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    Micro‑Dramas, AI & Indie Ecosystems

    • 18.06.2025
    • By Saameer Mody
    Pocket Films

    In this episode of Industry Spotlight with Creative First, Saameer Mody, Founder and Managing Director of Pocket Films, joined Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director, Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Picture Association, to discuss evolving content formats, monetization models, and the rise of AI in independent filmmaking. Reflecting on A-VOD and S-VOD dynamics, Saameer emphasized that while subscription models were valuable, advertising-driven formats remained essential, especially in cost-conscious markets like India.

    He highlighted the rapid rise of micro-dramas—short, mobile-friendly episodes gaining traction globally—as a key trend that had begun catching on in India. Pocket Films has already integrated this format into its platform, with launches across Android and iOS.

    Saameer also shared insights on the ongoing challenges for independent creators, noting that while access to platforms had improved since 2009, discovery and monetization remained persistent hurdles in a crowded digital landscape.

    He shed light on Pocket Films’ recent experiment with an AI-generated short film, developed by Pocket Films’ using tools like ChatGPT, Flux Pro, and ElevenLabs. Despite early technical challenges, Saameer noted the fast evolution of these tools, underscoring AI’s growing potential for content creation.

    Looking ahead, Saameer revealed Pocket Films’ vision to build a full-fledged ecosystem for independent creators, including a LinkedIn-style talent database, a festival submission platform, and continued support for distribution and monetization. All of this reinforces the company’s long-standing creator-first approach.

    Further the discussion moved on how Pocket Films began by addressing a key gap: distribution for short filmmakers. While not a creator himself, he had recognized early on that filmmakers didn’t know how to get their work seen. Pocket Films stepped in as a partner, not just a platform, handling everything from syndication to monetization, always with a focus on fair revenue sharing.

    The platform helped many creators get discovered, with some landing studio projects after being spotted on their channel. The goal was to create a win-win system that supported filmmakers beyond just uploading their work.

    Looking forward, Saameer saw AI—especially AI dubbing and content discovery—as crucial for reaching wider, multilingual audiences. While production was already benefiting from AI, he believed distribution was next in line for disruption.

    For monetization, Pocket Films prioritized reach. They distributed content across OTTs, telcos, and social media, believing that visibility led to revenue. Even with their own OTT platform, they continued to syndicate widely.

    He shared optimism about the future of short form. With attention spans shrinking, micro dramas and snackable content were booming. Pocket Films had even streamed 24/7 on FAST channels like Jio TV, Run TV, and Swift TV. The philosophy remained simple: meet audiences where they were, and let them choose how they watched.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Saameer Mody

    Saameer Mody, a business veteran with 30+ years in the media and entertainment industry. He is the founder and managing director of Pocket Films. Pocket Films is India’s leading distributor of short films and the No. 1 partner channel for YouTube in India for such content. Pocket Films is the de facto destination for creators of short films to gain exposure and generate revenue through its distribution and syndication activities across platforms e.g. Facebook, Jio Cinemas, Amazon (US & UK), MX Player, Vodafone, etc. Taking their distribution a step further, Pocket Films has launched its own OTT Platform focused on short films under the same name. They have also launched FAST channels for short films on JioTv+, RunnTV and SwiftTV. Another format addition on the app is Micro-Dramas. Pocket Films has curated some of the top international micro-dramas for its app audiences, including Hindi dubs. Saameer has leveraged his experience and guided Pocket Films into related verticals including production of eclectic short films and web-series. Pocket Films is also the leader for short films contests in India with over 45+ such events. Many of these are associated with international film festivals.