See-Saw Films

What See-Saw Films does

See-Saw Films is a London and Sydney-based independent film and television production company founded in 2008 by co-founders Emile Sherman and Iain Canning. The company produces premium feature films and television series for global streaming platforms and theatrical distributors, with a portfolio that includes the Apple TV+ spy drama Slow Horses (starring Gary Oldman), Netflix's Heartstopper franchise (with the Heartstopper Forever finale feature premiering July 2025), the Apple Original Films feature TENZING (theatrical release October 9, 2026, Apple TV premiere October 16, 2026), the Royal Television Society award-winning limited series Adolescence, and the in-development Lovejoy reboot. See-Saw operates under a filmmaker-driven model that prioritizes creative autonomy and quality over volume, and secures revenue primarily through one-time license deals with streaming buyers and theatrical distributors, supplemented by slate-based equity financing.

The company's business model combines traditional production fees and distribution licensing with newer slate-financing structures. In May 2025, See-Saw entered a multi-year strategic slate production financing partnership with Paris-based Entourage Ventures for up to US$50 million in equity across a three-year feature film slate, reducing reliance on conventional pre-sales financing and enabling faster greenlight decisions. In 2025, See-Saw also became part of the Mediawan Group, a European independent studio controlling approximately 80 companies and producing 400+ titles annually with $1.2 billion in box office revenue; See-Saw operates under a federated model maintaining creative autonomy while receiving financial infrastructure, co-financing capability, and IP support from the parent.

Operationally, See-Saw is a focused organization of 11–50 employees with offices in London (headquarters) and Sydney. Its customer base is concentrated among a small number of premium global streaming platforms — principally Apple TV+ and Netflix — each engaged in flagship, multi-year co-production relationships. The company maintains active IP acquisition (notably the Lovejoy book rights in 2026) and a forward pipeline of tentpole productions, but faces concentration risk tied to a narrow set of distribution partners and creative-talent attrition (e.g., the departure of senior producer Patrick Walters to A24).

Name

See-Saw Films

Legal name

See-Saw Films

Website

https://see-saw-films.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

See-Saw Films is a London and Sydney-based independent film and television production company, founded in 2008, producing premium feature films and series for global streaming platforms including Apple TV+ (Slow Horses, TENZING) and Netflix (Heartstopper). It operates as part of Mediawan Group with a filmmaker-driven creative model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Production Accounting & Business Affairs (Accounting, Legal Clearances) (MPADAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

True Crime Documentaries (MPADADAN)

Keywords

• Feature film production
• Television series production
• Streaming content production
• Independent film studio
• Production financing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Feature Film Production: See-Saw Films produces feature films for theatrical and streaming distribution, generating revenue through pre-sales, production financing, and distribution deals with streaming platforms and theatrical distributors.
2. Slate Production Financing: The company secures multi-year equity financing partnerships (such as the Entourage Ventures deal) to fund a slate of future feature films, reducing reliance on traditional pre-sales financing.

Distribution channels3 records

Core offering

See-Saw Films is an independent film and television production company that develops, finances, and produces feature films and TV series for premium streaming platforms (Apple TV+, Netflix) and theatrical distributors. The company operates a filmmaker-driven model, packaging projects with creative talent and supplying finished content to global buyers through licensing, co-production, and slate financing arrangements.

Product overview

See-Saw Films is a film and television production company operating as part of the Mediawan Group. The company produces a portfolio of feature films and television series for major streaming platforms and traditional distributors. Key productions include TENZING (Apple Original Films), Heartstopper Forever (Netflix), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), the Lovejoy reboot, and Adolescence (limited series). The company operates under a federated model with creative autonomy while leveraging Mediawan Group's financial infrastructure, co-financing, and IP support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TENZING Feature film co-produced with Apple Original Films about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's 1953 Everest summit, reframing the historic expedition from Tenzing's perspective. Produced for global theatrical release and Apple TV+ streaming distribution.
• Heartstopper Forever Finale feature film of the Netflix Heartstopper series, adapted from Alice Oseman's comic books, following Nick and Charlie's relationship challenges as Nick prepares for university. Produced for Netflix distribution.
• Slow Horses Apple TV+ spy drama series following the Slough House team of MI5 washouts, based on Mick Herron's book series, starring Gary Oldman. Produced as an ongoing series for Apple TV+ streaming distribution.
• Lovejoy Reboot Reboot of the classic British detective series Lovejoy, with See-Saw Films having acquired the underlying book rights to develop the project.
• Adolescence Award-winning limited series produced by See-Saw Films that won four prizes at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards, including Best Limited Series.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.

• Apple Original FilmsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Original Films is co-producing 'TENZING' with See-Saw Films, a feature film about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's 1953 Everest summit. The film is directed by Jennifer Peedom, starring Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing and Tom Hiddleston as Hillary, scheduled for theatrical release October 9, 2026 and Apple TV premiere October 16, 2026.
• NetflixflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix is distributing 'Heartstopper Forever,' the finale feature film of Netflix's Heartstopper series produced by See-Saw Films. The film follows Nick and Charlie as they confront long-distance relationship pressures. Premiered July 17.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A24: US-headquartered independent film and TV studio known for auteur-driven prestige projects (Moonlight, Everything Everywhere All at Once). Directly comparable to See-Saw by virtue of overlapping premium streaming relationships (Apple, Netflix) and recent talent crossover (Patrick Walters moving from See-Saw to A24's UK team).
• Working Title Films: Long-established London-based film and TV production company (Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday) producing premium content for studios and streamers. Directly comparable to See-Saw as a UK indie with global theatrical/streaming ambitions and filmmaker-first positioning.
• Bad Wolf: UK production company producing premium drama (His Dark Materials, Industry, The Nevers, Doctor Who) for HBO, BBC, and streamers. Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered indie supplier of prestige long-form content to Apple TV+, HBO, and Netflix.
• Sister Pictures: London-based production company behind Chernobyl, The Split, and Giri/Haji. Comparable to See-Saw as a UK premium content producer focused on creative-driven limited series and feature work for streamers and broadcasters.
• Heyday Films: David Heyman's UK production company (Harry Potter series, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Comparable to See-Saw as a UK-based indie with global theatrical reach and recurring relationships with major streamers and studios.
• Blueprint Pictures: UK indie production company (Three Billboards, 1917) producing premium film and TV for studios and streamers. Directly comparable to See-Saw by scale, geography, and auteur-focused strategy targeting Apple/Netflix-class buyers.
• DNA Films: London-based indie production company (28 Days Later, Ex Machina, Annihilation) producing theatrical features and streamer series. Comparable as a similarly-sized UK indie with feature-led output and streaming relationships.
• Warp Films: UK indie production banner (Four Lions, This Is England, The Last片) producing filmmaker-driven features and TV. Comparable to See-Saw by virtue of shared auteur-first positioning, UK base, and premium streaming ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• StudioCanal: European integrated film-studio and production-distribution group owned by Canal+. Comparable to See-Saw as a European-centered premium content producer and rights holder with Apple/Amazon-class streamer relationships, though larger and more diversified.
• Film4: Channel 4's UK film arm commissioning and co-producing theatrical and streaming features. Broad incumbent in the same UK premium-content ecosystem as See-Saw, frequently co-financing projects with similar indie producers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/see_saw_films
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 See-Saw Films