CinemataCMS 2.0.4: Richer Context & Enhanced Reliability for Filmmakers

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This update brings significant improvements across the platform: homepage featured content now connects to related articles and programmatic literature, video view counts are now fully accurate and capture all legitimate views, homepage announcements display properly across all devices, and the upload system has been streamlined for better reliability. We've also added maintenance mode functionality to ensure smoother future updates with clear communication.

What's New

Richer Homepage Featured Content

When you visit Cinemata's homepage, you'll now see more informative featured playlist descriptions. Our curators can now link these collections to:

    • Blog articles that provide context and deeper analysis
    • Essays from our Curator's Voices section
    • Related advocacy materials and research
    • Thematic literature that expands on the issues covered in the films

 

So when you discover a featured playlist on the homepage, you can now easily find and read the accompanying articles, curator perspectives, and programmatic content that provides deeper insight into the themes and issues. This creates a richer storytelling experience by connecting visual narratives to written analysis.

Note: This is a curator/admin feature - individual user-created playlists work the same as before.

Homepage Announcements Now Display Properly

Remember those campaign announcements that weren't showing up correctly? We've fixed them! Homepage popup images now:

    • Display at the right size on mobile phones
    • Don't cover the navigation menu
    • Position properly on all screen sizes
    • Work reliably every time

More Accurate View Counts

Your video view statistics are now more reliable. We've fixed issues that were causing:

    • Duplicate counts from page refreshes
    • Incorrect counting in playlists
    • Missing counts on embedded videos

Now you can trust your analytics to understand how your films are performing and reaching audiences.

Easier Video Replacement

Need to replace a video file? We've improved the media replacement feature to make it easier and more intuitive. The upload field is now clearer and more straightforward when you need to swap out a video file while keeping all your metadata, comments, and view history intact.

🛠️ Technical Improvements

Maintenance Mode (For Scheduled Updates)

We can now schedule maintenance windows for important updates without causing confusion. When we need to do system maintenance, you'll see:

    • A clear maintenance notice explaining what's happening
    • When the site will be back online
    • No cryptic error messages

This means smoother upgrades and better communication about system updates.

Cleaner, Faster Platform

We've cleaned up unnecessary code and updated essential components, making Cinemata:

    • Load faster
    • Run more efficiently
    • More secure with the latest updates
    • Easier for our team to maintain and improve

Better Visual Consistency

We've improved text and link colors across the entire site so:

    • Links are easier to identify
    • Text is more readable
    • The color scheme is consistent throughout
    • Both light and dark themes look better

What This Means for You

These updates reflect our commitment to making Cinemata a reliable platform for social justice filmmaking. With these improvements:

    • Discover more context - Homepage featured playlists now connect you to related articles, helping you understand the bigger picture
    • Your analytics are more trustworthy - Know exactly how many people are watching your films
    • Your upload experience is smoother - Less friction when sharing your important stories
    • The platform is more reliable - Better infrastructure means fewer surprises

Thank You to Our Contributors

Special thanks to our new contributors who helped make these improvements:

Bea Mariano - Implemented playlist link support and color fixes

Jeremy Valentino Manik - Fixed video view count accuracy

And continued thanks to our regular contributors:

Adryan Eka Vandra - Maintenance mode, upload system refactor, middleware fixes, and package optimization

Khairunnisa Isma - Homepage popup display fixes

Mico Baliña - Homepage popup positioning and sizing improvements

Your contributions make Cinemata better for everyone! 

We're Here to Help

If you experience any issues or have questions:

    • Report Problems: Use the feedback form on the site
    • Get Help: Check our Help Center for guides
    • Ask Questions: Contact our support team
    • Share Ideas: Let us know what features you'd like to see next

Keep Creating

Thank you for using Cinemata to share your powerful stories. Every film you upload, every playlist you create, and every view you generate contributes to amplifying important voices across the Asia-Pacific region.

Your work documenting social issues and advocating for change inspires us to keep improving this platform.

- The Cinemata Team

Technical Details

For developers and technically-minded users interested in the complete details of this update:

View Full Technical Release Notes →

Released: October 23, 2025 | Version 2.0.4