By Jen Tarnate on 21 July 2025
Cinemata 2.0 is here! On July 31, 2025, Cinemata unveils its most ambitious leap yet: the full open-source release of CinemataCMS 2.0—a purpose-built video platform designed for social impact. Developed by and for filmmakers, activists, and educators in the Asia-Pacific, this community-driven alternative to Big Tech platforms puts advocacy, security, and digital sovereignty front and centre.
After four years of pioneering privacy-respecting video advocacy in the region, Cinemata.org is now fully open-sourced as CinemataCMS 2.0. This platform provides a real alternative to corporate-controlled video sites, offering a secure, customizable, and censorship-resistant solution for advocacy organisations, educators, and cultural workers.
Explore the project on GitHub: github.com/EngageMedia-video/cinematacms
The Cinemata video platform started with one external developer. Today, it is maintained by a growing team of Southeast Asian developers from Indonesia and the Philippines, contributing to the platform’s infrastructure, security, user experience, and documentation. This community-led model reflects Cinemata’s long-term vision of building sustainable, open technology ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific.
A comprehensive security audit by the Open Technology Fund confirms Cinemata 2.0 is production-ready for protecting sensitive advocacy content. Key improvements include:
These safeguards ensure that the platform meets the high-risk needs of advocacy filmmakers and human rights defenders.
Big Tech platforms often expose users to surveillance, algorithmic manipulation, and content takedowns. In contrast, CinemataCMS 2.0 offers:
Cinemata’s track record from 2021 to 2024 includes:
CinemataCMS 2.0 enhances this impact through:
Whether you’re a filmmaker, campaigner, festival organiser, or educator, CinemataCMS offers:
Cinemata 2.0’s launch is more than a technical update. It’s a collective milestone in building ethical tech for advocacy.
Launch Event Details
Date: July 31, 2025 (Thursday)
Time: 5:00 PM Manila time (GMT+8)
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Where: Online (Zoom)
Click the link below to register for the event:
What to Expect:
In a region where freedom of expression faces increasing threats, Cinemata 2.0 demonstrates that alternative digital spaces aren’t just possible—they’re necessary. Built by Southeast Asian developers for Asia-Pacific communities, this is technology that serves movements, not markets.
Join us on July 31 to learn more, celebrate this milestone with us, and imagine what comes next!