Small Updates, Big Impact: CinemataCMS 2.1.1
By King Catoy
Two weeks ago, we released CinemataCMS 2.1 with new features for discovering filmmakers and browsing curated playlists. Today, we're rolling out version 2.1.1 – a focused update that fixes bugs, improves performance, and refines the playlist experience based on what we've learned from you.
1. Playlist Playback for Community Screenings
If you host film screenings – whether in a university classroom in Dhaka, a community center in Jakarta, or an advocacy workshop in Manila – this update improves how playlists work in fullscreen mode.
What's new
When one film ends and the next begins, you'll see a transition card showing the upcoming film's title, country, year, and runtime. Browser security prevents us from keeping you in fullscreen automatically between videos (this protects users from malicious sites). After each transition, you'll need one tap or press Enter to return to fullscreen. We've made everything else as smooth as possible – fast transitions, and one-tap fullscreen return. It's not perfect cinema-style viewing, but it works well for the way advocacy films are actually screened.
Read our new guide, Playlist Playback: Community Screenings Made Simple, to learn how to use it.
2. Faster Video Loading Across Southeast Asia
We've improved our CDN so videos load faster for viewers across Asia-Pacific. You should see quicker playback and fewer buffering moments, whether you're streaming from Metro Manila, rural Indonesia, Dhaka, or anywhere in between.
This might seem like a small technical detail, but it matters: when you're showing a film about urgent social issues to a room full of people, buffering breaks the moment. Our developers in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines have been finding ways to make Cinemata serve our community better, even with our limited resources.
3. Creative Commons License Support
We've fixed issues with the Creative Commons license selection form, making it easier for filmmakers to clearly indicate how their work can be shared and used. Whether you choose Creative Commons licensing or keep it All Rights Reserved, the form now works properly.
Clear licensing matters. It helps educators, advocates, and programmers understand how your film can be shared.
4. Email Notifications for New Roles
Trusted Users, Editors, and Managers now receive clear email notifications when their roles are granted, including a short explanation of what their access allows. No more guessing about permissions.
Interested in becoming a Trusted User? It gives you the ability to publish directly to Cinemata, upload multiple films at once, and password-protect content for free. Fill-up the form here, and the Cinemata Team will evaluate your eligibility.
5. Newsletter Subscription Fixed
We've resolved an issue in the sign-up form that prevented new members from subscribing to our newsletter. The newsletter has been on pause since April 2025, but it will return soon with curated film highlights, filmmaker spotlights, community stories, and updates from the Asia-Pacific advocacy film community.
If you signed up between April and December 2025: The subscription issue meant you weren't automatically added to our mailing list. You can subscribe manually at mailer.cinemata.org to make sure you don't miss our upcoming issues.
6. Platform Stability Improvements
Behind the scenes, we've fixed memory leaks and layout issues that were causing occasional visual glitches. The homepage carousel now loads more smoothly, displaying all videos from featured playlists instead of the previous limit of 6 videos. The platform also uses browser resources more efficiently during long sessions.
We've also implemented automatic file versioning – you'll always see Cinemata's latest features without needing to clear your cache manually.
Why These Small Updates Matter
We're not competing with YouTube's scale or trying to reinvent video platforms. We're a small team proving that focused platforms can deliver professional features while keeping filmmakers in control of their content.
Each update – whether it's smoother playlist transitions or faster loading in Southeast Asia – comes from our developers finding creative solutions with limited resources. If you'd like to support an independent, community-driven video platform, follow us on Instagram (link), share your feedback (link), or make a small donation. Every bit of support helps us keep Cinemata community-run and sustainable.
Cinemata remains your independent alternative for hosting social issue films. We're here because advocacy filmmaking deserves platforms built for impact, not engagement metrics.
Technical Details
For developers and technically-minded users interested in contributing or understanding the platform better, view Full Technical Release Notes on GitHub.
Questions or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]