Athena Studios

What Athena Studios does

Athena Studios operates a purpose-built film and television production facility on a 108-acre campus at 900 Athena Drive in Athens, Georgia. The core product is four sound stages ranging from 20,000 to 44,000 square feet each, delivering over 84,000 square feet of column-free shooting space with 40-foot clear heights, Insul-Quilts soundproofing, silent 75-ton air conditioning operable during filming, and 400,000 lb suspension capacity for lighting rigs. Adjacent support includes over 30,000 square feet of fully furnished production offices with 5GB fiber internet (via Sohonet), 100,000+ square feet of mill and flex space for set prefabrication and storage, a 4+ acre backlot, and curated preferred-vendor programs spanning lighting/grip (MBS, Cinelease), catering, equipment rentals, and transportation. The facility is differentiated by purpose-built modern construction (opened March 2023), Georgia's up to 30% transferable film tax credit, and a dedicated 14,600 sq ft student soundstage under partnership with University of Georgia and Georgia Film Academy for workforce development.

The company is led by CEO Joel Harber (20+ years of real estate development) and VP Michael Uribe (previously Paramount Studios, 20+ years of domestic and international production experience). Its revenue model is direct-to-customer enterprise rental: quote-based pricing negotiated per production across sound stage rental (usage-based), production office rental (one-time license), mill/flex space rental (usage-based), and ancillary lighting/grip equipment access. Distribution is single-country domestic (Southeast USA), sold via direct outreach by the CEO, channel partner Raulet Property Partners, and digital marketing through the company website and LinkedIn. Athena Studios is privately held with no disclosed parent company and one $20M funding round from Bay Point Advisors in August 2022; its first major studio production was Blumhouse's feature film 'The Woman in the Yard' shooting April-May 2024 with Universal Pictures as distributor.

Name

Athena Studios

Legal name

Athena Studios

Website

https://athenastudiosga.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Athena Studios operates a purpose-built, 108-acre film and television production facility in Athens, Georgia, offering four sound stages, production offices, mill/flex space, and a backlot, serving feature film, television, and academic customers via direct enterprise rental.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Television Production Studio Facilities

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backlot & Exterior Lot Rental (MPADAIAB), Soundstage & Stage Rental (Film/TV) (MPADAIAA), Production Office Space & Support Facilities (MPADAIAD)

Keywords

• Film production facilities
• Sound stage rental
• Television production studios
• Production office space
• Backlot rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sound Stage Rental: Rental of sound stages ranging from 20,000 to 44,000 square feet for film and television production. Revenue is usage-based, charged per production based on stage size and duration of use.
2. Production Office Rental: Rental of fully furnished office space (30,000+ square feet) with amenities including fiber internet, furniture, refrigerators, and janitorial services for production teams.
3. Mill & Flex Space Rental: Rental of mill space for prefab/set construction and flex space for set storage to maximize stage utility during productions.
4. Lighting & Grip Equipment: Through partnership with MBS, providing LED, intelligent lighting, fluorescent, HMI, quartz equipment and grip supplies to productions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Athena Studios rents purpose-built sound stages (20,000–44,000 sq ft each), production offices, mill and flex space, a 4-acre backlot, and exterior lot locations to film and television production companies. The facility is supported by integrated on-site services including lighting and grip equipment, IT connectivity, professional security, transportation, and a curated preferred-vendor network, all on a 108-acre campus in Athens, Georgia.

Product overview

Athena Studios is a purpose-built film and television production facility offering a comprehensive campus of production resources. The core offering includes four sound stages (20,000–44,000 sq. ft. each) with 40-foot clear heights and silent air conditioning, over 30,000 sq. ft. of production offices with fiber internet, mill and flex space for set construction and storage, a 4+ acre backlot, and multiple exterior lot locations. The facility is supported by integrated services including IT (via Sohonet), lighting and grip (via MBS), professional security, and transportation. A curated preferred vendors program provides set materials, equipment rentals, catering, recording studios, and other production essentials. The 108-acre campus in Athens, GA, includes a dedicated 14,600 sq. ft. student soundstage for University of Georgia and Georgia Film Academy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sound Stages Four purpose-built sound stages ranging from 20,000 to 44,000 square feet each, with 40-foot clear heights, Insul-Quilts soundproofing, silent 75-ton air conditioning that runs while shooting, Wi-Fi connectivity, and 400,000 lb suspension capacity. Stages are audience-rated for sitcoms, game shows, and talk shows. Available for rent by film and television production companies.
• Production Offices Over 30,000 square feet of fully furnished office space with 5 GB fiber internet access, refrigerators, water fountains, janitorial services, abundant natural light, and dedicated parking. Available for rent to production teams filming at the studio.
• Mill & Flex Space Mill space for prefabrication enabling quick set changeovers without cluttering stages, plus flex space for set storage to maximize stage utility. Available for rent by productions at the studio.
• Backlot

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Georgia (Grady College)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Dedicated 14,600 sq ft soundstage and learning center for exclusive use by UGA's MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media and Entertainment and Media Studies programs, as well as Georgia Film Academy students. Partnership supports workforce development for Georgia's film industry.
• SohonetcoreTechnology or IntegrationSohonet is the entertainment industry's leading provider of internet and technology solutions. They provide voice and data solutions for Athena Studios' productions, including 5 GB fiber internet access. Contact: Amanda Strohecker (888-679-6111).
• MBS (The MBS Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry leader in lighting and grip equipment, offering LED, intelligent lighting, fluorescent, HMI, quartz, distribution boxes, extensions, dimmers, cables, switches, overheads, and flags. Contact: Justin Memovich (323-228-6883).
• Raulet Property Partners (John Raulet)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry expert on matching Georgia studio space with productions. Serves as go-to partner for connecting productions with Athena Studios' facilities.
• Cinelease (Gannon Murphy)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides top-quality lighting and grip equipment, power distribution, grip trucks, expendables, and heavy equipment to productions at Athena Studios.
• Reel SuppliesminorOthersSet building materials vendor. Contact: Matt Davis (404-772-1956). Part of curated roster of preferred vendors ready to service productions at Athena Studios.
• Cofer Studio SupplyminorOthersSet building materials vendor. Contact: Jamie Wilson (404-556-7666). Part of curated roster of preferred vendors.
• Lightnin Production RentalsminorOthersHoney wagon and truck rentals. Contact: Greg Lewis (770-963-1234).
• Herc RentalsminorOthersHeavy equipment rentals. Contacts: Darren Callahan (404-615-7663), Austin Roberts (404-309-3880).
• Yancey (Yancey Bros. Co.)minorOthersEntertainment equipment vendor. Contact: Emma Pence (678-621-3652).
• EPTINGminorOthersCatering services. Contact: Ashley Epting (706-424-4548).
• Hanna BrothersminorOthersCatering services. Contact: Jim Hanna, Owner (504-920-7590).
• CortminorOthersOffice furniture rental. Contact: Robin Crick (678-909-0170).
• Tweed RecordingminorOthersRecording studio services. Contact: Andrew Ratcliffe (706-204-9144).
• Bulldog LimominorOthersLimousine services for productions. Contact: Matt Saar (678-661-0675).
• Roll off SystemsminorOthersWaste management services. Contact: Simon Garrett (770-725-7655).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sky Studios Elstree: Sky Studios Elstree is a purpose-built film and television studio campus near London operated by Sky/Comcast, offering 13+ sound stages with production support infrastructure. While UK-based, the comparable purpose-built design model and major-studio-targeted positioning make it a strong structural comparable for Athena's long-term trajectory.

Others

• Sohonet: Sohonet provides connectivity, data, and technology infrastructure for film and television productions—Athena's named IT partner. As an ecosystem enabler supplying the same productions Athena serves, Sohonet is a strategically adjacent peer touching the same customer base.
• Cinelease: Cinelease is a major provider of lighting, grip, and production equipment rentals serving film/TV productions. Named as a core partner to Athena, Cinelease is an ecosystem supplier serving the same production customers, making it a thematically adjacent peer.

Broad incumbents

• Cinespace Studios: Cinespace Studios operates large-scale film and television studio campuses in multiple cities (Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta-area), offering soundstage rental and full production support. Comparable business model of purpose-built multi-stage facilities serving film/TV productions.
• Tyler Perry Studios: Tyler Perry Studios operates a 330-acre fully integrated production facility in Atlanta, Georgia—the largest in the US at the time of build. While primarily vertically integrated with Tyler Perry's own productions, it also rents space externally and competes for major studio bookings in the same Georgia market as Athena.

Direct peers

• Blackhall Studios: Blackhall Studios is a full-service film and television production facility in Atlanta/Pine Lake, Georgia, featuring multiple sound stages, production offices, and support space. It competes directly with Athena for feature film and series bookings in the Atlanta metro region.
• EUE/Screen Gems Studios Atlanta: EUE/Screen Gems operates historic soundstage facilities in Atlanta (including the former Lakewood Fairgrounds complex) and is a long-standing destination for episodic television and feature film production. Comparable offering of multi-stage campuses with production offices and backlot in the same Georgia market as Athena.
• Assembly Atlanta: Assembly Atlanta is a large-scale purpose-built production studio complex in Atlanta, Georgia, developed with comparable infrastructure (multiple sound stages, backlot, production offices) targeting the same Hollywood-produced feature and series market Athena serves.
• Eastern Studios (Atlanta/Decatur): Eastern Studios (formerly known as the Atlanta Metro Studios complex) operates sound stages and production facilities in the Atlanta metro area. Comparable offering of column-free stages with production support services competing in the same Southeast film production market.
• Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta Studios): Trilith Studios is a 700+ acre film and television production campus in Fayetteville, Georgia, with 20+ sound stages, backlots, and full production support. It is the most established purpose-built Georgia studio and directly competes with Athena for Hollywood productions shooting in the Peach State.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/athena-studios-ga
• Xx.com/athenastudios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Athena Studios