Publish Your Film on Hi-Eight

Your film is finished.

Now you need a place to prepare your release, choose how audiences can watch it, control the economics, and publish when you're ready.

Creating a Hi-Eight account does not publish your film. It simply gives you a workspace to build your film page and prepare your release at your own pace.

Getting Started

Publishing is a straightforward process:

  1. Create your filmmaker accountCreate your filmmaker profile. Nothing is published yet.
  2. Build your film pageAdd your title, description, artwork, credits, trailer, and film information.
  3. Upload your filmUpload the video and supporting media needed for playback.
  4. Choose how audiences access your filmDecide whether your film is private, unlisted, paid, included with subscriptions where available, or free with advertising where available.
  5. Choose your pricingSet rental and purchase prices that fit your release strategy. You remain in control and can adjust your approach over time.
  6. Complete the publishing stepPay the one-time publishing fee or apply an available early-adopter waiver.
  7. Publish when you're readyProcessing begins only after you choose to publish.

What Happens After You Publish

Publishing is only the beginning.

Hi-Eight is built to help grow the middle of independent film: professional films that may not need millions of viewers, but do need a workable path to paying audiences.

As audiences begin discovering your film through your outreach and Hi-Eight's marketplace surfaces, Hi-Eight provides creator tools that help you understand how your release is performing.

You can review visits, trailer plays, watch starts, drop-off, purchases, rentals, reviews, referrals, and other performance information to better understand what is working and refine your release strategy over time.

Instead of simply publishing and hoping for the best, you can learn from each stage of your release.

Access Options

Every film is different. Choose the release path that fits your goals.

  • UnlistedKeep your film out of public browsing while still sharing it with people who have the link.
  • Private AccessGrant access using individual access keys for reviewers, collaborators, distributors, educators, or private screenings.
  • Rent or BuyOffer paid rentals or purchases at prices you choose.
  • SubscriptionInclude your film in platform subscriptions where supported.
  • Free with AdvertisingAllow audiences to watch for free while earning advertising revenue where supported.

These options can also be combined into different release strategies over time.

Publishing Fee

One-time $50 publishing fee per film.

Early adopters may qualify for a waived publishing fee.

The publishing fee applies only when you choose to move from setup into a publishable release state.

Revenue Share

Where revenue sharing applies:

  • Filmmaker: 75%
  • Hi-Eight: 25%

Revenue sharing applies only to supported monetization options and does not guarantee sales or earnings.

Discovery

Public films may appear throughout Hi-Eight, including:

  • Featured collections
  • Creator Spotlight
  • Top Rated
  • Trending
  • New Releases
  • Search results
  • Recommendation surfaces
  • Public film pages that search engines can index

These discovery tools help audiences find films across the marketplace based on taste and interest, not only accumulated popularity. No platform can guarantee views or sales, but the goal is to make smaller viable audiences more economically meaningful for filmmakers. If that is the problem you are trying to solve, read Why Is My Film Not Getting Views?.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does creating an account publish my film?

No. Creating an account only gives you access to the filmmaker tools. You choose if and when your film is published.

Can I keep my film private?

Yes. You can use Private Access or Unlisted while preparing your release, gathering feedback, or sharing with selected viewers.

Can I change my pricing later?

Yes. Your release strategy can evolve over time as you learn what works for your audience.

Can I remove my film?

Yes. You can remove your film whenever you choose.

Does Hi-Eight guarantee views or sales?

No.

Hi-Eight provides publishing tools, flexible release options, marketplace discovery features, and creator reporting, but no platform can guarantee audience size or revenue.