What is Sohonet FileRunner? The Complete Guide to Browser-Based File Transfer for Media and Entertainment

What is Sohonet FileRunner?

Sohonet FileRunner is a browser-native, high-performance file transfer solution built for professional media workflows. It delivers fast, secure, and reliable file delivery at scale - without infrastructure, agents, or IT involvement. No installs, no plugins, no complexity. Just upload, send, and move on.

Built for teams moving terabytes, not megabytes, FileRunner is trusted by major distribution studios pushing thousands of packages and hundreds of terabytes monthly. It handles the demands of professional media workflows - VFX plates, audio stems, finished deliverables, camera originals - with the performance, security, and operational visibility that production environments require.

In simple terms: FileRunner is professional-grade file transfer that anyone on a production can use in five minutes, without calling IT.

‍

The problem FileRunner solves

Moving large media files between facilities, vendors, and partners is one of the most routine and most friction-heavy parts of professional production. The files are large, the timelines are tight, and the tools available tend to fall into two categories: consumer-grade tools that can't handle the scale, or enterprise solutions that require complex setup, dedicated IT support, and significant infrastructure investment.

Neither works well for the reality of most production environments, where teams need to move content quickly across multiple locations, often with mixed technical capability across the people involved.

FileRunner sits in the middle: genuinely high-performance transfer built for professional media workflows, with the simplicity of a browser-based tool that requires no specialist knowledge to use.

‍

How FileRunner works

FileRunner is 100% browser-based. Anyone with a link and an internet connection can receive files. Senders log in through the browser, upload files, and share with recipients - no software installation required on either end, and all expedited transfer features are available on Chromium-supported browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, with expedited upload also available on Safari.

Under the hood, FileRunner uses multi-threaded uploads to maximise bandwidth usage, combined with location-aware routing for global delivery. Routing can be automatic or user-selected, improving transfer speeds for international teams and global productions without requiring manual configuration or network expertise.

For teams with more structured workflows, Projects and Groups let admins segment teams for targeted sends, manage access, and maintain visibility across multiple productions or departments running simultaneously.

‍

Performance at scale

FileRunner is built for production-scale transfer. Multi-terabyte transfers globally without server setup or network configuration is a standard use case, not an edge case. The infrastructure behind FileRunner is the same infrastructure Sohonet has built and operated for the media and entertainment industry for over 30 years.

This matters in production environments where a transfer that fails or slows at a critical moment has real downstream consequences - missed delivery windows, delayed reviews, extended post schedules. Reliability at scale isn't a feature, it's the baseline expectation.

‍

Predictable, flat-fee pricing

FileRunner uses a flat-fee pricing model with no per-GB charges and no cost variability based on usage. There are no surprise bills, no charges for re-downloads, and no cost spikes during high-volume periods.

For studios, agencies, and post facilities moving significant volumes of content every month, this predictability matters. Budgeting for file transfer shouldn't require tracking every gigabyte or worrying that a busy production period will generate an unexpected invoice.

‍

Automation and analytics

For teams that need to move beyond manual transfers, FileRunner supports lightweight automation through a CLI tool and auto-downloader that automates uploads and downloads to specific folder paths. This covers the majority of automation use cases in production workflows - scheduled transfers, automated ingestion, folder-watch delivery - without requiring complex orchestration infrastructure.

On the reporting side, FileRunner provides usage reporting by project, user, package, and speed, with exportable logs for tracking and audit purposes. For facilities that need to demonstrate delivery accountability to studios or partners, this documentation is available without raising a support ticket.

‍

Security built for professional media

FileRunner is built to meet the security requirements of major studios and distribution partners:

• End-to-end TLS with 2048-bit key encryption
• AES-256 encryption standard
• Expiry controls on packages
• Audit logs for every transfer
• Exportable compliance reporting

‍

For productions handling pre-release content, the combination of encryption, access controls, and audit logging provides the accountability that studio security requirements demand.

‍

Who uses Sohonet FileRunner

FileRunner is used across the production and post production ecosystem by teams that need to move large files reliably and quickly:

• Post production facilities sending and receiving VFX plates, audio stems, and finished deliverables
• Distribution studios managing high-volume content delivery to partners and platforms
• Production companies transferring camera originals and editorial media between locations
• Creative agencies moving large asset packages to clients and collaborators
• VFX houses receiving and returning plate material across multi-vendor pipelines
• Any team that needs professional-grade transfer without IT involvement or infrastructure overhead

‍

Where FileRunner fits in the Sohonet suite

FileRunner is Sohonet's professional file transfer solution, built for the demands of modern media workflows. Sohonet also offers a Review Suite for colour-accurate remote review - including ClearView Flex for editorial review - and a PAM Suite for production asset management, including Sohonet Core for managing media assets across their full lifecycle. Together these form part of Sohonet's broader managed infrastructure offering, connecting the core needs of professional post production - transfer, review, and asset management - in a single, integrated system.patchwork of disconnected tools.

For productions where assets need to be tracked and managed across their full lifecycle as well as transferred, Core and FileRunner work together: FileRunner handles the movement of files between teams and facilities, while Core maintains the version-controlled register of what was sent, received, and approved.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sohonet FileRunner?

Sohonet FileRunner is a browser-native, high-performance file transfer solution built for professional media workflows. It enables fast, secure, large-scale file delivery without software installation, IT support, or infrastructure setup - designed for the transfer demands of film, television, and content production.

Does FileRunner require any software installation?

‍ No. FileRunner is 100% browser-based. Recipients can download files through any standard browser with no plugins or agents required. Senders access all features through the browser, with full expedited transfer performance available on Chromium-supported browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

How large can files be with FileRunner?

FileRunner is built for professional media workflows and handles multi-terabyte transfers without file size limitations. It is used by major distribution studios moving hundreds of terabytes monthly.

How fast is FileRunner?

‍ FileRunner uses multi-threaded uploads to maximise available bandwidth, combined with location-aware routing that automatically selects the fastest delivery path for global transfers. Performance scales with available bandwidth without requiring manual network configuration or UDP tuning.

How does FileRunner pricing work?

‍FileRunner uses a flat-fee pricing model with no per-GB charges. The cost does not vary based on the volume of transfers, number of downloads, or storage duration, making it predictable and straightforward to budget for high-volume production environments.

Is FileRunner secure enough for pre-release content?

Yes. FileRunner uses end-to-end TLS with 2048-bit key encryption and AES-256 encryption, with expiry controls, access management, and full audit logging. It is built to meet the security requirements of major studios and distribution partners handling pre-release content.

Does FileRunner support automation?

Yes. FileRunner includes a CLI tool and auto-downloader that supports automated uploads and downloads to specific folder paths, covering the majority of automation use cases in production workflows without requiring complex orchestration infrastructure.

What reporting does FileRunner provide?

FileRunner provides usage reporting by project, user, package, and transfer speed, with exportable logs for tracking and audit purposes. This documentation supports delivery accountability requirements from studios and distribution partners.

How does FileRunner handle global transfers?

FileRunner uses location-aware routing that can operate automatically or be user-selected, optimising delivery paths for international transfers. This improves speeds for global productions without requiring manual network configuration on either end.

What is the difference between FileRunner and consumer file transfer tools? Consumer file transfer tools are designed for occasional, small-to-medium file delivery. FileRunner is built for professional media workflows - handling multi-terabyte transfers at scale, with studio-grade encryption, audit logging, team management features, and predictable flat-fee pricing. It is designed for teams moving content daily in production environments, not occasional personal use.

Explore Sohonet FileRunner | Explore ClearView Flex for remote review | Explore Sohonet Core for production asset management | Explore Media Fabric

‍