ARCHIVES: This is legacy content from before Marketing Dive acquired Mobile Marketer in early 2017. Some information, such as publication dates, may not have migrated over. Check out the new Marketing Dive site for the latest marketing news.

Keek mobile app targets young filmmakers via film festival partnership

Keek is the official video app for The Varsity Brands All American High School Film Festival, and will have a presence at the event for young filmmakers.

The app, which allows users to share short video updates, partake in private group chats and exchange private video messages and texts, is aiming to market itself to a young demographic that frequently uses social media sites such as Vine and Twitter. Keek believes that partnering with the film festival is an ideal way of reaching aspiring filmmakers and media enthusiasts, as the festival is expecting more than 2,000 students from across the United States to attend the event from Oct. 24-26 in New York City.

?Keek has a strong reputation for providing a platform for young talented artists, in particular within the film, comedy, fashion and sports categories,? said Lin Dai, chief marketing officer of Keek, New York, NY. ?Our priority is to garner attention on site and on our platform by attracting even more up and coming filmmakers and that is why we engaged in this amazing event.?

Video platform
While Keek is listed as a festival sponsor, the film submissions entered were developed independently by aspiring high school filmmakers. The film festival saw a record number of over 2,200 student submissions this year from 48 U.S. states and 17 other countries, with 294 films making the official cut.

The selected finalist films will be shown at designated times through the three-day festival, taking place at the Hilton Midtown. Keek will also receive exposure to a host of celebrities, who will be attending the event as judges and presenters.

Among the star participants are actor Dylan McDermott of ?Stalker,? actress Kristen Stewart of ?The Twilight Saga? and ?Gossip Girl? screenwriter Josh Schwartz. Dylan McDermott and another actor, Ed Burns, have both filmed Keek video messages that are viewable on the film festival?s Keek page.

Keek plans to have heavy presence at the event and will capture content with its Keek robot, Keekbot, during award acceptance speeches. Students attending the festival?s technology fair will also have an opportunity to create and share their own Keek videos on the HSFilmFest account.

Keek promotion
Attendees will be able to stop at the Keek booth and create a ?short short? film of 36 seconds, as well as view others? films on a display reel. The video platform is also working with the All American High School Film Festival and other festivals on developing a category for 36-second-long short films.

Keek claims that world-class agents and managers have discovered and subsequently signed talent through its platform, and is excited to offer young filmmakers a chance to tell their stories. By partnering with the film festival, filmmakers of the future will have opportunities to connect with seasoned professionals and make connections among themselves as well.

?Keek is a platform made for storytelling,? Mr. Dai said. ?It is part of our DNA. 

?We live in an ever-mobile and fast-paced world and the filmmakers of the future intuitively know how to create engaging bite-sized content.  A whole generation of new filmmakers sees our platform as a way to share their work and connect directly with audiences.?

Final Take
Alex Samuely is an editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York