Online crowd powers Girl Rising film debut

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Tech startup Gathr is putting the power of the crowd behind Girl Rising, a film that poignantly backs the fact that educating girls makes our world a better place.

One of nine stories woven together by director Richard E. Robbins in the work was shown Monday at the Sundance Film Festival.

Along with traditional premieres in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, in March, Girl Rising hopes to debut in theaters throughout the United States (US) thanks to Gathr.

"Through Gathr, anyone who has access to the Internet can request a showing of the film in their own community," said Ms Shelly Esque, corporate affairs group global director at chip making titan Intel, which is backing Girl Rising. "Once they reach a certain threshold of people who will show up, the theater is able to host the film."