What is Vurchel.com and why does it exist?

I’m Dmitry Kuchev, and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve fallen for a film at a festival, only to have it disappear into the ether once the curtains closed. It's like those films entered a black hole, unreachable and far from the streaming world we live in. 

That nagging feeling — “What if more people could see this?” — didn’t sit right with me. So, I decided to do something about it. That something is Vurchel.com.

The spark behind Vurchel.com

The journey from festival screens to your screens at home shouldn’t be a maze. Vurchel.com is all about making sure you can find, bookmark, and eventually stream those festival gems. 

Hit the 💜 Get Notified button under the title for a film you loved (or think you’ll love), and we’ll ping you when it’s time to watch it. Simple as that. 

But we don’t want to stop there — we’re also working to create ways for audiences to support creators directly.

So, what is Vurchel.com?

It's a private initiative — a non-profit startup collecting all the festival films in the world in one place. Our goal is simple: to help people discover great indie films and support the creators behind them.

When a festival announces its selection, we go through it and add all the publicly available information we can find about each of the films on Google.

Our recent festival programs include:

We aim to do the same for the rest of the festivals around the world 💪🏼

A shout-out to filmmakers

Hey, creators, this is all about you. Festivals create buzz around your film, but once people leave the theater, they’re often left wondering where to find it again, let alone rewatch or share it with friends. Sometimes festival films and their authors aren’t even googlable 😱

That’s where we come in. Vurchel keeps the excitement alive by ensuring your film stays on people’s radars. We notify your fans when your film becomes available to watch from the comfort of their homes, maintaining the momentum generated during its festival run. It’s about giving your film a lasting life beyond the festival circuit.

Your films, your rules

At Vurchel.com, we prioritize your control over your films. We don’t host them. When possible, we embed players from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. If not, we provide direct links. You’re always in charge of your content.

If you need to change anything on your pages, we’re here to help.

Want to manage your pages yourself? Just send us a message at q@vurchel.com after signing up, and we’ll link your account to your pages. Don’t forget to include the email you used to sign up, so we can locate your account! 😊

We’d also love it if you could take a minute to add your Vurchel Review on the film page!

What’s a Vurchel Review?

We’ve introduced Vurchel Reviews to help audiences quickly understand why a film is worth watching.

It’s a simple, two-part format:

1️⃣ What’s it about?
A short summary focusing on the film’s theme, genre, and story.

2️⃣ Why watch?
A personal, friendly recommendation explaining why someone shouldn’t miss it.

This format is scientifically designed to be ideal for films by lesser-known creators.

Cognitive psychology shows that short, clear, and specific statements are the most effective way to capture attention and communicate value. By focusing on two simple questions, Vurchel Reviews minimize decision fatigue and make it easy for audiences to understand a film’s appeal in a simple, effective way, making it far more approachable than traditional long reviews.

Plus, Vurchel Reviews act as social proof — a psychological concept where people are influenced by the opinions of others. A relatable and direct recommendation builds trust and curiosity, which is especially important for indie films that don’t have the backing of big marketing campaigns or well-known names.

As the filmmaker, you have the chance to be the first to tell people what your film is about and why it’s worth watching. It’s your opportunity to set the tone of other reviews and connect directly with your audience.

Take a minute to add your Vurchel Review to your film’s page, let people know why your work matters!

Let's build this together

Vurchel.com is like a baby. It needs nurturing, support, and, yes, a bit of love to grow. Whether you’re here to find your next favorite film, share your creation, or help out in any way you can, you’re part of what makes this work.

We’re at the beginning of our story, and with your help, we can shape a future where no great film is ever forgotten.