HanWay Films

What HanWay Films does

HanWay Films (legal entity: Hanway Films Limited) is a UK-based international sales company specializing in the financing, sales, marketing and distribution of high-profile, commercially driven independent films from visionary filmmakers worldwide. Founded in 1998 by producer Jeremy Thomas and headquartered at The Kodak, 11 Keeley Street, London, the firm operates an enterprise field-sales motion through direct engagement with international distributors and exhibitors at major film markets including Cannes, Berlin/EFM, Sundance, SXSW and the BFI London Film Festival. The company runs two distinct product lines: a Current Slate representing new releases (including titles such as The Return with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, La Cocina with Rooney Mara, Stitches with Angelina Jolie, and Billion Dollar Spy with Russell Crowe), and HanWay - The Collections, a curated library of more than 500 films organized into sub-collections themed by filmmaker or estate (Jeremy Thomas, Wim Wenders, Sally Potter, Amos Gitai, Merchant Ivory, Buster Keaton, Bruce Weber, Paul Cox) plus a partnership with Cohen Media Group.

The business model is licensing and royalty-based: HanWay arranges territory-by-territory sales of distribution rights to its slate on a per-film basis (pricing not publicly disclosed) and exploits its back-catalogue through restoration, theatrical re-release, and home-entertainment sub-licensing. Customer segments are split between (i) independent filmmakers and producers seeking international reach and financing, and (ii) international distributors and exhibitors acquiring rights for local theatrical and home-entertainment release. The company is privately held, with no disclosed institutional investment or parent company, and remains founder-led in identity if not in day-to-day operations (CEO Gabrielle Stewart, President Peter Watson). It employs 11-50 people (approximately 21 named personnel spanning production, acquisitions, sales, legal, marketing, and finance), operates primarily from London, and maintains a global sales footprint through its film-market presence rather than a multi-office footprint.

Technology is not a material differentiator: the core 'platform' is the company's relationships, market access, and library IP rather than a software product — there is no app, no public API, no proprietary AI, and no disclosed integrations. Strategic risk and opportunity center on the sustainability of Jeremy Thomas's filmmaker relationships, the cycle-driven nature of per-film revenue, and the ability of The Collections to generate predictable recurring sub-licensing income independent of new-slate output.

Name

HanWay Films

Legal name

Hanway Films Limited

Website

https://hanwayfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HanWay Films is a London-based international sales company, founded in 1998 by Jeremy Thomas, that handles financing, sales, marketing and distribution for quality independent films worldwide and manages a curated library of 500+ titles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Film Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAJAC

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Distribution (Theatrical, Home Entertainment, International Sales)

SECONDARYMPADAJAK

Catalog / Library Distribution & Re-Release

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Distribution (Theatrical, Home Entertainment, International Sales)

SECONDARYMPADAAAK

Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Film Development & Financing

SECONDARYMPADAJAB

Theatrical Distribution (International)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Distribution (Theatrical, Home Entertainment, International Sales)

Keywords

• International film sales
• Film distribution services
• Independent film financing
• Film licensing representation
• Film collection sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Ukiah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Film Sales: Full service international film sales including arranging financing, sales, marketing and distribution for films from visionary filmmakers worldwide.
2. Film Distribution: Distribution services for films in international territories, managing release schedules and theatrical distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

HanWay Films is an international sales company that provides full-service solutions for quality, high-profile films from visionary filmmakers worldwide. The company arranges financing, sales, marketing, and distribution for new films in its Current Slate, and also represents HanWay - The Collections, a curated library of over 500 films featuring acclaimed directors and restored classic titles available for global licensing.

Product overview

HanWay Films is a UK-based international sales company specializing in quality, high-profile, and commercially driven films from visionary filmmakers worldwide. Established in 1998 by producer Jeremy Thomas, the company operates two main product lines: the HanWay Films Current Slate for new film releases (offering international sales representation with full-service solutions including financing, marketing, and distribution), and HanWay - The Collections, a library of over 500 films spanning classic works from Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, Buster Keaton, David Cronenberg, Jane Campion, Wim Wenders, and others. The Collections includes specialized sub-collections such as The Cohen Film Collection, The Merchant Ivory Collection, The Jeremy Thomas Collection, The Buster Keaton Collection, The Bruce Weber Collection, The Sally Potter Collection, The Amos Gitai Collection, The New Zealand Film Commission Collection, The Paul Cox Collection, The Wim Wenders Collection, and The HanWay Collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HanWay Films Current Slate International sales representation and full-service solutions for high-profile films from visionary filmmakers, including financing arrangements, sales, marketing, and global distribution services. Targeted at filmmakers seeking international reach and at international distributors acquiring quality independent films.
• HanWay - The Collections Curated library of over 500 films showcasing acclaimed filmmaking talent, including classic works from Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, David Cronenberg, Jane Campion, and Wim Wenders, with 4K restorations of notable titles. Includes the prestigious Cohen Media Group library with classic titles spanning from the silent era to the present day. Available for international licensing to distributors, exhibitors, and home entertainment platforms.
• The Buster Keaton Collection Collection of Buster Keaton's iconic physical comedy films including The General, Steamboat Bill Jr., and Sherlock Jr., featuring restored and 4K versions. Available for international theatrical and home entertainment licensing.
• The Merchant Ivory Collection Prestigious archive of Merchant Ivory Productions' period dramas and literary adaptations including Howards End, Maurice, and Shakespeare Wallah. Available for international licensing to distributors and home entertainment platforms.
• The Jeremy Thomas Collection Premium collection of evergreen classics produced by HanWay Films founder Jeremy Thomas, featuring The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, Naked Lunch, and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Available for international licensing.
• The Wim Wenders Collection Collection of 26 films and 6 shorts from director Wim Wenders including Paris Texas (4K), Wings of Desire, and Buena Vista Social Club. Available for international licensing.
• The Bruce Weber Collection Collection of photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber's short and feature-length films including Let's Get Lost and Chop Suey. Available for international licensing.
• The Sally Potter Collection Collection of critically acclaimed director Sally Potter's films including Orlando (4K), Ginger & Rosa, and The Tango Lesson. Available for international licensing.
• The Amos Gitai Collection Collection of over 80 films by Israeli director Amos Gitai spanning 40 years, including Kippur, Kadosh, and Laila in Haifa. Available for international licensing.
• The New Zealand Film Commission Collection Handpicked selection of over 50 New Zealand films including Once Were Warriors, Boy, and The World's Fastest Indian. Available for international licensing.
• The Paul Cox Collection Collection of 13 features by Australian auteur Paul Cox including My First Wife, Cactus, and Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh. Available for international licensing.
• The HanWay Collection Films sold by HanWay since 1999 from visionary directors including Todd Haynes, Steve McQueen, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Anton Corbijn. Available for international licensing to distributors and exhibitors.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Charles S. Cohen / Cohen Media GroupmajorOthersHanWay - The Collections includes the highly prestigious library of Cohen Media Group's founder Charles S. Cohen, who has been building this collection for close to 20 years. The library comprises over a hundred restored classic titles spanning the silent era to the present day, including The Cohen Film Collection, The Buster Keaton Collection, and The Merchant Ivory Collection.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• mk2 Films: mk2 Films is a long-established French international sales, distribution, and exhibition company with a deep catalog of auteur cinema. It is comparable to HanWay in combining a substantial prestige library with active new-title sales and theatrical distribution.
• Celluloid Dreams: Celluloid Dreams is a Paris-based international sales and distribution company founded by Hengameh Panahi, specializing in auteur-driven and festival-circuit films. It directly competes with HanWay for prestige independent projects and shares a similar boutique-sales-agent positioning focused on visionary directors.
• Protagonist Pictures: Protagonist Pictures is a London-based international sales, finance, and production company handling independent films. It competes directly with HanWay in the UK and across major markets, with a similar boutique-sales-agent model targeting quality independent features.
• The Match Factory: The Match Factory is a German-based international sales and distribution company (part of the Warner Bros. Discovery-era group) focused on arthouse cinema. It is a direct competitor for festival and auteur-driven titles with comparable presence at European film markets.
• Wild Bunch International: Wild Bunch International is a France-based international sales agent that acquires, finances, and distributes arthouse and prestige independent films globally. It is the most direct competitor to HanWay, operating a similar full-service international sales model with a presence at Cannes, Berlin, and other major markets.

Regional players

• Curzon: Curzon is a UK-based arthouse cinema chain, home-video distributor, and streaming operator (Curzon Home Cinema). It is comparable to HanWay in distributing arthouse and prestige independent films but operates primarily in the UK market as a regional exhibition/distribution player.

Broad incumbents

• Pathé Films: Pathé is a historic European major film studio with international sales, production, and distribution operations. It is comparable to HanWay in handling prestige European productions and library assets, but operates at significantly larger scale as a broad incumbent.
• Studiocanal: Studiocanal is a major European film sales, distribution, and production company (owned by Canal+ Group) with both a current slate and a substantial library. It overlaps with HanWay's sales and library-licensing activities but at much greater scale, operating as a broad incumbent rather than a boutique specialist.
• Film4: Film4 is the UK public broadcaster's feature film arm, funding, producing, and co-distributing prestige independent films. It is comparable to HanWay in championing British and international auteur cinema but operates as a broadcaster-backed broad incumbent with much larger financing capacity.

Others

• Cohen Media Group: Cohen Media Group is a US-based film production, distribution, and library owner whose founder Charles S. Cohen's library is represented globally by HanWay through The Collections. It is a partner/library-supplier rather than direct competitor, but comparable as a curator and distributor of restored classic cinema.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hanway_films/?hl=en
• Xx.com/HanWayFilms
• Facebookfacebook.com/HanWayUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanway-films

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 HanWay Films