Bicephaly Pictures
Bicephaly Pictures is a New York-based boutique independent film production company founded in 2011 by writer/director Ani Simon-Kennedy and cinematographer Cailin Yatsko, producing feature films and episodic content for festival, theatrical, and VOD audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bicephaly Pictures does
Bicephaly Pictures is a boutique independent film production company founded in 2011 in New York by writer/director Ani Simon-Kennedy and cinematographer Cailin Yatsko, who met in Prague in 2010. The company produces distinctive feature films and, more recently, episodic and documentary content, typically set in international locations and built around original musical scores. Its released portfolio comprises two feature films: "Days of Gray" (2015), a silent dystopian film shot in Iceland with an original score by the Icelandic band Hjaltalin, and "The Short History of the Long Road" (2020), a road trip drama starring Sabrina Carpenter that premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and was distributed theatrically by FilmRise, rising to #2 at the U.S. box office. Both films have accumulated festival prizes (Best Emerging Narrative at Oaxaca, Generator 16+ Best Film at Giffoni, Tribeca Jury Mention for Best Screenplay, SCAD Best Performance, Icelandic Music Awards Album of the Year) and the screenplay for the second feature has been accepted into the Academy's library.
The company operates with a micro-team of 1–10 employees on a grant-supported, festival-driven production model with no disclosed institutional funding or external investors. Revenue is generated across three streams: (1) theatrical and VOD distribution licensing through FilmRise and a broad set of platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube Movies, Google Play, Peacock, Vudu, Vimeo on Demand, and Univerciné; (2) one-time festival prize awards; and (3) development and production grants from organizations such as Film Independent, Sundance Film Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Abelcine, and IFP Film Week. The go-to-market motion is event-driven: world premieres at top-tier festivals (Tribeca, Reykjavik, Giffoni, Göteborg, Oaxaca) build critical acclaim, which underwrites distribution deals and additional grant support. FilmRise is the single largest named commercial counterparty.
The company is currently in development on four upcoming projects that signal a pivot from pure feature filmmaking into broader formats and genres: "Ciao For Now!" (an episodic narrative series set in Sicily, developed through IFP Film Week's No Borders International Co-Production Market), "The Ninth Wave" (a sci-fi/fantasy feature), "Foragers" (a 10-episode documentary series about foraging culture), and "5 Years, 5 Months" (a romantic dramedy). Technology is limited to traditional cinematography and post-production workflows with no disclosed AI/ML capability, no patents, no proprietary platforms, and no software products.
Bicephaly Pictures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bicephaly Pictures
- Legal name
- Bicephaly Pictures
- Website
- https://bicephalypictures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bicephaly Pictures is a New York-based boutique independent film production company founded in 2011 by writer/director Ani Simon-Kennedy and cinematographer Cailin Yatsko, producing feature films and episodic content for festival, theatrical, and VOD audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bicephaly Pictures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Arts & Culture Documentaries (MPADADAI)
Keywords
Where Bicephaly Pictures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bicephaly Pictures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Film Distribution and Licensing: Revenue generated from theatrical releases, video-on-demand platforms, and licensing deals with streaming services. Films like 'The Short History of the Long Road' were released by FilmRise with theatrical distribution, while 'Days of Gray' is available across Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube Movies, Google Play, Vimeo on Demand, and Univerciné.
- Film Festival Revenue: Revenue generated through film festival screenings, awards, and associated grants and prizes. The company has won multiple festival awards including Best Emerging Narrative at Oaxaca Film Festival.
- Development and Production Grants: Funding received from film industry organizations and festivals for script development, production, and post-production. Supporters include Film Independent, Sundance Film Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, and various residency programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bicephaly Pictures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bicephaly Pictures is a boutique film production company that develops, produces, and distributes independent feature films and episodic content. The company creates original narrative and documentary projects for global audiences, releasing them through film festival premieres, theatrical distribution partners such as FilmRise, and video-on-demand platforms including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, and Google Play.
Product overview
Bicephaly Pictures is a boutique film production company founded in 2011 in New York by writer/director Ani Simon-Kennedy and cinematographer Cailin Yatsko. The company produces independent feature films and episodic content. Their portfolio includes two released feature films—Days of Gray (2015), a silent dystopian film shot in Iceland, and The Short History of the Long Road (2020), a road trip drama released by FilmRise—along with four upcoming projects in various stages of development: Ciao For Now! (episodic narrative), The Ninth Wave (sci-fi/fantasy feature), Foragers (documentary series), and 5 Years, 5 Months (romantic dramedy).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Days of Gray A silent feature film set in a dystopian future where language has been forgotten, following a boy who questions his masked society's rules and befriends an outsider. Shot in Iceland with an original score by seven-piece Icelandic band Hjaltalín and screened as a special ciné-concert with live performance. Targeted at independent film and arthouse audiences globally.
- The Short History of the Long Road A road-trip drama starring Sabrina Carpenter about a teenage girl whose transient life with her father is disrupted, leading her on a journey across New Mexico to find her mother she never knew. Co-stars Steven Ogg, Maggie Siff, and Danny Trejo. Targeted at mainstream cinema audiences seeking quality independent family-drama/coming-of-age content.
Quantifiable outcome
- Screened at 5+ major international film festivals
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bicephaly Pictures
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bicephaly Pictures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bicephaly Pictures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Film IndependentcoreFilm Independent provides support including screenwriting lab programs and grants for independent filmmakers. Bicephaly Pictures was accepted into Film Independent's Screenwriting Lab in 2015.
- Sundance Film InstitutecoreSundance Film Institute provides editing residency and development support. The Short History of the Long Road received an Editing Residency from Sundance in 2018.
- Tribeca Film InstitutecoreTribeca Film Institute supports independent filmmakers through programs and grants. Bicephaly Pictures was a Tribeca All Access grantee in 2017.
- The GothamminorThe Gotham provides support and recognition for independent film projects.
- Half InitiativeminorHalf Initiative supports independent filmmakers and projects.
- Yaddo ResidencyminorYaddo provides artist residency programs for creative development.
- Condé NastminorCollaborator in creative projects with Condé Nast.
- VICE MediaminorCollaborator in creative projects with VICE Media.
- Girvin PicturesminorCreative collaboration with Girvin Pictures on film projects.
- Loveless MediaminorCreative collaboration with Loveless Media on film projects.
- Culture.HouseminorCollaborator in creative projects with Culture.House.
- Viva MaudeminorCollaborator in creative projects with Viva Maude.
- ARRAY CrewminorNetwork connection with ARRAY Crew for crew sourcing and professional connections.
- CinematographersXXminorNetwork connection with CinematographersXX for professional cinematography network.
- Free The WorkminorNetwork connection with Free The Work for crew and talent sourcing.
- Film FatalesminorNetwork connection with Film Fatales for professional filmmaking community.
- International Collective of Female CinematographersminorNetwork connection with International Collective of Female Cinematographers.
- FilmRisecoreFilmRise distributed 'The Short History of the Long Road' theatrically and across platforms. The film rose to #2 at the box office under FilmRise distribution.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bicephaly Pictures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bleecker Street: Bleecker Street is an independent film distribution and production company focused on quality, character-driven films with both theatrical and streaming releases. Comparable in business model to Bicephaly Pictures but at greater scale and broader slate.
- Searchlight Pictures: Searchlight Pictures (formerly Fox Searchlight) is a major specialty film label producing and distributing independent-leaning, festival-targeted features. Comparable in pursuing festival prestige to commercial crossover for distinctive narrative films.
- Neon: Neon is a US independent film production and distribution company known for distinctive, festival-winning films and major VOD distribution. It is comparable to Bicephaly Pictures as a producer of art-leaning narrative features targeting festival and streaming audiences.
- A24: A24 is a leading independent film and production company that produces distinctive, art-leaning films targeting festival prestige and awards. While vastly larger and broader in scope, A24 competes in the same indie feature film category and pursues similar festival-to-platform distribution strategies.
- IFC Films: IFC Films is an independent film distributor and producer handling narrative features and documentaries with VOD-centric release strategies. Comparable to Bicephaly Pictures as a buyer/distributor of indie films and producer of specialty content.
- Magnolia Pictures: Magnolia Pictures is an independent film distribution and production company handling documentary, narrative, and episodic content with a focus on distinctive VOD-friendly films. Directly comparable as a boutique indie film producer-distributor.
Direct peers
- Killer Films: Killer Films is a long-running independent production company known for distinctive narrative features, festival success, and platform distribution. Comparable as a boutique indie producer of auteur-driven, festival-targeted features.
- Annapurna Pictures: Annapurna Pictures is a US independent production company producing distinctive narrative features and is comparable to Bicephaly as a boutique producer of auteur-driven projects for theatrical and streaming release.
- FilmRise: FilmRise is both Bicephaly's theatrical distribution partner and a producer/distributor of independent films. They operate in the same indie film acquisition, production, and distribution space, with overlapping relationships to filmmakers and VOD platforms.
- Oscilloscope Laboratories: Oscilloscope Laboratories is a small independent film distribution and production company focused on art-house and documentary features. Closely comparable in scale and approach to Bicephaly Pictures as a boutique indie film company.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bicephaly Pictures social profiles
Digital presenceBicephaly Pictures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bicephaly Pictures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bicephaly Pictures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bicephaly Pictures 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 Bicephaly Pictures
What does Bicephaly Pictures do?
Bicephaly Pictures is a boutique film production company that develops, produces, and distributes independent feature films and episodic content. The company creates original narrative and documentary projects for global audiences, releasing them through film festival premieres, theatrical distribution partners such as FilmRise, and video-on-demand platforms including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, and Google Play.
Is Bicephaly Pictures a public or private company?
Bicephaly Pictures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bicephaly Pictures founded?
Bicephaly Pictures was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bicephaly Pictures based?
Bicephaly Pictures is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bicephaly Pictures make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Film Distribution and Licensing is the primary driver. The others are film Festival Revenue and development and Production Grants.
Who are Bicephaly Pictures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bleecker Street, Searchlight Pictures, Neon, A24, IFC Films and Magnolia Pictures. Direct peers are Killer Films, Annapurna Pictures, FilmRise and Oscilloscope Laboratories.
Does Bicephaly Pictures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bicephaly Pictures.
What industry is Bicephaly Pictures in?
Bicephaly Pictures's product category is Independent Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAB, Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming), with a secondary code of MPADADAI, Arts & Culture Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.