High and Short
Haut et Court is an independent French film production and distribution company founded in 1992, producing and distributing feature films, TV series, documentaries, and animation, and operating six owned cinemas across France. It serves French cinema audiences, public broadcasters, and international co-production partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What High and Short does
Haut et Court, founded in 1992 and headquartered at 38 rue des Martyrs in Paris's 9th arrondissement, is an independent film production and distribution company whose stated mission is to discover and support new French and international directing talent. The company produces and distributes across four content verticals — feature films, television series, documentaries, and animation — with a documented catalog exceeding 200 titles since inception and international award validation including a Palme d'Or (2008, Entre les Murs), an Oscar and César for Best Foreign Film (2021, Drunk), a Golden Globe (1998, Ma vie en rose), and an Emmy for Outstanding International TV Series (2013, Les Revenants). Core production technology relies on standard Digital Cinema Package (DCP) distribution to theatrical exhibitors, with co-production partnerships across Europe and international sales handled via agents such as LOCCO Films.
The company's revenue architecture is multi-stream and vertically integrated: theatrical distribution to cinema networks in France and internationally; licensing of TV series and documentaries to broadcasters including ARTE, France 2, and France 3; ticket and concession revenue from 6 wholly-owned and operated cinemas across Paris (Le Nouvel Odéon, Le Louxor), Chambéry (L'Astrée, le Forum), Nîmes (Le Sémaphore), Montpellier (Le Diagonal), and Valence (Le Navire); and direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through an online boutique selling film posters at €10–€20. Pricing across cinema and broadcast licensing is not publicly disclosed; poster retail uses unit pricing by format.
Haut et Court serves a dual customer base. On the consumer side, the company targets French cinema audiences attending independent and auteur releases and film enthusiasts purchasing memorabilia. On the B2B side, it supplies content to public broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international sales agents, and co-produces with European production houses. Distribution channels span owned physical theaters, third-party French cinema exhibitors, regional and international broadcasters, global streaming partners, and an e-commerce storefront. Marketing is executed through a website, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, email newsletter, and the "Au bar du Louxor" cinema-culture podcast. The Creatives, launched in 2021, operates as a sub-brand for emerging-talent development.
High and Short firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High and Short
- Legal name
- Haut et Court
- Website
- https://hautetcourt.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Haut et Court is an independent French film production and distribution company founded in 1992, producing and distributing feature films, TV series, documentaries, and animation, and operating six owned cinemas across France. It serves French cinema audiences, public broadcasters, and international co-production partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High and Short industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production and Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)
Keywords
Where High and Short is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
High and Short business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Film Production: Co-production of films with international partners, earning revenue through distribution fees, theatrical release proceeds, and international sales of distribution rights
- Cinema Operations: Ownership and operation of 6 cinemas across France (Paris, Chambéry, Nîmes, Montpellier, Valence) generating ticket revenue and concession sales
- TV Series and Documentaries: Production of television series and documentaries licensed to broadcasters (ARTE, France 2, France 3) and streaming platforms
- Online Store (Boutique): Direct sales of movie posters and merchandise through e-commerce platform
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard movie posters (120x160cm) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large format posters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small format posters (40x60cm) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special edition posters |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
High and Short product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Haut et Court is an independent French film production and distribution company that co-produces, distributes, and exhibits independent and auteur cinema across formats including feature films, television series, documentaries, and animated features. The company owns and operates six cinema theaters across France for theatrical exhibition and runs an online boutique selling film posters and related merchandise. Its mission is to discover and support new French and international directing talent through risk-taking eclectic programming.
Product overview
Haut et Court is an independent film production and distribution company founded in 1992, operating a multi-format content portfolio across films, series, documentaries, and animation. The company serves as both producer and distributor, maintaining a network of six cinema theaters across France (Paris, Chambéry, Nîmes, Montpellier, and Valence) and an online merchandise store. The core offering consists of film and series production/distribution services supplemented by cinema exhibition operations and ancillary retail, unified by a mission to discover and support emerging French and international talent.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Creatives: Initiative launched in 2021
Products and services
- Films Production and Distribution Co-production, acquisition, and theatrical distribution of feature films, including French auteur productions and international co-productions with partners such as Versus Production and Komplizenfilm. The offering targets cinema exhibitors, broadcasters, and audiences seeking independent and auteur cinema across genres.
- Television Series Production Production of original television drama series and international co-productions/ad adaptations for broadcast partners including ARTE and international streaming platforms, covering original drama, international co-productions, and adapted IP.
- Documentary Production Documentary film production covering biographies, social issues, nature, and cultural topics, distributed across television and theatrical exhibition channels for broadcasters and cinema audiences.
- Animated Feature Production Animated feature film production, including co-productions with international studios, featuring original stories and literary adaptations targeted at various age groups for cinema exhibition.
- Cinema Theaters Operations (Le Nouvel Odéon, Le Louxor, L'Astrée et le Forum, Le Sémaphore, Le Diagonal, Le Navire) Ownership and operation of six movie theaters across France: Le Nouvel Odéon (Paris 6e), Le Louxor (Paris 10e), L'Astrée et le Forum (Chambéry), Le Sémaphore (Nîmes), Le Diagonal (Montpellier), and Le Navire (Valence), offering direct theatrical exhibition of independent and auteur cinema to French audiences.
- Online Boutique (Posters and Film Merchandise) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform selling film merchandise including movie posters in various sizes (40x60 cm, 120x160 cm) and special editions, with prices ranging from €10 to €20 per poster, shipped to film enthusiasts and collectors globally.
Quantifiable outcome
- Palme d'Or 2008 for Entre les Murs by Laurent Cantet
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use High and Short
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
High and Short technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
High and Short partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
High and Short competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gaumont: Gaumont is a major French film production and distribution company with cinema exhibition operations. Comparable to Haut et Court in vertical integration across production-distribution-exhibition and French market focus, but at substantially larger scale with broader mainstream portfolio.
- Pathé: Pathé is one of France's largest film production, distribution, and cinema exhibition companies with a global footprint. Comparable to Haut et Court as a French film company with integrated production-distribution-exhibition, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio scope.
- StudioCanal: StudioCanal is a French film production and distribution company and subsidiary of Canal+ (Vivendi). Comparable to Haut et Court in core activities (production, distribution, content library), but operates as a broad incumbent with significant capital backing and a wider commercial portfolio.
Direct peers
- Pyramide Distribution: Pyramide Distribution is a French independent film sales and distribution company focused on auteur and art house cinema. Comparable to Haut et Court in its emphasis on independent French and international films, festival-circuit titles, and theatrical distribution model.
- Wild Bunch: Wild Bunch is a leading French independent film sales, production, and distribution company. Comparable to Haut et Court in its focus on auteur cinema, international sales agent role, and production of independent films with festival pedigree.
- MK2 Films: MK2 is a French independent film production, distribution, and cinema exhibition company. Highly comparable to Haut et Court due to its similar integrated model (production + distribution + owned cinemas), focus on auteur and independent cinema, and Paris-based operations.
- Le Pacte: Le Pacte is a French independent film distribution and production company specializing in auteur cinema. Directly comparable to Haut et Court in business model, target audience, and positioning within the French independent film ecosystem.
- Memento Films International: Memento Films is a Paris-based independent film sales, production, and distribution company. Comparable to Haut et Court in its role as international sales agent for auteur titles, production involvement, and focus on independent European cinema.
Emerging players
- Charades: Charades is a Paris-based independent international film sales company. Comparable to Haut et Court's international sales function (LOCCO Films), serving a similar auteur cinema segment with emerging and mid-career directors.
Regional players
- Diaphana Distribution: Diaphana is a French-Italian independent film distribution and production company. Comparable to Haut et Court in its auteur cinema focus and independent distribution model, but operates across France and Italy rather than exclusively in France.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
High and Short social profiles
Digital presenceHigh and Short financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High and Short leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
High and Short subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
High and Short funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High and Short 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 High and Short
What does High and Short do?
Haut et Court is an independent French film production and distribution company that co-produces, distributes, and exhibits independent and auteur cinema across formats including feature films, television series, documentaries, and animated features. The company owns and operates six cinema theaters across France for theatrical exhibition and runs an online boutique selling film posters and related merchandise. Its mission is to discover and support new French and international directing talent through risk-taking eclectic programming.
Is High and Short a public or private company?
High and Short is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High and Short founded?
High and Short was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is High and Short based?
High and Short is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does High and Short make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Film Production is the primary driver. The others are cinema Operations, TV Series and Documentaries and online Store (Boutique).
Who are High and Short's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gaumont, Pathé and StudioCanal. Direct peers are Pyramide Distribution, Wild Bunch, MK2 Films, Le Pacte and Memento Films International. Charades is listed as an emerging player. Diaphana Distribution is listed as a regional player.
Does High and Short have an API?
No public API is recorded for High and Short.
What industry is High and Short in?
High and Short's product category is Independent Film Production and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAKAG, Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera). Its NAICS code is 512131 and its SIC code is 7830.