrive today announced the launch of Alternativa Distribution, a nonprofit distribution label designed to expand global access to socially impactful films from the Global South. 

The launch marks the next stage in Alternativa's evolution from a film award into a broader platform supporting the creation, recognition and international circulation of cinema that addresses pressing social issues. 

Drawing on inDrive's experience building fairer market models, Alternativa Distribution seeks to remove structural barriers that prevent many acclaimed independent films from reaching audiences worldwide.

The launch marks the next stage in Alternativa's evolution after establishing the Alternativa Film Festival, Film labs that have helped support filmmakers across Latin America and  Asia and  region. 

A distribution model designed to address structural barriers

Although films from  the Global South  are increasingly recognised at major international festivals, many struggle to secure meaningful international distribution after their festival premieres. Independent filmmakers often face limited bargaining power, high localisation costs and restricted access to broadcasters and streaming platforms, preventing socially important stories from reaching the audiences that could benefit most from them.

Alternativa Distribution has been designed to address these barriers through a nonprofit business model that combines commercial discipline with social impact.

The model provides filmmakers with: 

  • fair upfront minimum guarantees, giving rights holders earlier financial security;
  • revenue sharing from licensing agreements;
  • localisation support, including subtitling, dubbing and translation into regional languages;
  • territory-specific marketing support to help films find local audiences.

The revenues generated through licensing will be reinvested into acquiring additional films, expanding localisation capabilities, supporting filmmakers and increasing access to impact-driven cinema worldwide. This creates a self-sustaining cycle in which every successful licensing agreement helps finance opportunities for future filmmakers.

The non-profit model also enables Alternativa Distribution to offer award-winning independent films to broadcasters, streaming services, educational institutions and in-flight entertainment platforms through affordable licensing fees, increasing access to high-quality international content while helping underrepresented voices reach new audiences.

Unlike traditional distributors that primarily evaluate commercial success, Alternativa Distribution will also measure the social outcomes generated by its films.

The organisation is developing a tiered impact measurement framework that will combine audience surveys, media monitoring, social listening and qualitative interviews to better understand how films influence public conversations and attitudes. Each year, one flagship title will undergo an independent pre-registered impact study conducted with an academic partner.

Building on a growing global network

Alternativa Distribution will represent exclusive first-window regional and international non-theatrical rights for feature films—including fiction, documentary and animation—with strong social and cultural themes.

Titles will be sourced through Alternativa's international network of film scouts, industry partnerships, direct submissions and the Alternativa Film Festival, whose third edition took place in Medellín, Colombia, in April 2026, with the fourth edition scheduled to be held in Africa in 2027.

The label will focus on licensing content to regional TV, streaming platforms, public and commercial broadcasters, in-flight entertainment services and educational institutions  across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA and Asia, while also pursuing opportunities in Europe, North America and Oceania.

First acquisitions

Alternativa Distribution launches with an inaugural slate of internationally recognised films from Colombia, Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Mongolia, China, Iran, Mexico and Georgia acclaimed titles recognised at Alternativa Film Festival, Cannes, Berlinale, CPH:DOX and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The initial catalogue includes 9-Month Contract, After the Rain, A Poet, Being Olimpia, Bird of a Different Feather, Grand Me, If Only I Could Hibernate, Saba, Sunshine and The Nature of Invisible Things.

“Too many exceptional films from the Global South struggle to find international audiences, despite their artistic quality and social relevance,” added Avital Lavi, Head of Distribution at Alternativa Distribution. “By offering  premium titles at accessible pricing, a fair business model and localisation support, we hope to dismantle the structural barriers facing films from or about the Global South, and use the opportunity to connect a wider range of both broadcasters and audiences with high-quality works that inspire critical thinking and dialogue, and hopefully, social change.” 

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For media enquiries, please contact alternativa@ddaglobal.com  

About Alternativa
Alternativa is a global non-profit initiative dedicated to discovering, supporting, and amplifying impact-driven film talent from the Global South, supported by inDrive. Originating as an international film festival and industry labs network, Alternativa builds structural solutions that enable diverse cinematic voices to challenge systemic injustices, shift cultural norms, and reach broad international audiences.

About inDrive

inDrive is a global mobility and delivery platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 400 million times, and has been named the second most downloaded ride-hailing app. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of services, including intercity transportation, delivery, and financial services. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.

inDrive operates in over 1200 cities in 48 countries. Driven by its mission to challenge Injustice through fair choices, inDrive is committed to having a positive impact on people’s lives. It pursues this goal both through its core business, which supports local communities via a fair pricing model; and through the work of its impact programs.

For more information visit www.inDrive.com