Svevid set out to preserve cultural heritage through innovation. Their mission was to make ex-Yugoslav cinema accessible to new generations while giving nostalgic audiences a way to relive the classics of their youth.

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Our challenge was to modernize an outdated streaming service and convert it into a scalable, feature-rich VOD platform that could grow with user demand.

When Svevid approached us, their previous system was running on Kinow, a legacy video management platform. They needed a new custom CMS and upgraded infrastructure capable of managing vast video archives, user subscriptions, and streaming services — all while maintaining continuity for active subscribers.

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The biggest technical challenge was transferring terabytes of video data, metadata, and user accounts to a new system without any service interruption or loss of user experience.

Our vision was to breathe new life into an old platform — not just technically, but experientially. Svevid’s core idea was to honor the cultural value of Balkan cinematography while making it more accessible and engaging through a seamless streaming experience.

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We aimed to build an infrastructure that was scalable, secure, and future-ready, allowing Svevid to easily expand its catalog, improve discoverability, and deliver content to a global audience.

Our first step was to develop a custom CMS tailored for Svevid’s content needs. Using Amazon Web Services (AWS), we built a reliable system for uploading, encoding, and managing video assets, and implemented a subscription management module that integrated seamlessly with existing user data.

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By transferring from Kinow to AWS-based architecture, Svevid gained:

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• Faster and more reliable video processing with AWS Media Transcoder
  
• Scalable data storage via Amazon S3
  
• Global streaming performance through CloudFront CDN
  
• Improved SEO and performance scores thanks to optimized content delivery

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The new CMS not only streamlined internal workflows but also empowered editors to manage media assets independently.

When designing the platform, our goal was to combine the nostalgia of classic cinema with the usability standards of modern streaming services.

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We analyzed leading platforms for inspiration — such as Netflix and Mubi — while infusing Svevid’s interface with distinctive elements inspired by regional film culture.

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Content-Centered Design

Since the platform celebrates film heritage, we placed the content itself at the center of the experience.
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Each title includes a detailed production overview:

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• Cast and crew
  
• Release information
  
• Movie reviews
  
• Supplementary materials and behind-the-scenes stories

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This approach gives users a deeper connection to the films and their historical significance.

To help users navigate a vast film archive, we introduced the Discover section — a smart, filter-based system that sorts movies by genre, country, and decade.

Alongside this, the “My List” feature allows users to curate personal watchlists and revisit their favorite titles at any time.

This personalization layer transforms passive browsing into an active exploration of history, making Svevid both educational and entertaining.

Stories — a journey through time

The Stories feature was developed to highlight Svevid’s strongest cultural element — the evolution of Balkan cinema. Users can explore curated content by decade, from the 1940s to today, learning about landmark films, directors, and cultural shifts that shaped regional film history.

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This feature enriches the platform’s storytelling dimension and makes the app more than just a streaming service — it becomes an interactive museum of cinema.