Alfonso Cuarón Shuts Down Question About Netflix Distribution In Post-Globes Press Conference

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It’s clear that filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón is sick of everyone asking him why he chose to go with Netflix as the distributor of his Golden Globe-winning film “Roma.” With the conversation about “Roma” and Netflix going on for months now, the filmmaker has discussed it openly and honestly, numerous times, about why the streaming service was his choice to help distribute the film around the world, especially considering the company gave Cuarón’s film an unprecedented theatrical run.

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So, when he was asked, yet again, during his post-Golden Globes press conference (via Variety), why he chose Netflix to release his film, Cuarón just shut down all the detractors by explaining as succinctly as possible, why the streaming service was the correct choice.

“My question to you is, how many theaters did you think that a Mexican film in black and white, in Spanish and Mixteco, that is a drama without stars — how big did you think it would be as a conventional theatrical release?” Cuarón replied.

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He continued, “It was not a cosmetic release … the movie opened more than a month ago and is still playing. That is rare for a foreign film. I think that is very unfair to say that. Why don’t you take the list of foreign films this year and compare the theatrical release to those things and for how long they’ve been playing? See how many are playing in 70 [millimeter.]”

There have been reports from many during this awards season that voters could hold its relationship with Netflix against “Roma,” as the service is seen as an outsider in the eyes of many studios and especially with exhibitors, who are threatened by the streaming giant’s massive subscriber base. This has led to the ongoing discussions that pit Netflix against the theatrical model, which has been seemingly raging for years and came to a head in 2018. However, with statistics proving that Netflix and theaters can not only exist side-by-side, but also thrive, Cuarón, along with many others, would like the debate to end.

“I just hope that the discussion [about the difference] between Netflix, and platforms in general, and theatrical should be over,” the filmmaker said. “I think that those guys, platforms and theatrical, should come together and just realize that whatever they’re doing in that discussion is hurting cinema. They both, together, can elevate cinema. And more importantly, they can create diversity in cinema. Something we have to be very conscious of is that the theatrical experience has become very gentrified, with one specific kind of product.”

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He concluded, “Right now, it’s unquestionable that you have all those filmmakers — interesting filmmakers — doing films with different platforms. Because those platforms are not afraid of doing these films.”

2019 looks to be an equally big (if not bigger) year for Netflix, with Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” likely becoming the new gold standard for how the streaming service markets and distributes films. Plus, there are the inevitable festival acquisitions and awards season push from the streaming service towards the end of the year. We’ll have to see if the conversation changes by then.