Heretic Films
Heretic Films is a Park City, Utah-based independent film production and finance company founded in 2013 that produces and acquires feature films, licensing distribution rights to global partners (Universal, Oscilloscope, Cinéart) and selling titles via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPark City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Heretic Films does
Heretic Films is an independent motion picture production and finance company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Park City, Utah. The company develops and produces feature films and documentaries, positioning itself as a hub that connects independent filmmakers with a community of 'passionate, creative investors' backing talent-driven projects outside the major studio system. Its catalog includes 'Low Down' (2014, starring Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, and Peter Dinklage, which won Best Cinematography at Sundance 2014), the documentary 'Misery Loves Comedy' (2015, featuring Tom Hanks, Judd Apatow, and Amy Schumer), and other titles such as 'Big Significant Things,' 'Welcome to Me,' 'Tanzania: A Journey Within,' and 'Copenhagen.'
The company operates a hybrid revenue model. Primary economics come from licensing distribution rights to theatrical and digital partners on a territory-by-territory basis — Universal Pictures handled worldwide distribution for Low Down, Oscilloscope handled domestic distribution, and for newer titles Cinéart and JHR Films handle Benelux and France respectively. A secondary stream runs through direct-to-consumer digital sales via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play storefronts linked from the Heretic Films website. In 2026 Heretic expanded into international sales rights, acquiring Valentina Maurel's 'Forever Your Maternal Animal' ahead of its Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere as part of a Belgium-France-Mexico co-production with Wrong Men, Geko Films, and Pimienta.
Heretic is privately held, has 11-50 employees, and is led by founder and CEO Burton Ritchie. The company raised $5 million in a 2014 funding round and has not disclosed institutional investors, venture backing, or a parent company. Operations are project-based rather than recurring-revenue, with each title representing a discrete financing, production, and licensing cycle.
Heretic Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heretic Films
- Legal name
- Heretic Films
- Website
- https://heretic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Heretic Films is a Park City, Utah-based independent film production and finance company founded in 2013 that produces and acquires feature films, licensing distribution rights to global partners (Universal, Oscilloscope, Cinéart) and selling titles via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heretic Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments) (MPADAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring (MPADAAAK), Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)
Keywords
Where Heretic Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Park City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Heretic Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Film Distribution and Licensing: Heretic Films generates revenue through producing independent films and licensing distribution rights to theatrical distributors, digital platforms, and regional partners.
- International Sales Rights: Heretic acquires international sales rights to films and arranges distribution across different territories through regional distribution partners.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Heretic Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Heretic Films is an independent motion picture production and finance company that develops, finances, and produces feature films and documentaries by connecting talented artists with a community of creative investors ("passion meets profit"). The company produces its own films (e.g., Low Down, Misery Loves Comedy, Big Significant Things, Welcome to Me, Tanzania: A Journey Within, Copenhagen), acquires international sales rights to select third-party titles (e.g., Forever Your Maternal Animal), and monetizes the resulting library by licensing distribution rights to theatrical, digital, and regional partners.
Product overview
Heretic Films is an independent motion picture production and finance company that develops and produces feature films, primarily positioning itself as a hub connecting talented artists with passionate investors. The company operates as a single-product studio model focused on passion projects, with its portfolio including documentary 'Misery Loves Comedy,' drama 'Low Down,' 'Big Significant Things,' 'Welcome to Me,' 'Tanzania: A Journey Within,' and 'Copenhagen.' Distribution is handled through partnerships with Universal Pictures, Oscilloscope (domestic), Cinéart (Benelux), and JHR Films (France), while digital sales are facilitated through iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Low Down A biographical drama looking at the life of pianist Joe Albany from the perspective of his young daughter, depicting his struggle with drug addiction during the 1960s and '70s jazz scene. Directed by Jeff Preiss, starring Elle Fanning, John Hawkes, Glenn Close, and Peter Dinklage. Produced by Albert Berger & Ron Yerxa, Mindy Goldberg, with Burton Ritchie as Executive Producer.
- Misery Loves Comedy A documentary exploring the tragic lives and sacrifices of stand-up comics, featuring Tom Hanks, Judd Apatow, and Amy Schumer. Directed by Kevin Pollak, produced by Becky Newhall and Burton Ritchie.
- Big Significant Things An independent film from the Heretic Films portfolio featuring Harry Lloyd, available for digital purchase through iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Welcome to Me An independent Heretic Films title available for digital purchase via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Tanzania: A Journey Within An independent Heretic Films title available for digital purchase via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Copenhagen An independent Heretic Films title available for digital purchase via iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.
- Forever Your Maternal Animal An international sales rights acquisition by Heretic Films for Valentina Maurel's film premiering in Un Certain Regard at Cannes. The film follows Elsa who returns to Costa Rica after studying in Europe.
Companies that use Heretic Films
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Heretic Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Heretic Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CinéartcoreCinéart handles Benelux distribution for Forever Your Maternal Animal, the film Heretic acquired international sales rights to ahead of its Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere.
- JHR FilmscoreJHR Films handles France distribution for Forever Your Maternal Animal, the film Heretic acquired international sales rights to ahead of its Cannes Un Certain Regard premiere.
- Wrong MencoreWrong Men is a production company co-producing Forever Your Maternal Animal in the Belgium-France-Mexico co-production alongside Geko Films and Pimienta.
- Geko FilmscoreGeko Films co-produced Forever Your Maternal Animal as part of a Belgium-France-Mexico co-production alongside Wrong Men and Pimienta.
- PimientacorePimienta co-produced Forever Your Maternal Animal as part of a Belgium-France-Mexico co-production alongside Wrong Men and Geko Films.
- Universal PicturescoreUniversal Pictures handled worldwide distribution for Low Down, one of Heretic's produced films starring Elle Fanning and Glenn Close.
- Oscilloscope LaboratoriescoreOscilloscope Laboratories handled domestic distribution for Low Down, one of Heretic's award-winning produced films.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Heretic Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A24: A24 is an independent entertainment company that produces and distributes auteur-driven films. Highly comparable to Heretic Films in focusing on prestige, festival-circuit independent cinema with curated slates.
- Neon: Neon is an independent film production and distribution company known for festival-driven titles (e.g., Parasite). Operates a similar acquisition-and-distribute model with strong international festival focus akin to Heretic.
- Bleecker Street: Bleecker Street is an independent film finance, production, and distribution company. Comparable to Heretic in producing and distributing specialty independent films targeting adult audiences.
- Oscilloscope Laboratories: Oscilloscope Laboratories is an independent film distribution and production company. Directly comparable as Heretic has used Oscilloscope as a domestic distribution partner for 'Low Down', indicating similar indie positioning.
- IFC Films: IFC Films is a leading US distributor of independent and foreign films. Comparable to Heretic in handling specialty, festival-premiered titles across theatrical, digital, and home-video channels.
- Magnolia Pictures: Magnolia Pictures is an independent film distribution company with a broad specialty slate. Similar to Heretic in working across documentaries, foreign-language films, and auteur-driven projects with multi-platform distribution.
- Roadside Attractions: Roadside Attractions is an independent theatrical distribution company focused on specialty films. Comparable to Heretic in acquiring and theatrically releasing prestige and festival-premiered independent titles.
- Kino Lorber: Kino Lorber is an independent film distribution and production company specializing in classic, art-house, and international cinema. Comparable to Heretic in curating boutique independent titles for niche audiences.
- FilmRise: FilmRise is an independent film and television distribution company. Comparable to Heretic in leveraging digital platforms (AVOD/SVOD) and direct-to-consumer channels to monetize independent content.
Broad incumbents
- Focus Features: Focus Features is the specialty film label of a major studio (NBCUniversal) producing and distributing prestige independent films. Comparable in product category but operates at meaningfully larger scale than Heretic.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Heretic Films social profiles
Digital presenceHeretic Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heretic Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Heretic Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heretic 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 Heretic Films
What does Heretic Films do?
Heretic Films is an independent motion picture production and finance company that develops, finances, and produces feature films and documentaries by connecting talented artists with a community of creative investors ("passion meets profit"). The company produces its own films (e.g., Low Down, Misery Loves Comedy, Big Significant Things, Welcome to Me, Tanzania: A Journey Within, Copenhagen), acquires international sales rights to select third-party titles (e.g., Forever Your Maternal Animal), and monetizes the resulting library by licensing distribution rights to theatrical, digital, and regional partners.
Is Heretic Films a public or private company?
Heretic Films is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Heretic Films founded?
Heretic Films was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Heretic Films based?
Heretic Films is headquartered in Park City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Heretic Films make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Film Distribution and Licensing is the primary driver. The others are international Sales Rights.
Who are Heretic Films's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A24, Neon, Bleecker Street, Oscilloscope Laboratories, IFC Films, Magnolia Pictures, Roadside Attractions, Kino Lorber and FilmRise. Focus Features is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Heretic Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heretic Films.
What industry is Heretic Films in?
Heretic Films's product category is Independent Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAA, Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments), with a secondary code of MPADAAAK, Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.