Show&Tell Films
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Show&Tell Films does
Show&Tell Films is a privately held Los Angeles-based company that operates a training, coaching, and virtual screening platform for independent documentary filmmakers. Founded in 2012 by Keith Ochwat (a documentary filmmaker whose 'Age of Champions' generated over $1.5M) and co-founded by Robert A. Compton in 2013, the company has developed the proprietary 'Show&Tell Method,' which combines Wide Release (PBS broadcast, VOD) with Targeted Release (partner-driven distribution through companies, nonprofits, and conferences) as an alternative to traditional streaming/distribution deals.
The company's core product is the Show&Tell Pro annual membership ($500/year) providing access to 200+ video guides, 2-3 monthly webinars (live and recorded), a private Facebook community of 500+ filmmakers, and bundled access to the Kinema virtual screening platform ($270 value). A premium application-based tier (The Circle) offers one-on-one consulting with the founder to a maximum of 5 filmmakers at a time. Additional revenue streams include a $1,500 Pitch Kit service (custom pitch decks, partner contacts, email templates), à la carte guide purchases, and a 15% transaction fee on virtual events processed through the Kinema partnership. Technology infrastructure relies on Teachable for course delivery, Stripe for payments (2.9% + $0.30/transaction), MailChimp for email marketing, and Facebook for community.
The business is bootstrapped with no external funding, employs approximately 5 people, and claims to have facilitated 85+ national PBS broadcasts and helped member filmmakers collectively raise $4-12 million. Customers are independent documentary filmmakers globally, with named case studies including Jen Tennican ($165,000 raised), Ward Serrill ($100,000+), and Dana Croschere ($200,000 in 6 months). Distribution is fully digital and self-serve via the Teachable platform, with application-based screening for premium tiers.
Show&Tell Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Show&Tell Films
- Legal name
- Show & Tell Films, LLC
- Website
- https://showandtell.film
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Show&Tell Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film Education and Distribution Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)
Keywords
Where Show&Tell Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Show&Tell Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Show&Tell Pro Annual Membership: Annual subscription providing unlimited access to all coaching content including live/recorded webinars, private Facebook community, 200+ video lessons, downloadable templates/tools, and Kinema virtual screening platform access ($270 value). Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled. Priced at $500/year.
- Pitch Kit Service: One-time paid service ($1,500) providing custom-built fundraising materials: 1 custom pitch deck (PDF-style, branded, editable Canva file), 3 target audience identifications, 25 partner contacts (emails/phone numbers), and 5 email templates for cold outreach. Handpicked filmmakers due to limited capacity.
- Virtual Event Revenue Share: Show&Tell charges 15% of gross revenue from virtual events processed through their platform, in addition to Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Filmmakers keep remainder of ticket sales, donations, and sponsorship fees collected through their virtual events.
- À la Carte Guide Sales: One-time fee purchases of individual guides for filmmakers not ready for full subscription. Includes 'Ultimate PBS Guide' and 'Essential Fundraising Guide' sold through Teachable platform with lifetime access upon enrollment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Show&Tell Pro Annual Membership - Full access to all coaching, community, and tools |
| Other | Annual | Show&Tell Circle - Exclusive in-depth support limited to 5 filmmakers at a time |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pitch Kit - Custom fundraising materials package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Guide Purchases - À la carte video guides |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Show&Tell Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Show&Tell Films is an education, coaching, and distribution services company that teaches independent documentary filmmakers how to raise funds and reach audiences outside traditional Hollywood/streaming models. Its flagship is Show&Tell Pro, an annual membership that unlocks 200+ video guides, live and recorded webinars, a private filmmaker community, and bundled access to the Kinema virtual screening platform. Premium tiers (The Circle) and paid services (The Pitch Kit, Distribution Services) deliver hands-on strategy and execution support.
Product overview
Show&Tell Films offers a multi-tiered platform for documentary filmmakers focused on fundraising and distribution. The core offering is Show&Tell Pro, an annual membership providing 200+ video guides, live coaching webinars, and a filmmaker community. This is augmented by The Circle, an exclusive premium tier offering one-on-one consulting with founder Keith Ochwat, and The Pitch Kit, a paid service delivering custom pitch materials. The company also provides standalone distribution services and free educational resources. Products are accessible via the Teachable platform for courses and Kinema for virtual screening events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Show&Tell Pro Annual membership subscription ($500/year) giving documentary filmmakers access to 200+ video guides on demand, member-exclusive live webinars (2-3 per month), a private filmmaker community, downloadable templates/tools, and bundled Kinema virtual screening platform access. Auto-renews annually with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The Show&Tell Circle Application-based premium support program limited to 5 filmmakers at a time. Includes monthly strategic consulting with founder Keith Ochwat, a Fundraising & Distribution Blueprint, feedback on pitch deck, website, and email materials, a custom detailed plan, recommendations on partners/audiences/conferences, private Facebook Group access, and an intimate cohort community.
- The Pitch Kit One-time paid service ($1,500) producing a custom-built fundraising package: 1 custom pitch deck (2-page PDF-style, branded, editable Canva file), 3 target audience identifications, 25 partner contacts (emails/phone numbers), and 5 email templates for cold outreach. Typically delivered within 4 weeks of acceptance.
- Distribution Services (Show&Tell Acquisitions)
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ filmmakers trained, $4 million+ raised by filmmakers (company-wide: $12 million)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Show&Tell Films
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Show&Tell Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Show&Tell Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KinemacoreKinema is Show&Tell's exclusive virtual screening platform partner. All Show&Tell Pro members receive one year of access to Kinema's hosting platform (valued at $270) for virtual event hosting. Filmmakers use Kinema for direct rentals, interactive streaming events, and live in-person screenings. Show&Tell members learn best practices on securing sponsors, using work-in-progress fundraisers, and event encores tied to conferences and company trainings.
- DOC NYCminorCaitlin Boyle, Director of Filmmaker Development at DOC NYC (America's largest documentary festival), provides endorsement of Show&Tell's approach: 'Show&Tell offers community and expert learning that encourages collaboration. It's a critical offering for filmmakers.' Relationship appears to be informal endorsement rather than formal partnership.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Show&Tell Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stage 32: Global networking, education, and job marketplace for film, TV, and digital content creators. Sells premium memberships and educational content to working and aspiring filmmakers — overlapping Show&Tell's community-led, education-first GTM motion.
- Seed&Spark: Crowdfunding and education platform purpose-built for independent filmmakers. Combines fundraising infrastructure with educational content and a filmmaker community, closely mirroring Show&Tell's subscription-plus-tools-plus-community model.
- No Film School: Leading online publication and community producing educational articles, courses, and videos for indie filmmakers. Competes for the same 'learn distribution and the film business' intent and SEO traffic that Show&Tell captures with its 200+ guides.
- Eventive: Virtual and in-person cinema ticketing and streaming platform used by independent cinemas, festivals, and distributors for virtual screenings. Closest direct comparable on Show&Tell's virtual screening/ticketing product layer.
- Indie Film Hustle: Online filmmaking education platform offering paid courses and masterclasses from working filmmakers, plus a filmmaker community. Closely comparable subscription/course model targeting aspiring and working indie creators.
- The Film Collaborative: Nonprofit distribution and educational organization for independent filmmakers, offering coaching, distribution strategy, and resources. Directly overlaps with Show&Tell's distribution-focused service line and educational mission.
- Film Courage: Educational platform and community for independent filmmakers producing interviews, articles, and resources on the craft and business of filmmaking. Comparable education-first, community-led model serving indie filmmakers.
Broad incumbents
- Film Independent: Established nonprofit providing education, labs, fiscal sponsorship, and awards for independent filmmakers. A broader incumbent with overlapping education and community offerings for the same indie filmmaker audience, supported by institutional funding rather than subscriptions.
- Doc Society: International nonprofit supporting impact-driven documentary filmmakers with funding, training, and distribution programs. Overlaps Show&Tell's impact-documentary positioning and works with the same institutional funders and broadcasters.
- International Documentary Association (IDA): Premier membership organization for the documentary industry, offering conferences, publications, grants, and educational programming to documentary professionals. Sets industry context for Show&Tell's niche and is a broader-incumbent alternative for filmmaker education and networking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Show&Tell Films social profiles
Digital presenceShow&Tell Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Show&Tell Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Show&Tell Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Show&Tell Films 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 Show&Tell Films
What does Show&Tell Films do?
Show&Tell Films is an education, coaching, and distribution services company that teaches independent documentary filmmakers how to raise funds and reach audiences outside traditional Hollywood/streaming models. Its flagship is Show&Tell Pro, an annual membership that unlocks 200+ video guides, live and recorded webinars, a private filmmaker community, and bundled access to the Kinema virtual screening platform. Premium tiers (The Circle) and paid services (The Pitch Kit, Distribution Services) deliver hands-on strategy and execution support.
Is Show&Tell Films a public or private company?
Show&Tell Films is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Show&Tell Films founded?
Show&Tell Films was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Show&Tell Films based?
Show&Tell Films is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Show&Tell Films make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Show&Tell Pro Annual Membership is the primary driver. The others are pitch Kit Service, virtual Event Revenue Share and À la Carte Guide Sales.
Who are Show&Tell Films's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stage 32, Seed&Spark, No Film School, Eventive, Indie Film Hustle, The Film Collaborative and Film Courage. Broad incumbents are Film Independent, Doc Society and International Documentary Association (IDA).
Does Show&Tell Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Show&Tell Films.
What industry is Show&Tell Films in?
Show&Tell Films's product category is Documentary Film Education and Distribution Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAG, Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera), with a secondary code of MPADAKAL, Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services. Its NAICS code is 51213 and its SIC code is 7829.