First Run Features
First Run Features is a New York-based independent documentary film distributor founded in 1979, curating a catalog of 400+ films distributed across theatrical, DVD/VOD, and educational licensing channels to schools, universities, libraries, theaters, and consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What First Run Features does
First Run Features is a privately held independent documentary film distribution company founded in 1979 and headquartered in the Film Center Building in midtown Manhattan, New York City. The company acquires, curates, and distributes a catalog of over 400 documentary films spanning political science, human rights, history, science, music, arts, and social justice subjects. Its product surface is content-based — individual documentary titles distributed across theatrical, home video (DVD/Blu-ray), video-on-demand, and educational/non-theatrical channels. There is no proprietary technology platform; the company operates as a traditional content distributor, relying on third-party streaming and retail infrastructure (Vimeo On Demand, Tubi, Apple/iTunes, Amazon, Kanopy, 1stLook, Docuseek, Films Media Group) for digital delivery and on independent art-house theaters for theatrical exhibition.
The company's revenue mechanics are multi-stream and primarily transactional or license-based. Educational/non-theatrical licensing is the core commercial engine: institutional DVDs (priced $95-$295+ per title depending on the film) grant life-of-disc classroom screening rights, and Digital Site Licenses (DSLs) permit institutional streaming at $395 for short titles and $495 for features under a "Life of File Format" term. Consumer revenue comes from retail DVD sales (regular pricing, with $5 and $10 discount tiers), VOD rental/purchase through Vimeo/Apple/Amazon, and ad-supported streaming on Tubi. Public screening rentals and theatrical/virtual cinema runs at partner venues provide additional transactional revenue. Go-to-market is sales-led for the educational segment (a dedicated edsales team at 212-243-0600 ext. 20 reachable by phone, fax, email, and purchase order) and channel-partner-led for streaming/retail reach.
The company serves three primary customer segments: educational institutions (schools, school districts, universities, colleges, libraries, government agencies, and corporations purchasing content for classroom and training use — the primary revenue segment); film exhibitors and theaters (independent cinemas and film societies screening documentaries theatrically or via virtual cinema); and individual consumers (general documentary audiences purchasing DVDs or accessing content via VOD and free ad-supported streaming). Key strategic partnerships include Human Rights Watch (since 2004, a flagship content collaboration), Documentary Arts (ongoing co-distribution relationship), and Empire Pictures (exclusive DVD distribution since 2007). The catalog includes award-winning and award-shortlisted titles such as Bellingcat: Truth in a Post-Truth World (International Emmy winner), Dark Circle (1983 Sundance Grand Jury Prize), The Take (AFI Grand Jury Prize), They Killed Sister Dorothy (SXSW Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award), and Mugabe and the White African (Oscar shortlist).
First Run Features firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Run Features
- Legal name
- First Run Features
- Website
- https://firstrunfeatures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- First Run Features is a New York-based independent documentary film distributor founded in 1979, curating a catalog of 400+ films distributed across theatrical, DVD/VOD, and educational licensing channels to schools, universities, libraries, theaters, and consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Run Features industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distribution Rights & Windowing Management (Theatrical/TV/Streaming/Home) (MPADALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transactional VOD Distribution (TVOD) (MPADAJAF), Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG), Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA)
Keywords
Where First Run Features is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Run Features business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Theatrical Distribution: First-run feature documentary releases screened in theaters, including virtual cinema releases at partner film theaters and venues across the US.
- Educational DVD Sales: Institutional DVDs licensed with classroom screening rights for the life of the disc. DVDs are sold directly to schools, universities, government agencies, and corporations. Revenue is one-time per unit plus license fee.
- Educational Streaming Licenses: Digital Site Licenses (DSL) for institutional streaming on password-protected servers, plus availability on third-party platforms Kanopy and 1stLook. DSLs priced at $495 for features, $395 for titles 60 minutes or less, covering 'Life of File Format' terms.
- Public Screening Rentals: Rental of DCP, DVD, Blu-ray, or print for public screenings outside scheduled classes. Contact-based rental pricing for events with audience size and format details.
- Home Video / VOD Sales: DVD and digital VOD sales through Vimeo On Demand, Apple/iTunes, Amazon, and Tubi streaming platform. Catalog of over 400 films available on DVD and on demand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Institutional DVD Purchase (Life of Disc License) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Digital Site License (DSL) - Institutional Streaming |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | High Schools & Non-Profits Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer / Retail DVDs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Streaming via Third-Party Platforms |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
First Run Features product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Run Features is an independent documentary film distribution company founded in 1979 by a group of filmmakers. The company distributes over 400 documentary titles via theatrical release at partner cinemas, physical DVD/Blu-ray retail, institutional Digital Site License (DSL) streaming for educational and corporate buyers, and consumer VOD on platforms including Vimeo, Kanopy, Tubi, Apple/iTunes, and Amazon.
Product overview
First Run Features is a documentary film distribution company that distributes over 400 films across multiple platforms including theatrical releases, home video/DVD sales, educational/non-theatrical licensing, and streaming services. The company's core products are documentary films organized by subject categories (Political Science, Media Studies, Performance, World War II, Human Rights, Music, Justice, and more). Distribution channels include direct-to-consumer sales, institutional educational licensing, and partnerships with streaming platforms like Vimeo, Tubi, Kanopy, and Amazon.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Educational / Non-Theatrical Distribution Distribution service providing institutional DVDs and Digital Site License (DSL) streaming licenses to government agencies, school districts, universities, corporations, and libraries for classroom screening and instructional use. Includes life-of-disc institutional DVD rights, password-protected server streaming rights, and public screening rental of DCP/DVD/Blu-ray/print.
- Home Video / VOD Distribution Direct-to-consumer DVD sales via the company's online store plus digital rental and purchase through Vimeo On Demand, Apple/iTunes, and Amazon. Provides consumer access to over 400 catalog titles with options including regular retail pricing, DVDs under $5, DVDs under $10, and box sets.
- Theatrical & Virtual Cinema Distribution Theatrical release of documentary films in partnership with art-house cinemas and film societies across the US, plus virtual cinema screenings through venues such as Laemmle's Monica LA, Rafael Film Center, Music Box Theatre Chicago, and Tallahassee Film Society.
- Hilleman: A Perilous Quest to Save the World's Children Documentary chronicling Maurice Hilleman's vaccine innovation work and its impact on preventing childhood diseases. Educational interests: Adolescence, Biographies/Profiles, Business, History (U.S.), HIV/AIDS, Medicine, Science, Technology. Institutional DVD price: $295.
- Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman Documentary chronicling the rise, fall, and resurrection of Gustav Stickley, father of the American Arts and Crafts movement, told through interviews, archival materials, and an examination of his iconic works.
- Bellingcat: Truth in a Post-Truth World International Emmy Award-winning documentary following the rise of Bellingcat, the citizen investigative collective using open-source investigation to expose truth.
- Algren Documentary exploring the life and works of Nelson Algren, the post-war American author who won the first-ever National Book Award.
- Ballerina Documentary portrait of five Russian ballerinas from the Mariinsky Theatre, capturing the sublime beauty of ballet.
- Albert Einstein: Still a Revolutionary Documentary exploring Albert Einstein's role as an outspoken social and political activist beyond his scientific achievements.
- The Take Documentary following 30 unemployed auto-parts workers who occupy their idle factory in Buenos Aires during Argentina's economic collapse. Multiple festival award winner.
- Empire Pictures DVD Collection Exclusive DVD distribution of the Empire Pictures catalog, including provocative and celebrated foreign films such as the Oscar-nominated The Twilight Samurai and best-selling Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.
- When the Drum Is Beating Documentary chronicling six decades of Haitian band Septentrional and Haiti's turbulent history through music.
- The Trials of Henry Kissinger Documentary exploring Henry Kissinger's controversial career using previously unseen footage and declassified documents.
- The Top Secret Trial of the Third Reich Documentary revealing the true story of the assassination attempt on Hitler's life through authentic trial footage.
- Without the King Documentary about Africa's last absolute monarchy, the Kingdom of Swaziland, capturing the birth of a nation's revolution.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 400 documentary films available across DVD, VOD, and streaming platforms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Run Features
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Run Features technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
First Run Features partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Empire PicturescoreIn 2007, First Run Features became the exclusive distributor of the Empire Pictures DVD Collection. Empire Pictures, founded by Edmondo Schwartz and Ed Arentz in 2000, built a reputation as a home for provocative and celebrated foreign films including the Oscar-nominated The Twilight Samurai and best-selling Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.
- Human Rights WatchflagshipFirst Run Features and Human Rights Watch launched a collaboration in 2004 to bring films dealing with human rights issues to wider audiences. Human Rights Watch's International Film Festival endorses select First Run Features titles, validating their content quality and social significance.
- KanopycoreKanopy is a primary educational streaming platform partner for First Run Features. Many First Run Features titles are available for streaming through Kanopy, which serves universities, colleges, and libraries globally. This is a key channel for reaching institutional customers in the educational segment.
- 1stLookminorSeveral First Run Features titles are available for 1-year, 3-year, or Life of File purchase on 1stLook, an institutional streaming platform. Provides additional educational streaming access options for institutional customers.
- DocuseekminorDocuseek is an educational streaming platform carrying select First Run Features titles, expanding institutional reach beyond direct sales.
- Films Media GroupminorFilms Media Group distributes select First Run Features titles through its educational media distribution network serving schools and libraries.
- TubiminorTubi, an ad-supported free streaming platform, carries select First Run Features documentary titles (Jane's Journey, Googoosh: Iran's Daughter, Welcome to Leith), providing free ad-supported viewing to consumers.
- VimeocoreVimeo serves as the primary VOD platform for First Run Features, hosting trailers and making over 400 films available on Vimeo On Demand. Also used for virtual cinema screening distribution.
- Documentary ArtscoreFirst Run Features is an ongoing partner in releasing films from Documentary Arts, a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by Alan Govenar to present new perspectives on historical issues and diverse cultures. Documentary Arts is based in Dallas, Texas and New York City.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Run Features competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PBS Distribution: Large-scale educational and consumer documentary distributor tied to PBS programming — competes with FRF for institutional streaming shelf space and represents the scaled incumbent in educational documentary distribution.
- IFC Films: AMC Networks-owned indie distributor with significantly larger catalog and broader narrative/documentary mix — competes with FRF for theatrical slots and filmmaker deals but at much greater scale.
- Criterion Collection: Premium home-video distributor of classic and arthouse films with strong educational and collector channels — overlaps with FRF's home video/educational mission but at a higher price point and broader scope.
Direct peers
- Oscilloscope Laboratories: Independent film distributor founded by Adam Yauch focused on documentaries and narrative films with theatrical and home-video release strategies — directly comparable independent distributor.
- Strand Releasing: Independent distributor of arthouse and documentary films with theatrical and home-video channels. Comparable niche positioning and customer overlap with FRF in the art-house ecosystem.
- Kino Lorber: Independent film distributor specializing in arthouse, classic, and documentary releases with educational and home-video channels. Most directly comparable peer to First Run Features by mission, scale, and customer mix.
- Magnolia Pictures: Independent film distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Company with theatrical, VOD, and home video across documentary and narrative — overlaps with FRF in documentary theatrical and home video, though larger and broader.
- Abramorama: Specializes in documentary theatrical distribution and event cinema in the US — comparable operating model for the theatrical leg of FRF's documentary releases.
- Zeitgeist Films: NYC-based independent distributor of foreign and documentary films with theatrical, home video, and educational distribution — close functional match to FRF's core activities.
Others
- Docuseek: Educational streaming platform aggregating documentary content from independent distributors including FRF — both a channel partner and a comparable operator in the educational documentary streaming space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Run Features social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Run Features financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Run Features leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
First Run Features funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Run Features 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 First Run Features
What does First Run Features do?
First Run Features is an independent documentary film distribution company founded in 1979 by a group of filmmakers. The company distributes over 400 documentary titles via theatrical release at partner cinemas, physical DVD/Blu-ray retail, institutional Digital Site License (DSL) streaming for educational and corporate buyers, and consumer VOD on platforms including Vimeo, Kanopy, Tubi, Apple/iTunes, and Amazon.
Is First Run Features a public or private company?
First Run Features is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was First Run Features founded?
First Run Features was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Run Features based?
First Run Features is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Run Features make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Distribution is the primary driver. The others are educational DVD Sales, educational Streaming Licenses, public Screening Rentals and home Video / VOD Sales.
Who are First Run Features's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PBS Distribution, IFC Films and Criterion Collection. Direct peers are Oscilloscope Laboratories, Strand Releasing, Kino Lorber, Magnolia Pictures, Abramorama and Zeitgeist Films. Docuseek is listed as an others.
Does First Run Features have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Run Features.
What industry is First Run Features in?
First Run Features's product category is Independent Film Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADALAG, Distribution Rights & Windowing Management (Theatrical/TV/Streaming/Home), with a secondary code of MPADAJAF, Transactional VOD Distribution (TVOD). Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.