Frameline
Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization founded in 1977 that runs the world's oldest and largest LGBTQ+ film festival, a dedicated 300+ title film distribution catalog, and filmmaker grant and restoration programs serving queer filmmakers, educational institutions, festivals, and the LGBTQ+ community globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Frameline does
Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization founded in 1977 that operates as an integrated platform for LGBTQ+ cinema across the full lifecycle — from artist development and funding, through exhibition and distribution, to preservation and restoration. Its core product is the annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, the longest-running and largest queer film festival in the world, drawing 50,000+ attendees and 600+ filmmakers, distributors, producers, and buyers over an 11-day program spanning San Francisco and Oakland. Complementing the festival, Frameline Distribution (established 1981) is the only nonprofit distributor solely dedicated to LGBTQ+ film, licensing a catalog of 300+ documentaries, shorts, features, and experimental works globally to universities, public libraries, other festivals, and community organizations across 50+ countries via theatrical bookings, educational sales, broadcast licensing, and on-demand streaming. Supporting programs include the Frameline Completion Fund (post-production grants of $1,000–$5,000 awarded to 203 projects totaling $717,500 since 1991), Frameline Restorations (film preservation), and year-round artist development and exhibition programming.
The organization's underlying technology consists of film exhibition, distribution, restoration, and preservation workflows rather than proprietary software products; no AI/ML systems, APIs, or technical integrations are disclosed. Revenue mechanics are diversified across transactional distribution licensing, festival ticket and pass sales, recurring memberships, charitable donations, and corporate sponsorships (with Comcast identified as a Major Sponsor). Customer segments span educational institutions, public libraries, other film festivals, LGBTQ+ community organizations, individual festival attendees and members, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers seeking funding and exhibition pathways. The business model is therefore a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack — earned income (distribution and festival), contributed income (memberships and donations), and corporate sponsorship — sustaining a year-round programming operation that extends well beyond the June festival window.
Frameline firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Frameline
- Legal name
- Frameline
- Website
- https://frameline.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization founded in 1977 that runs the world's oldest and largest LGBTQ+ film festival, a dedicated 300+ title film distribution catalog, and filmmaker grant and restoration programs serving queer filmmakers, educational institutions, festivals, and the LGBTQ+ community globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Frameline industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ+ Film Festival
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)
Keywords
Where Frameline is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Frameline business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Film Distribution Sales: Frameline Distribution generates revenue through sales and rentals of over 300 LGBTQ+ films to universities, public libraries, film festivals, and community organizations. Films are available for theatrical bookings, educational purchases, broadcast, and public exhibition. The collection includes documentaries, shorts, features, and experimental works.
- Film Festival Revenue: Annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival generates revenue through ticket sales, prestige passes, and festival-related events. The 11-day festival attracts 50,000+ attendees and 600+ industry professionals.
- Memberships and Donations: Frameline generates revenue through membership programs and charitable donations to support year-round work and queer media programs.
- Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorships support the festival and organizational operations, with Comcast noted as a Major Sponsor.
- Frameline Completion Fund Grants: Provides post-production grants to LGBTQ+ filmmakers. Since 1991, $717,500 has been awarded to 203 projects through the Completion Fund. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000, supporting final editing and lab work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Film Distribution Sales |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Frameline product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization that operates the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47), distributes LGBTQ+ films to educational institutions and consumers via streaming, restores and preserves queer cinema, and provides completion funding grants to LGBTQ+ filmmakers. The organization combines cultural advocacy with commercial distribution, serving audiences across consumer, institutional, and community channels.
Product overview
Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization operating as a platform of interconnected LGBTQ+ cinema programs. Its core products include the annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (the world's longest-running queer film festival) and Frameline Distribution (nonprofit LGBTQ+ film distribution with over 300 titles). Supporting modules include the Frameline Completion Fund (filmmaker grants), Frameline Restorations (film preservation), Artist Development programs, and Year-Round Exhibition events. Together these programs support the full lifecycle of queer film from artist development through exhibition, distribution, and preservation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Frameline Completion Fund: Program providing post-production grants to LGBTQ+ filmmakers since 1991
- Frameline Restorations
- Frameline Distribution
Products and services
- San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47)
- Frameline Distribution
- Frameline Completion Fund
- Film Restoration Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 203 films completed with $717,500 awarded through Completion Fund since 1991
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Frameline
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Frameline technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Frameline partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ComcastcoreComcast is a Major Sponsor of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, supporting Frameline's annual event and organizational mission. This sponsorship enables Frameline to continue its work in championing queer media and provides visibility for Comcast within the LGBTQ+ community.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Frameline competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NewFest: New York-based nonprofit organizer of NewFest (NYC's LGBTQ+ film festival) and year-round screening programs. Directly comparable mission, nonprofit structure, and LGBTQ+ festival/distribution model to Frameline.
- Wolfe Video: Long-running LGBTQ+ film distribution company offering theatrical, digital, and home-video releases. Closest direct peer in the LGBTQ+ distribution niche, though structured as a for-profit rather than nonprofit like Frameline Distribution.
- Iris Prize: Wales-based international LGBTQ+ short film prize and festival. Directly comparable LGBTQ+ film festival and Frameline is a named Partner Festival of Iris Prize, indicating direct ecosystem overlap.
- Outfest: Los Angeles-based nonprofit running the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival and year-round exhibition/distribution programs. Closest direct peer to Frameline with a comparable nonprofit-festival-plus-distribution model serving the same LGBTQ+ cinema market.
- Strand Releasing: Independent film distribution company with a long-standing specialty in LGBTQ+ and art-house cinema. Overlaps with Frameline Distribution's curatorial and customer-base profile in educational/institutional LGBTQ+ film licensing.
Regional players
- BFI Flare: London-based LGBTQ+ film festival operated by the BFI. Comparable curated LGBTQ+ film festival but operates within the BFI's broader public institution and primarily serves UK audiences.
- Inside Out: Toronto-based nonprofit running the Inside Out LGBTQ+ Film Festival and distributing LGBTQ+ films in Canada. Comparable LGBTQ+ festival/distribution model but primarily serves the Canadian market.
Broad incumbents
- Sundance Institute: Operates the Sundance Film Festival plus year-round artist labs and a distribution-support ecosystem. Overlaps with Frameline in festival operations and filmmaker grants, but operates as a broad-incumbent across all genres rather than LGBTQ+-focused.
- Tribeca Festival: Major New York-based film festival with curated programming, industry programming, and brand-sponsored events. Comparable in scale and operational sophistication but a broad-audience incumbent rather than a niche LGBTQ+ specialist.
Others
- Frameline Completion Fund applicants/alumni network (e.g., Sundance Institute Documentary Fund): Comparable nonprofit filmmaker grant-making bodies. Frameline's Completion Fund competes with and complements these adjacent funders in the same pool of LGBTQ+ and independent filmmaker applicants.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Frameline social profiles
Digital presenceFrameline financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Frameline leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Frameline funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frameline 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 Frameline
What does Frameline do?
Frameline is a San Francisco-based nonprofit media arts organization that operates the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47), distributes LGBTQ+ films to educational institutions and consumers via streaming, restores and preserves queer cinema, and provides completion funding grants to LGBTQ+ filmmakers. The organization combines cultural advocacy with commercial distribution, serving audiences across consumer, institutional, and community channels.
Is Frameline a public or private company?
Frameline is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Frameline founded?
Frameline was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Frameline based?
Frameline is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Frameline make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Film Distribution Sales are the primary driver. The others are film Festival Revenue, memberships and Donations, sponsorships and frameline Completion Fund Grants.
Who are Frameline's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NewFest, Wolfe Video, Iris Prize, Outfest and Strand Releasing. Regional players are BFI Flare and Inside Out. Broad incumbents are Sundance Institute and Tribeca Festival. Frameline Completion Fund applicants/alumni network (e.g., Sundance Institute Documentary Fund) is listed as an others.
Does Frameline have an API?
No public API is recorded for Frameline.
What industry is Frameline in?
Frameline's product category is LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAL, Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services. Its NAICS code is 51213 and its SIC code is 7830.