Internet Movie Database to acquire indie-film service

Amazon.com is delving even deeper into the film industry, with subsidiary Internet Movie Database signing a deal to acquire Withoutabox.

Withoutabox develops online tools and operates a service to aid independent filmmakers in submitting their work to festivals worldwide and in promoting their films.

Withoutabox, based in Los Angeles, said it has worked with 150,000 filmmakers since its founding in 2000. The Internet Movie Database draws more than 50 million unique visitors each month with its searchable database of movies, TV, and entertainment programs.

The definitive agreement, announced Thursday, is designed to offer a wider selection of films to Internet Movie Database users and to vastly broaden the audience for filmmakers that use Withoutabox.

"For eight years, Withoutabox has enabled filmmakers and festivals to reach the widest audience possible," David Straus, Withoutabox's CEO, said in a statement. "Now, they will be able to connect directly with the 50 million film lovers who visit (IMDB.com) each month."

Amazon itself has been dabbling with Hollywood content for years, including selling and renting downloads of movies and TV shows via Unbox.

Under the agreement, the Internet Movie Database will operate Withoutabox as a standalone entity.

The terms and timing of when the deal might close were not disclosed. As the saying in Hollywood goes, it's "hush, hush."

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