Film Mode Entertainment

What Film Mode Entertainment does

Film Mode Entertainment is a privately held international film sales agent, production entity, and distribution company founded in May 2016 by Clay Epstein and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, with a satellite office in New York City. The company focuses exclusively on commercially driven feature films across all genres and budget sizes, representing projects at every stage of filmmaking — frequently taking Executive Producer positions — and distributing them via territorial sales across 16+ countries. Film Mode operates sub-brands and adjacent lines including DocMode (documentary label launched in 2017), the Film Mode Consulting Division (launched 2021), and an in-house distribution arm, and holds exclusive sales representation of Screen Media's catalogue of more than 600 titles.

The company's business model is primarily transaction-based: it earns commissions on worldwide film sales to territorial distributors (Vertical, Gravitas, Eagle Films, Lighthouse, Splendid, Bohemia, Cineverse, etc.), supplemented by co-production and co-financing economics — most notably through a $15 million, 10-title co-financing arrangement with Cineverse and Roundtable Entertainment financed by Banc of California and Budding Equity. Underlying technology is limited to operational tooling: FilmTrack is used to track incoming submissions and manage the contractual complexity of rights, territories, and durations. The company has no publicly disclosed API, no patents, and no proprietary platform beyond its sales workflow.

Film Mode's go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven. The firm maintains year-round physical presence at the three principal film markets — Cannes (May), European Film Market in Berlin (February), and American Film Market (November) — supported by earned media coverage in trade outlets (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Screen Daily) and an in-house PR firm (Lon Haber & Co). Customers are bifurcated: on the supply side, independent film producers and production partners seeking worldwide representation; on the demand side, theatrical, digital, and VOD distributors across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Pricing is opaque and negotiated per deal rather than standardized.

Name

Film Mode Entertainment

Legal name

Film Mode Entertainment

Website

https://filmmodeentertainment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Film Mode Entertainment is a Beverly Hills-based international film sales agent, production entity, and distributor representing commercially driven feature films worldwide, with a 600+ title catalogue partnership, sub-brands DocMode and a consulting division, and active presence at Cannes, EFM, and AFM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Sales and Distribution Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring (MPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC), Distribution Strategy & Release Planning (MPADAAAL), Theatrical Distribution (International) (MPADAJAB), Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ)

Keywords

• International film sales
• Film distribution
• Film production services
• Co-production financing
• Documentary sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Film Sales: Film Mode represents worldwide rights and sells films to distributors across international territories, earning commissions on transactions. The company represents projects at various stages of filmmaking, often as Executive Producer.
2. Co-Production: The company co-produces films with partners, contributing to production costs in exchange for distribution rights and sales representation.
3. Co-Financing Deals: Participates in co-financing arrangements such as the $15m 10-title co-financing deal between Cineverse and Roundtable Entertainment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Film Mode Entertainment operates as a worldwide film sales agent, production entity, and distribution company that represents commercially driven feature films of all genres and budget sizes. The company presents projects at major international film markets (Cannes, EFM Berlin, AFM), often serving as Executive Producer, and sells films to territorial distributors worldwide on a commission basis. It also co-produces and co-finances films, represents Screen Media's 600+ title catalogue, operates a documentary label (DocMode), and offers a consulting division for producers on financial models, marketing, and distribution strategy.

Product overview

Film Mode Entertainment is a film sales, production, and distribution company offering a unified portfolio of services. The core offering is worldwide film sales and distribution representation for commercially driven feature films across all genres. The company operates under several branded components: its main Film Mode Entertainment sales entity, the DocMode documentary label for documentaries, a consulting division launched in 2021 providing financial and distribution guidance to producers, a partnership with Screen Media representing over 600 titles, and its own distribution arm. The company represents films at all stages from development through distribution, often serving as Executive Producer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DocMode: Documentary label focusing on award-winning documentaries that impact the world

Products and services

• Film Mode Entertainment (International Film Sales)
• DocMode
• Film Mode Consulting Division
• Screen Media Catalogue Representation

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wonder StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner with Film Mode on action film Diablo. Wonder Street handles domestic distribution while Film Mode handles international sales.
• Screen MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm Mode accelerated growth through partnership with Screen Media, representing their catalogue of more than 600 titles including What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Monster.
• Roundtable EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner on All My Friends Are Dead, part of $15m 10-title co-financing deal with Cineverse. Film Mode handles international sales.
• CineversecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American distributor for All My Friends Are Dead. First partner in $15m 10-title co-financing deal with Roundtable Entertainment.
• SplendidminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGermany and Benelux distribution rights for All My Friends Are Dead.
• Eagle FilmsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMiddle East distribution rights for All My Friends Are Dead and Blue Light.
• Lon Haber & CominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublic relations firm representing Film Mode Entertainment with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle, Toronto, London, and Sydney.
• Green Dog Films/Agora EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partners on Dominique with Reigning Entertainment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Voltage Pictures: International sales, financing, and production company. Direct peer — same worldwide sales agent + co-production model as Film Mode, and listed as a prior employer of Film Mode sales consultant Adam Wright.
• Myriad Pictures: Independent film sales, financing, and production company. Direct peer operating the same international sales + co-production model with presence at all three major film markets.
• Bleiberg Entertainment: International sales, financing, and production company. Direct peer in the boutique worldwide sales agent space and prior employer of Film Mode acquisitions coordinator Henry Finer.
• Arclight Films: International sales, financing, and production company founded by Gary Hamilton. Direct peer to Film Mode — identical business model of acquiring world rights and selling to territorial distributors, and notably the prior employer of Film Mode's founder Clay Epstein.
• Screen Media Ventures: Acquisition, production, and worldwide distribution company that owns the 600+ title catalogue Film Mode represents. Direct peer and active commercial partner in Film Mode's distribution pipeline.
• Highland Film Group: International sales, financing, and distribution company. Direct peer to Film Mode — boutique worldwide sales agent focusing on commercial indie features at the major film markets.
• Film Bridge International: Worldwide sales agent and production company. Direct peer to Film Mode with parallel market presence at Cannes, Berlin, and AFM selling independent commercial features to territorial distributors.
• Lakeshore Entertainment: Independent film production, international sales, and distribution company. Direct peer operating the same commercial indie feature model with worldwide sales representation at Cannes/EFM/AFM.
• Hyde Park Entertainment: Independent film production, international sales, and distribution company. Direct peer in the commercial indie feature space with overlapping buyer relationships and market attendance.

Emerging players

• Cinetic Media: Film sales, financing, and strategy advisory firm. Comparable to Film Mode through its international sales and producer consulting services, though it leans more heavily into film finance advisory than direct distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/filmmodeentertainment.com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Film Mode Entertainment