Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

GATHR

GATHR or Gathr is an American film distribution and event technology platform founded in 2011 by filmmaker Scott Glosserman. It pioneered a form of "Theatrical-On-Demand" (TOD) distribution, which allows audiences to crowdsource local screenings of a film. Users request a film at a local theater and commit to buying tickets; if enough tickets are reserved, the screening is confirmed, and only then are their credit cards charged. Gathr claims that this audience-driven model described as "Kickstarter meets Netflix" for moviegoing enables independent films to reach theaters nationwide without the upfront risk of traditional distribution. Glosserman, best known as director of the cult horror mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, launched Gathr to democratize theatrical distribution for independent filmmakers and content owners.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 6 min
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1,431 w
Citations
42
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Gathr
Type of businessCorporate
Founded19 August 2011 (2011-08-19)
FounderScott Glosserman
CEOScott Glosserman
URLgathr.com

GATHR or Gathr1 is an American film distribution and event technology platform founded in 2011 by filmmaker Scott Glosserman.2 It pioneered a form of "Theatrical-On-Demand" (TOD) distribution, which allows audiences to crowdsource local screenings of a film. Users request a film at a local theater and commit to buying tickets; if enough tickets are reserved (meeting a threshold set by the venue), the screening is confirmed (or "tips"), and only then are their credit cards charged. Gathr claims that this audience-driven model described as "Kickstarter meets Netflix" for moviegoing enables independent films to reach theaters nationwide without the upfront risk of traditional distribution. Glosserman, best known as director of the cult horror mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, launched Gathr to democratize theatrical distribution for independent filmmakers and content owners.3

Gathr’s platform has been used to distribute a wide range of documentaries and independent films. The company’s Theatrical-On-Demand service gained attention in 2013 when the documentary Girl Rising, directed by Richard E. Robbins, leveraged it to organize over 400 crowd-driven screenings across the United States.4 By aggregating local demand online, Gathr ensures that screenings only occur when a critical mass of tickets are pre-sold, providing a guaranteed audience for theaters and minimizing financial risk for filmmakers. In addition to new indie releases, Gathr has also worked with studio libraries. At launch it offered repertory titles and arthouse films (for example, Fox Searchlight’s Another Earth and Martha Marcy May Marlene, both 2011) for on-demand bookings in underserved markets.3

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced cinemas to close, Gathr expanded into virtual screenings by introducing Gathr At Home, a live online premiere and event platform.5 Through Gathr At Home, filmmakers can host digital premieres, Q&As, and streaming events for remote audiences, effectively turning online film releases into events.6

Films distributed via Gathr

  • 40 Weeks (2014) – documentary film7
  • Alive and Well (2013) – documentary about Huntington’s disease8
  • American Native (2015) – documentary about New Jersey's Ramapough Lenape Nation9
  • Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014) – biographical documentary of Paramahansa Yogananda, grossing over $1.4 million via the Theatrical-On-Demand model10
  • Before You Know It (2013) – documentary about LGBT senior citizens11
  • Big Easy Express (2012) – Grammy Award-winning music documentary12
  • The Central Park Five (2012) – documentary film about the Central Park jogger case13
  • Checkpoint Zoo (2024) – documentary film about Ukrainian zookeepers during the 2022 Russian invasion14
  • Consumed (2015) – narrative film about GMOs15
  • The Anonymous People (2013) – documentary on drug addiction; Gathr helped the film reach 200 screenings across the United States10
  • Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018) – director Michael Moore and Gathr coordinated a nationwide "People's Premiere" ahead of the wide release, contributing to an estimated 15% boost to box office earnings16
  • Free Solo (2018) – Academy Award-winning climbing documentary;13 Gathr Films helped bring Free Solo to additional theaters through special event screenings on demand
  • Generation Found (2016) – documentary on youth addiction recovery17
  • Girl Rising (2013) – documentary about girls' education10
  • How to Survive a Plague (2012) – Oscar-nominated AIDS activism documentary18
  • I Am MLK Jr. (2018) – Leo Award-winning television documentary; after its Paramount Network debut, the producers partnered with Gathr to launch a Theatrical On Demand release so that any U.S. city could host a screening in local theaters19
  • Intent to Destroy (2017) – documentary on the Armenian Genocide20
  • Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet (2014) – animated film
  • Life in the Doghouse (2018) – documentary on dog rescue; the filmmakers partnered with Gathr "allowing the film to come to theaters in any town as a much-needed fundraising opportunity for local dog rescues"21
  • Mantra - Sounds into Silence (2017) – documentary on music and meditation22
  • Marley (2012) – documentary on Bob Marley23
  • Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016) – indie documentary15
  • MVP (2022) – drama film about veterans directed by Nate Boyer24
  • No Other Land (2024) – Academy Award-winning documentary on the Masafer Yatta community in Palestine25
  • Nuclear Now (2023) – documentary by Oliver Stone, screened by Gathr in the US and Canada26
  • On the Basis of Sex (2019) – biographical drama film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg13
  • Pet Fooled (2017) – documentary exposé on the pet food industry, with screenings run in cooperation with pet food stores across the United States27
  • Ponyboi (2025) – thriller film about an intersex sex worker28
  • Return to Homs (2014) – Syrian civil war documentary and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner29
  • Seed: The Untold Story (2016) – Emmy-nominated documentary on seed biodiversity30
  • The Cranes Call (2024) – real-time documentary film31
  • The Sixth (2017) – documentary short film32
  • Thank You for Your Service (2015) – documentary film on mental health in the U.S. military; Gathr Films acquired the distribution rights and released the film in theaters in fall 2016 via a hybrid model – week-long runs followed by nationwide one-night Gathr on-demand screenings10
  • Walk With Me (2017) – documentary film on Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh13
  • Who Took Johnny? (2014) – documentary film on the disappearance of Johnny Gosch; the filmmakers chose Gathr to avoid the "gatekeepers" of traditional distribution and the hurdle of self-distribution33
  • Women Like Us (2017) – documentary film about women changemakers34
References

References

  1. "How to Onboard Your Film". GATHR. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  2. "Gathr Partners with Sports Illustrated Tickets to Build Box Office, All-New Self-Service Event Management Platform, and Primary Blockchain Ticketing Solution". Business Wire. May 3, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  3. Macaulay, Scott (2012-03-09). "Scott Glosserman Discusses Gathr and Theatrical On Demand". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  4. 10x10. "Girl Rising Premieres in New York, Opens On Demand in Theaters Nationwide". prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-10-24.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "2020 Vision: Documentary Filmmaking in a Global Pandemic | New Day Films". www.newday.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  6. "Gathr Films Sets Worldwide Event Cinema Premiere of Emmy-Winning Director Paul Saltzman's Feature Documentary Meeting the Beatles in India for September 9 – Business Wire". Business Wire. August 11, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  7. Relations, London Misher Public. "Philadelphia Hosts Ground-breaking Pregnancy Movie 40 Weeks Premier". www.prweb.com. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  8. Veritas, Gene (2013-12-11). "At Risk for Huntington's Disease: 'Alive and Well' captures struggle against untreatable genetic brain disorder". At Risk for Huntington's Disease. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  9. Leizens, Tish (2015-08-14). "How Indian Are You? Ramapough Have Their Say in 'American Native'". ICT. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  10. "Gathr Films Acquires Documentary Thank You for Your Service". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  11. "Gathr Tool Kit". Before You Know It. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  12. madisonmovie (2013-04-22). "Mumford and Sons coming to Madison! (In a movie. If you want.)". Madison Movie. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  13. "About". Gathr. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  14. "Bringing Checkpoint Zoo to Your Community: A Story of Courage, Compassion and Ukraine's Resilience". razomforukraine.org. Razom for Ukraine. September 10, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  15. "Gathr Films Acquires Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  16. "Case Study : Fahrenheit 11/9". gathr.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  17. "Gathr Films Releases GENERATION FOUND Today in Theaters and via Theatrical on Demand® for September's National Recovery Month". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  18. Morfoot, Addie (2023-11-14). "Roco Films and Gathr Launch Documentary Speakers Bureau (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  19. Inc, Network Media Group. "Network Entertainment's I Am MLK Jr. Wins Three 2019 Leo Awards Including Best Documentary". newswire.ca. Retrieved 2025-10-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. Busch, Anita (2017-09-29). "Joe Berlinger's 'Intent To Destroy' Acquired By Abramorama And Gathr Films". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  21. Klemm, Piper (2019-01-18). "Life in the Doghouse Showcases Inspiring Story of Relentless Dog Rescue Efforts". The Plaid Horse Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  22. "MANTRA - SOUNDS INTO SILENCE". www.magnetfilm.de. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  23. Lange, Maggie (2012-05-19). "Dear Reggae Fans: You Can Host a Screening of 'Marley'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  24. Hailu, Selome (2022-08-18). "NFL Player Nate Boyer's Directorial Debut 'MVP' to Premiere In September With GNC Fundraising Campaign (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  25. "No Other Land Film - Support Masafer Yatta - Watch No Other Land". No Other Land Film - Support Masafer Yatta. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  26. "HOST SCREENING EVENTS". Nuclear Now. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  27. We-Ha (2016-12-23). "'Pet Fooled' Documentary Makers Hope to Have Local Screening". We-Ha | West Hartford News. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  28. Grobar, Matt (2025-01-22). "Sundance Sex Worker Thriller 'Ponyboi' Dated For U.S. Release By Fox Entertainment Studios, Gathr". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  29. Nakhnikian, Elise (2014-03-16). "Review: Return to Homs". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
  30. "Gathr". Seed: The Untold Story. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  31. Stalcup, Jamie (2025-03-18). "HiddenLight's The Cranes Call Releases Globally". TVREAL. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  32. "THE SIXTH - Film". Gathr. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  33. "Why We are Using Gathr to distribute Who Took Johnny". rumur.com. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  34. Release, Press (2017-11-24). "Nov. 28-Dec. 5: Premiere of 'Women Like Us,' Directed by Valencia Filmmaker". SCVNews.com. Retrieved 2025-10-26.