What Cinelicious does

Cinelicious is a specialized post-production services company headquartered inside the historic Kodak building in Hollywood, with a secondary Santa Monica facility inside visual effects company Big Block. Founded in 2008 by Paul Korver, the company provides high dynamic range film scanning (2K to 6.5K) using Scanity 4K and Lasergraphics ScanStation equipment, digital intermediate color grading via DaVinci Resolve at up to 4K resolution, comprehensive film restoration and remastering (including solvent-based cleaning, grain management, and audio cleanup), and final deliverables such as DCP, Blu-ray, DVD, and LTO archives. Its technology stack also includes Digital Vision Phoenix Refine restoration software and a proprietary roller-gate film flattening mechanism, and the company pioneered the industry's first tapeless film-to-hard-drive workflow in 2008. Cinelicious operates a project-based professional services model with per-project pricing that is not publicly disclosed, acquired primarily through enterprise field sales, industry referrals, and direct outreach to film studios, archives, independent filmmakers, and advertising agencies. Customer segments span film studios and major productions, film archives and institutions, advertising and commercial production, and independent filmmakers, with notable clients including Criterion, Sony Pictures, Amazon Studios, Blumhouse/Universal, Skydance/Apple TV, Discovery Channel, Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, UCLA Film & Television Archive, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and MoMA. The company operates a wholly-owned distribution subsidiary, Cinelicious Pics, and acquired boutique restoration firm High Hat Post Inc. in 2013 to build out its restoration department.

Name

Cinelicious

Legal name

Cinelicious

Website

https://cinelicious.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cinelicious is a Los Angeles-based post-production services company providing 2K to 6.5K HDR film scanning, digital intermediate color grading, film restoration, and final deliverables for major film studios, archives, independent filmmakers, advertising agencies, and music video producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Post-Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media (33461)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Scanning & Digitization (Telecine, Frame-by-Frame, Metadata Capture) (MPADAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Restoration & Remastering (4K/8K Scan, Image Stabilization, Dirt/Scratch Removal) (MPADAMAB), Mastering, Encoding & Delivery (IMF/DCP, OTT Packages) (MPADAGAH), Access & Distribution for Archives (Restored Masters, DCP Creation, Screening Deliverables) (MPADAMAJ), Color Restoration & Grading for Legacy Content (HDR/SDR Remaster) (MPADAMAC)

Keywords

• Film scanning services
• Digital intermediate color grading
• Film restoration services
• Post-production services
• Archival film remastering

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Film Scanning Services: Charging per-project for high-resolution film scanning (2K to 6.5K) across formats including Super 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and VistaVision. Deliverables are provided in DPX or ProRes 4444 formats. Scanning is the foundational service enabling VFX, DI, and restoration workflows.
2. Digital Intermediate (DI) Color Grading: Color grading and finishing services for feature films, commercials, music videos, and episodic television. Services include conform, online, audio layback, titles, and mastering at up to 4K resolution using DaVinci Resolve. Revenue is project-based with scope varying by format and deliverable requirements.
3. Film Restoration and Remastering: Comprehensive picture and audio restoration services including solvent-based film cleaning, 4K scanning, color grading, dirt/scratch removal, and audio cleanup. Delivered with final deliverables such as DVD, Blu-ray, DCP, and LTO archives. Projects range from boutique cult classics to major studio library restorations.
4. Final Deliverables: Provision of final master picture and sound elements including DCPs (2K and 4K DCI compliant with KDM encryption), Blu-ray and DVD authoring, HDR Rec 2020 and SDR Rec 709 broadcast deliverables, and LTO archival backups.
5. Dailies Services: HD dailies processing from film and digital cameras with metadata preservation (timecode, keycode, camera info), supervised color grading, and output to ProRes or Avid DNxHD media.
6. Remote Color Grading Services: Remote color grading sessions allowing clients to participate in final color sessions from anywhere globally. Revenue is service-based per session or project.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cinelicious provides high dynamic range film scanning (2K to 6.5K) of celluloid formats ranging from Super 8mm through 35mm and VistaVision, digital intermediate color grading at up to 4K, comprehensive film restoration and remastering (picture and audio), and final mastering deliverables (DCPs, Blu-ray, DVD, LTO). The company serves feature films, commercials, music videos, episodic television, and archival restoration projects for studios, archives, agencies, and independent filmmakers.

Product overview

Cinelicious is a film and digital post-production company offering an integrated suite of services spanning the entire content finishing pipeline. The core portfolio includes Film Scanning Services (2K-6.5K HDR scanning of Super 8mm through 35mm formats), Digital Intermediates (color grading, cleanup, dailies), Film Restoration and Remastering (picture and audio restoration with archival services), and Final Deliverables (DCP, Blu-ray, DVD, LTO). The company also offers Remote Color Grading as an add-on cloud service and operates Cinelicious Pics as a distribution sub-brand. All services are provided from facilities in Hollywood within the historic Kodak building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Scanning Services High dynamic range film scanning at 2K to 6.5K resolution across formats from Super 8mm through 35mm and VistaVision, using Scanity 4K and Lasergraphics ScanStation equipment with VFX-qualified electronic pin registration. Output is delivered as DPX or ProRes 4444 files. Offered to studios, archives, independent filmmakers, and cinematographers (DPs) who need professional-grade film-to-digital transfer.
• Digital Intermediates Motion picture finishing service encompassing color grading using DaVinci Resolve at 4K resolution, digital cleanup for beauty and legal work, and film/digital dailies services supporting multiple camera formats including ARRI Alexa, RED, Sony, and Phantom. Offered to feature films, commercials, music videos, episodic television, and other productions requiring final creative adjustment before distribution.
• Film Restoration and Remastering Comprehensive film restoration services including solvent-based cleaning, 4K scanning, grain management, dust/dirt/scratch removal, image stabilization, and audio restoration with support for various magnetic and optical sound formats. Also offers LTO archival storage and final deliverables. Strengthened by the 2013 acquisition of boutique restoration house High Hat Post Inc.
• Final Deliverables Provision of final master picture and sound elements including HDR Rec 2020 and SDR Rec 709 digital cinema and broadcast deliverables, DCI-compliant 2K and 4K DCPs with KDM encryption, Blu-ray and DVD authoring, and LTO file archives. Delivered to studios, distributors, and archives upon project completion.
• Remote Color Grading Services Cloud-based color grading services allowing clients to participate in final color sessions remotely from anywhere in the world, utilizing secure connectivity for real-time collaboration. Used by geographically distributed clients who need final color without on-site travel.
• Cinelicious Pics Wholly-owned film distribution subsidiary handling theatrical releases, VOD, Blu-ray/DVD, and 4K television distribution of restored and independent films. Manages acquired film library rights and coordinates festival screenings. Current releases include Belladonna of Sadness, Gangs of Wasseypur, Metalhead, and films by Josephine Decker.

Quantifiable outcome

• Christopher Nolan praised Cinelicious's 4K 16mm film scans as the 'best 4K 16mm film scans I have ever seen' for Following
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gold View Company / Mushi ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Japanese rights holders (Gold View Co. and Mushi Productions) entrusted Cinelicious with the original 35mm camera negative and sound elements of Belladonna of Sadness — the first time the negative had traveled outside Japan. This partnership enabled the landmark 4K restoration and U.S. release of the 1973 anime classic.
• UCLA Film & Television ArchiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Cinelicious performed 4K restoration of D.W. Griffith's The Son's Return (1909) from the original Biograph 35mm nitrate camera negative. The restoration premiered at UCLA's Festival of Preservation, with joint funding from UCLA, the Mary Pickford Foundation, and the Museum of Modern Art.
• The Estate of Ana MendietaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Over a three-year project, Cinelicious digitized and restored over 100 artist films by Ana Mendieta (1971-1981), including works on super 8, 16mm, and obsolete half-inch reel-to-reel video formats. Works were exhibited at Galerie Lelong, the University of Minnesota, and NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
• Lynette Duensing (Senior Colorist)coreOthers · 15 August 2013Senior colorist Lynette Duensing joined Cinelicious after a year at Technicolor-SFG in Shanghai, bringing international experience with global agencies (Chrysler, Fiat, Infiniti, Nike, Coca-Cola). She is based in the Santa Monica facility and serves both spot projects and long-form feature work.
• Craig Rogers (Lead Restoration Artist)coreOthers · 15 August 2013Craig Rogers, former principal of boutique film restoration company High Hat Post Inc., joined Cinelicious as Lead Restoration Artist following Cinelicious's acquisition of High Hat Post. The acquisition included all business, equipment, and talent from High Hat.
• Big BlockcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Cinelicious opened a Santa Monica color grading theater within visual effects and design company Big Block, specifically engineered for perfect Rec 709 colorspace (broadcast finishing) and P3 for digital cinema deliverables. The collaboration provides Big Block's commercial advertising clients with expanded post-production services in a shared facility. The room features a custom Barco Series 2 DLP projector and 17-foot Stewart screen optimized for high-quality color grading.
• Steve Rodriguez (Colorist)coreOthers · 1 March 2010Veteran colorist Steve Rodriguez joined Cinelicious from Company 3, bringing extensive advertising credits including Nike, Lexus, adidas, Bud Light, and work with directors such as Errol Morris and Noam Murro. He was a key early hire for the company's launch.
• Cinelicious PicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinelicious Pics is the boutique film distribution arm of Cinelicious, handling theatrical, VOD, and home video (Blu-ray/DVD) releases for restored titles. It was launched to enable Cinelicious to control the full restoration-to-distribution pipeline. Current releases include Belladonna of Sadness, Gangs of Wasseypur, Metalhead, and films by Josephine Decker.
• Cinematek (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgium's Cinematek provided scans of missing film sections from their 35mm print of Belladonna of Sadness, enabling Cinelicious to reconstruct approximately 8 minutes of footage that had been censored from the Japanese negative. The Belgian print footage was seamlessly integrated into the 4K restoration.
• The CinefamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cinefamily, a non-profit film organization in Los Angeles, co-presented the Belladonna of Sadness re-release with Cinelicious Pics. Founder Hadrian Belove originally brought the film to Dennis Bartok's attention, initiating the restoration project.
• SpectrevisionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpectrevision co-presented the U.S. re-release of Belladonna of Sadness alongside The Cinefamily and Cinelicious Pics.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cineric Inc. Cineric is a New York-based film laboratory and post-production facility offering film scanning, restoration, and remastering services. Comparable to Cinelicious in archival restoration work and high-resolution scanning, though geographically separate.
• FotoKem: FotoKem is a Burbank-based post-production facility offering film processing, scanning, DI, color grading, and restoration services. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Cinelicious in LA, with overlapping service lines for features, episodic, commercials, and archival restoration.
• Pro8mm: Pro8mm specializes in 8mm and Super 8mm film processing, scanning, and transfer services. Direct competitor in the small-format film scanning niche that Cinelicious serves, including for music videos, fashion, and independent productions.
• EFilm: EFilm is a Hollywood-based digital intermediate and finishing facility offering color grading and mastering services. Comparable to Cinelicious on DI color grading for features, episodic, and trailer work, though larger in scale.
• Light Iron: Light Iron is an LA-based post-production company specializing in digital intermediates, on-set dailies, and finishing services for features and episodic. Direct overlap with Cinelicious on DI color grading and dailies workflows, particularly for digital acquisition productions.
• Colorlab: Colorlab is a Maryland-based film processing and post-production facility offering film scanning, color grading, and restoration services. Comparable to Cinelicious in traditional film handling, scanning, and boutique restoration capabilities.
• Roundabout Entertainment: Roundabout Entertainment is a film restoration and remastering company that restores classic films for boutique home video labels. Directly comparable to Cinelicious in archival film restoration and remastering services for legacy content.

Broad incumbents

• Technicolor (Post-Production): Technicolor Creative Studios is a global post-production and VFX provider offering DI, color grading, restoration, and finishing across a much wider service portfolio. Overlaps with Cinelicious on restoration and DI but operates at significantly larger scale with global reach.
• Deluxe Media: Deluxe is a large global post-production and content delivery services provider offering DI, mastering, and localization. Provides overlapping capabilities with Cinelicious across the post-production pipeline at substantially larger scale.
• Company 3: Company 3 is a major color grading and finishing boutique serving features, episodic, and advertising. Directly competes with Cinelicious on DI color grading for high-end commercial and feature work, but operates a broader global footprint with deeper A-list colorist talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinelicious

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Cinelicious