What Ascent Media does

Ascent Media Group is a founder-controlled, private content and IP development company founded in 2017 by Fiona Mackenzie and headquartered in Santa Monica, with additional offices in New York City and London. The company develops and produces feature films, scripted television series, and digital content with an explicitly female-focused creative lens and an international (US-Europe) co-production orientation. Its released catalog includes 'Tell Me I Love You' (distributed by Vision Films on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Fandango), 'Bada Bing, Bada Boom', 'Cosa Bella' (Wolfe Films), 'Deadly Little Secrets' (ThinkFilm and Mainline Releasing), and 'Miracle on the Mountain' (CBS/Tristar). A development pipeline of 8+ projects is attached to talent from Succession, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Westworld, and The Walking Dead, including 'Warrior Queen' in active development at Paramount Pictures.

The company operates without a proprietary technology platform; its value creation is relationship-driven, anchored in the founder's 15+ years of executive experience at Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate, and in an advisory bench spanning brand partnerships (Joyce Chung), investor relations (James Morel), and music & talent relations (Marya Meyer). Revenue is generated through four streams: film and TV production deals and ownership stakes in produced IP (one-time licensing), distribution licensing royalties through domestic and international partners, professional services consulting to writers, actors, producers, financiers, and brands, and brand storytelling/integration engagements with corporate clients including HBO, Apple, Disney, Target, Royal Caribbean, Heineken, L'Oreal, HSBC, Absolut, and Delta.

The go-to-market motion is enterprise relationship-based: the company pursues development deals with major studios (Paramount, CBS/Tristar) and distributes through specialized film distributors and major digital platforms. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on a project-by-project basis. Financial risk in production is mitigated through location-based tax incentives, government subsidies, and pre-attached distribution partners. The company maintains a professional website, participates in film festivals (London New Renaissance, Williamsburg, Outfest, Madrid International, Miami, Hong Kong, St. Tropez, Southampton, Frameline, Newfest) for earned media, and has expanded into publishing with the founder's 2025 debut novel 'Murder In Pebble Beach'.

Name

Ascent Media

Legal name

Ascent Media Group

Website

https://ascentmedia.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Film and TV Production: Ascent Media develops and produces feature films and television content. Revenue is generated through production deals, development agreements with studios (e.g., 'Warrior Queen' in development at Paramount Pictures), and ownership stakes in produced content.
2. Consulting Services: The company provides consulting to entertainment clients including writers, actors, producers, film financiers, production companies and established brands. Services include script and concept development, brand strategy, budgets, trailers, and positioning decks for high-level IP integration.
3. Content Distribution Licensing: Produced content is distributed through domestic and international distribution networks. Films like 'Tell Me I Love You' are distributed by Vision Films across platforms including Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, and Fandango, generating licensing revenue.
4. Brand Integration and Storytelling: Ascent Media works with celebrities, athletes, global brands and corporate clients to craft film, TV and digital content with brand storytelling and early integration into IP. This creates co-production and sponsorship revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ascent Media is a content and IP development company that develops, produces, and distributes feature films, scripted television series, and digital platform content. It also delivers entertainment consulting services covering script and concept development, brand strategy, budgets, trailers, and positioning decks for writers, actors, producers, financiers, production companies, and global brands.

Product overview

Ascent Media Group is a content and IP development company that operates as a unified production studio, creating and distributing feature films, premium episodic TV, and digital platform content. The portfolio includes released titles such as Tell Me I Love You (romantic comedy distributed by Vision Films), Bada Bing Bada Boom (award-winning black comedy), Cosa Bella (award-winning drama), Deadly Little Secrets (action thriller), and Miracle on the Mountain (family drama), alongside development projects including Warrior Queen (at Paramount Pictures), Alpha Numeric (Interpol thriller), The Club (dynastic family saga), The Castle (gothic horror franchise), Cronos Inc (supernatural drama), Beautiful Lover (London fashion thriller), The Hike (Thailand thriller), and Crusader (futuristic action). The company also provides entertainment consulting services encompassing script development, brand strategy, budgets, trailers, and positioning decks for writers, actors, producers, film financiers, production companies, and established brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tell Me I Love You (Feature Film) A music-driven romantic comedy with an LGBT twist, written, directed, and produced by Fiona Mackenzie. Released on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Fandango, and other platforms via distribution partner Vision Films.
• Bada Bing, Bada Boom (Feature Film) Award-winning black comedy about a family of New York Mobsters featuring talent from Jack Ryan, The Sopranos, and The Good Wife, written, directed, and produced by Fiona Mackenzie.
• Cosa Bella (Feature Film) Award-winning drama featuring a love triangle between a New York designer and her college best friend, with talent from A Single Man, Iron Man 3, and Politician. Released by Wolfe Films.
• Deadly Little Secrets (Feature Film) Action thriller shot in Vancouver with talent from NCIS, Nip Tuck, and Melrose Place. Distributed by ThinkFilm and Mainline Releasing.
• Miracle on the Mountain (Feature Film) CBS/Tristar family drama/adventure shot in the mountains of Vancouver with talent from Knots Landing, Glee, and Family Guy.
• Entertainment Consulting Services Consulting services for entertainment clients including writers, actors, producers, film financiers, production companies, and brands. Support includes script and concept development, brand strategy, budgets, trailers, and positioning decks for high-level integration into new or existing IP.

Quantifiable outcome

• Feature film and scripted series in development with US and European production financiers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vision FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVision Films is the distribution partner for 'Tell Me I Love You', distributing the film on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Fandango and other major digital platforms globally.
• Paramount PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership for 'Warrior Queen' - an epic historical action feature with female lead, in active development at Paramount Pictures.
• Wolfe FilmsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWolfe Films released 'Cosa Bella' - the award-winning drama/love triangle film between a NY designer and her college best friend.
• ThinkFilm and Mainline ReleasingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThinkFilm and Mainline Releasing distributed 'Deadly Little Secrets' - an action thriller shot in Vancouver with talent from NCIS, Nip Tuck and Melrose Place.
• CBS/TristarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CBS/Tristar for 'Miracle on the Mountain' - a family drama/adventure shot in the mountains of Vancouver.
• Davis EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical relationship: Founder Fiona Mackenzie held an in-house producing deal at 20th Century Fox/Davis Entertainment prior to founding Ascent Media.
• Turman MorrisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical relationship: At Sony, Fiona Mackenzie was VP of Features and Television at Turman Morrison (producers of 'American History X', Oscar Nominee).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Participant Media: Independent media company producing film and TV content driven by mission-driven themes (social impact, female-led storytelling). Closely aligned with Ascent's stated female-focused creative lens and brand-storytelling work.
• Cross Creek Pictures: Independent film production company focused on mid-budget features with established financing relationships and studio distribution partnerships. Comparable in scale and structure to Ascent's indie production business.
• Roadside Attractions: Independent film distribution and production company specializing in specialty theatrical and VOD releases. Directly comparable to Ascent's indie distribution-and-production hybrid via Wolfe Films, ThinkFilm and Vision Films.
• Annapurna Pictures: Independent production and distribution company focused on distinctive, filmmaker-driven films and selective prestige titles. Comparable to Ascent's boutique creative positioning and reliance on studio/distribution partnerships.
• Neon: Independent film distribution and production company focused on festival-circuit and prestige releases. Comparable to Ascent's reliance on Vision Films, ThinkFilm and similar specialty distributors for theatrical/digital release.
• Blumhouse Productions: Independent producer of low-to-mid budget genre feature films with established distribution through Universal. Highly comparable to Ascent's project-based indie production approach with theatrical/streaming distribution partners.
• STX Entertainment: Independent studio producing and distributing mid-budget films, often with female- and youth-skewing content. Comparable business model and target distributor profile to Ascent's recent Vision Films partnerships.
• A24: Independent film production and distribution company known for auteur-driven, genre-bending and prestige feature films. Closely comparable to Ascent Media's indie production and global festival-driven distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate: Major studio where founder Fiona Mackenzie previously held a creative executive role. Represents the scale and competitive context Ascent operates in, and is also a listed brand-integration client on the company website.
• Skydance Media: Larger independent production company developing and producing film and TV across multiple genres, with established studio distribution deals. Comparable to Ascent's studio-development-deal model at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Ascent Media