NorthStar Studios
NorthStar Studios is a Virginia Beach-based documentary film production company that creates faith-based and historical documentaries for theatrical release and educational distribution, operating as the production arm of CBN and serving viewers of religious and biblical-themed content.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersVirginia Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What NorthStar Studios does
NorthStar Studios is a Virginia Beach-headquartered film production company founded in 2002 that creates documentary and docudrama films with faith-based, biblical, and historical themes. The company produces a portfolio of approximately a dozen titles released between 2013 and 2023, including In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem (2017, one of the highest-grossing documentaries of that year), I Am Patrick (4 Emmy nominations), The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel, Made in Israel, To Life, and the Oracles of God docuseries (2023). The company operates as the production arm of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), with Director Erin Zimmerman concurrently serving as Director of CBN Films for the past decade, and produces content spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with on-location filming in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt.
NorthStar generates revenue through one-time licensing arrangements including theatrical box office, broadcaster and streaming platform licensing, educational distribution, and direct-to-consumer sales via the company website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The leadership team is small (11-50 employees) and includes President Grant Barbre, Director Erin Zimmerman (four-time Emmy nominee, M.A. from Regent University), and writer/director/producer Jarrod Anderson (Emmy-nominated). The company has accumulated multiple Emmy nominations across 2014, 2016, and 2018, primarily in Outstanding Special Class Writing and Outstanding Special Class Series categories from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The company's competitive position rests on a specialized talent base with expertise in biblical archaeology, a content library of faith-based documentaries, and structural integration with CBN providing built-in distribution. Distribution channels include U.S. theatrical release and direct website sales, with operating geographies spanning the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. NorthStar's go-to-market is horizontal, targeting faith-based documentary viewers seeking inspirational and educational content, and its value proposition centers on professionally produced, theatrically released content addressing the limited supply of high-quality faith-based documentary entertainment.
NorthStar Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NorthStar Studios
- Legal name
- NorthStar Studios
- Website
- https://northstarstudios.tv
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NorthStar Studios is a Virginia Beach-based documentary film production company that creates faith-based and historical documentaries for theatrical release and educational distribution, operating as the production arm of CBN and serving viewers of religious and biblical-themed content.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NorthStar Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historical, Biographical & Archival Documentaries (MPADADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Religious Nonfiction & Theology Publishing (Apologetics, Doctrine, Ethics) (MPAJAHAG)
Keywords
Where NorthStar Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Virginia Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
NorthStar Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Film Production and Distribution: NorthStar Studios produces documentary and docudrama films for theatrical release and educational distribution. The company generates revenue through theatrical box office, licensing to broadcasters and streaming platforms, and educational sales. Films produced include biblical/historical documentaries such as Oracles of God, The Asbury Awakening, I Am Patrick, and In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem.
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
NorthStar Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NorthStar Studios produces documentary and docudrama films focused on faith-based, biblical, and historical subjects for theatrical release, educational distribution, and licensing to broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company develops inspirational stories from around the world, with on-location production across Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Europe, and the United States, including titles such as Oracles of God, I Am Patrick, and In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem.
Product overview
NorthStar Studios is a film production company that creates documentary and docudrama content. The company produces historical and biblical documentaries including feature-length films and series. Key productions include the Oracles of God series (biblical canonization), The Asbury Awakening, The CBN Story, Written in Stone Series, and historical docudramas such as I Am Patrick (starring John Rhys-Davies), In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem, and The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel. The portfolio spans films from 2013 to 2023, covering biblical archaeology, Christian history, and contemporary faith-based stories from locations including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Europe, and the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oracles of God: The Story of the Old Testament Docuseries following the creation and canonization of the Bible, shot on location in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Europe. Aimed at faith-based documentary viewers.
- The Asbury Awakening Documentary film produced by NorthStar Studios covering the Asbury Awakening event. Targeted at faith-based documentary viewers.
- The CBN Story Documentary chronicling the story of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network). Aimed at audiences interested in Christian broadcasting history.
- Written in Stone Series Documentary series produced by NorthStar Studios. Targeted at audiences interested in biblical archaeology and history.
- Outbreak Documentary film released in 2020 by NorthStar Studios. Targeted at faith-based documentary viewers.
- I Am Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland Docudrama starring John Rhys-Davies about Saint Patrick of Ireland. Received 4 Emmy nominations. Aimed at faith-based documentary viewers.
- Treasures of the Second Temple Documentary about biblical archaeology related to the Second Temple. Targeted at audiences interested in biblical archaeology.
- Christmas: The Story Behind the Traditions Documentary exploring the origins of Christmas traditions. Aimed at faith-based and seasonal documentary viewers.
- To Life: How Israeli Volunteers Are Changing the World Documentary about Israeli volunteers changing the world. Received Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Series. Aimed at faith-based and inspirational documentary viewers.
- In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem Docudrama about the Battle for Jerusalem. Debuted in U.S. theaters as one of the highest-grossing documentaries of 2017. Aimed at theatrical audiences and faith-based documentary viewers.
- The Hope: The Rebirth of Israel Docudrama about the rebirth of Israel. Received Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Writing. Aimed at faith-based documentary viewers interested in Israeli history.
- Made in Israel Documentary film released in September 2013, nominated for Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Writing. Aimed at faith-based documentary viewers.
- Pocahontas: Dove of Peace Animated documentary that received 2 Emmy nominations. Targeted at faith-based documentary viewers and family audiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem debuted as one of the highest-grossing documentaries of 2017
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use NorthStar Studios
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
NorthStar Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
NorthStar Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network)coreNorthStar Studios has a deep operational relationship with CBN. Director Erin Zimmerman spent four years at CBN News as a producer and has served as Director of CBN Films for the past decade. The company produces content for CBN including The CBN Story documentary (2021) and CBN's animated program Superbook, where Erin worked as producer, historical consultant and scriptwriter.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NorthStar Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Angel Studios: Independent faith/family film distributor (e.g., 'The Chosen', 'Sound of Freedom', 'Paws of Fury'). Directly comparable as a faith-aligned production/distribution entity targeting the same faith-content audience as NorthStar, with a much larger streaming and theatrical footprint.
- Pure Flix Entertainment: Pure Flix produces and distributes faith and family films and was the initial distributor of 'The Chosen'. Direct peer in faith-based film production and digital distribution, addressing the same faith-documentary viewer persona as NorthStar.
- Kendrick Brothers Productions: Stephen and Alex Kendrick produce faith-based films ('War Room', 'Courageous', 'Overcomer') for theatrical and church distribution. Direct peer in faith-content production targeting the same core audience as NorthStar's documentary slate.
- Focus on the Family ( theatrical/production arm): Faith-based nonprofit producing inspirational films, audio dramas, and curriculum media. Comparable in producing media targeted at evangelical/family audiences; a fellow faith-content producer with similar editorial perspective to NorthStar.
Broad incumbents
- Sony AFFIRM Films: Sony's faith/inspirational film label produces and acquires faith-themed theatrical films ('Heaven Is for Real', 'War Room' distribution). A broader incumbent in the same faith-content category as NorthStar but backed by a major studio.
- National Geographic Studios: Produces high-budget historical, archaeological, and documentary programming for broadcast and streaming (e.g., 'Genesis of a Genocide', 'Lost Cities with Albert Lin'). Comparable in historical/archaeological documentary production but with much larger budget and reach than NorthStar.
- PBS Distribution (doc/Indie Lens): Distributes independently produced documentaries for public-broadcast and streaming. Comparable as a documentary distribution channel relevant to NorthStar's library licensing.
Others
- It Is Written Ministries: Religious broadcasting and film ministry producing evangelistic video content including biblical/historical documentary series. Adjacent to NorthStar's religious documentary niche with overlapping target audiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NorthStar Studios social profiles
Digital presenceNorthStar Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NorthStar Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
NorthStar Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NorthStar Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NorthStar Studios
What does NorthStar Studios do?
NorthStar Studios produces documentary and docudrama films focused on faith-based, biblical, and historical subjects for theatrical release, educational distribution, and licensing to broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company develops inspirational stories from around the world, with on-location production across Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Europe, and the United States, including titles such as Oracles of God, I Am Patrick, and In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem.
Is NorthStar Studios a public or private company?
NorthStar Studios is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was NorthStar Studios founded?
NorthStar Studios was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NorthStar Studios based?
NorthStar Studios is headquartered in Virginia Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does NorthStar Studios make money?
One revenue line is on record: film Production and Distribution.
Who are NorthStar Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Angel Studios, Pure Flix Entertainment, Kendrick Brothers Productions and Focus on the Family ( theatrical/production arm). Broad incumbents are Sony AFFIRM Films, National Geographic Studios and PBS Distribution (doc/Indie Lens). It Is Written Ministries is listed as an others.
Does NorthStar Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for NorthStar Studios.
What industry is NorthStar Studios in?
NorthStar Studios's product category is Documentary Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAE, Historical, Biographical & Archival Documentaries, with a secondary code of MPAJAHAG, Religious Nonfiction & Theology Publishing (Apologetics, Doctrine, Ethics). Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.