Now this is cool:

Not everyone can make it to the Cannes Film Festival-especially if you are a school teacher or you live in Winnipeg (or both)-but that doesn’t mean you can’t recite all of Kubrick’s films in reverse chronological order, or that you are not desperate to watch the latest Kitano film that’s definitely not going to be released in your local multiplex. Thus, this site, which believes firmly in the idea that popular doesn’t always mean good. The site’s film library is brimming with visionary films that wouldn’t fill a single cinema in Belgium for a week – not even a day. But if you searched the world (all of it), you might just find an audience of a thousand for these rare cinematic treats. The site founders don’t think a thousand people should be ignored just because they happen to live in different time zones or far away from Belgian cinemas. If someone needed to make such a precise film, it means that someone, somewhere needs to watch it. More importantly, that someone might be you. Or Martin Scorsese (who also happens to be a member). You’ll also find Hollywood favorites, from Annie Hall to The Royal Tenenbaums. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where films come from, as long as they come from someone’s mind. The Auteurs is not just about discovering wonderful new cinema or classic masterpieces. It’s also about discussing and sharing these discoveries. Heated debates and passionate arguments are welcome.

I signed up and checked out the site. For instance, right now you can watch the following movies:

L’avventura (Italy – 1960)

The General (United States – 1926)

The Mirror (Soviet Union – 1975)

Harakiri (Japan – 1962)

Cleo From 5 to 7 (France -1962)

Happy Together (Hong Kong – 1997)

The Sacrifice (Sweden – 1986)

Fallen Angels (Hong Kong – 1995)

Cria Cuervos (Spain – 1976)

Come and See (Soviet Union – 1985)

Black Orpheus (Brazil – 1959)

After Life (Japan – 1998)

Tropical Malady (Thailand – 2004)

The Son (Belgium – 2002)

Cops (United States – 1922)

The Blue Angel (Germany – 1930)

Faust (Czech Republic – 1994)

Food (United Kingdom – 1992)

And that’s just the list on P. 1 of eight pages. Most of the movies are free, others cost $5 to screen. For all the whining and bitching we do around here about the state of the movie business, here’s an online community of people who care about cinema. Access to interesting movies from around the world, daily news feeds about independent movies, the ability to swap talk with people around the world about film…

Sounds like a winner.