Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) company and one of the largest operators of advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) streaming services, today announced that the original documentary feature Kili Big will debut August 18th, streaming for free exclusively on Chicken Soup for the Soul. The film follows a group of plus-sized women from around the world attempting to climb the tallest freestanding mountain on the planet, Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, Africa. 

They call themselves the Curvy Kili Crew, 20 plus-sized women determined to conquer the roof of Africa and, in doing so, make way for others who have been told their body types do not belong on a mountain. Soaring natural beauty, friendship among intergenerational women from different walks of life, adventure, and fat positivity – Kili Big is an emotional journey filled with suspense and intensity that will leave you breathless.

“Kili Big is one of those unexpectedly uplifting stories that really inspires viewers to change how they view people and the world around them,” said Jeff Meier, head of programming for Crackle Plus. “We are proud to add this transformative film to our growing library of inspirational content on Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

With her feature debut of Kili Big, director Ida Rodriguez Joglar joins this group of dynamic women on their entire journey from training for the climb all the way through to the summit of their success, all the while delving into the themes of body image, representation, self-acceptance and everyday acts of courage, through intimate interviews with the women on the mountain as well as in their homes. The film was an Official Selection at multiple film festivals, including Athena Film Festival, Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, Heartland International Film Festival and Tallgrass Film Festival, and the Jury Award Winner at the Bentonville Film Festival and New Jersey Films Competition at the Montclair Film Festival. 

“I have been honored to be able to tell these women’s stories and work alongside them to help break through judgment, stereotypes and self-doubt,” said Joglar. “With their focus on encouraging female-centric content, I think the Chicken Soup for the Soul streaming service is a perfect home for this labor of love.”

Crackle Plus’ recent releases include the popular sketch comedy series Funny Girls, the hit college thriller series In the Vault, the exclusive scripted series Les Norton, which stars Alexander Bertram and Rebel Wilson, Inside the Black Box, hosted by Joe Morton, and the award-winning BBC series Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Crackle Plus also recently announced season three of the award-winning series Going From Broke.

Kili Big was acquired by Screen Media, the exclusive supplier of original content to the Crackle Plus streaming services, which include Crackle, Popcornflix, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. The Crackle Plus streaming Apps and channels are currently distributed through 85 touch points in the U.S. on platforms including Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio), gaming consoles (PS4 and Xbox One), Plex, iOS and Android mobile devices and on desktops at Crackle.com, with previously announced plans to expand to over 110 touch points. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy chain.

ABOUT CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT

Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) (the “Company”) operates video-on-demand (VOD) streaming services. The Company owns Crackle Plus, which owns and operates a variety of ad- supported VOD streaming services including Crackle, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Truli, Pivotshare, Españolflix and FrightPix. The Company also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media and 1091 Pictures subsidiaries and produces original video content through the Chicken Soup for the Soul Television Group. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such assumptions involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to our core strategy, operating income and margin, seasonality, liquidity, including cash flows from operations, available funds, and access to financing sources, free cash flows, revenues, net income, profitability, stock price volatility, future regulatory changes, price changes, the ability of the Company’s content offerings to achieve market acceptance, the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting officers, key employees, or directors, the ability to protect intellectual property, the ability to complete strategic acquisitions, the ability to manage growth and integrate acquired operations, the ability to pay dividends, regulatory or operational risks, and general market conditions impacting demand for the Company’s services. For a more complete description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2022. On May 10, 2022, the Company entered into a merger agreement to acquire Redbox Entertainment, Inc. We refer you to the presentation filed as Exhibit 99.2 under cover of a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on May 22, 2022 for information regarding the proposed business acquisition transaction. If the proposed business acquisition is consummated, in addition to the risks noted above, we also face the risks detailed in Redbox’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.