September Club

What September Club does

September Club is an editorial-driven documentary production company founded in 2007 in Milwaukee, with operating offices in Los Angeles. The company produces documentary content across feature films, digital shorts, and docu-series, and serves two distinct customer bases: (1) directors, producers and streaming/broadcast platforms — including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, AppleTV+, BBC Films, CNN Films, NatGeo, ESPN Films and A&E Films — that commission post-production, editorial and producing services, and (2) Fortune 500 brands such as Mastercard, JP Morgan, FedEx, Harley-Davidson, Case IH, Wayfair, WP Engine, T-Mobile and Disney that buy branded documentary and corporate-storytelling content.

The company's core technology is editorial craft and human storytelling expertise rather than proprietary software or platform infrastructure; its competitive differentiation rests on a roster of award-winning editors and producers led by co-founders Barry Poltermann, Jeremy Coon and Chris Smith. This talent base is responsible for two Sundance Grand Jury Prizes (American Movie, 1999 and Boys State, 2020), Emmy nominations and wins, and screenings at Sundance, Toronto, Venice, Cannes, SXSW and Telluride. Distribution is handled through direct relationships with streaming platforms, specialty theatrical distributors (Abramorama, Drafthouse Films, Oscilloscope) and, since 2024, PBS Independent Lens.

September Club monetizes primarily through project-based professional services fees for documentary production and post-production, supplemented by branded-content engagements for corporate clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted by project scope. The company is privately held by its founders with no disclosed external investment, operates at 11–50 employees, and has completed 50+ projects over its history with no reported funding rounds, acquisitions, or material restructuring.

Name

September Club

Website

https://september.club

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

September Club is an editorial-driven documentary production company that produces feature films, docu-series and branded content for streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, AppleTV+) and Fortune 500 brands (Mastercard, JP Morgan, FedEx, Disney), anchored by award-winning founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

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

Revenue model

1. Documentary Production Services: Production and post-production services for documentary projects including feature films and docu-series for streaming platforms, studios, and independent filmmakers.
2. Brand Stories and Branded Content: Documentary production for Fortune 500 brands and corporate clients including branded short films and content campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

September Club is a documentary film production company founded in 2007 that creates original documentaries, docu-series, and branded content for streaming platforms, networks, Fortune 500 brands, and independent filmmakers. The company offers end-to-end production services including directing, editing, color grading, post-production, and distribution support, with work featured on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, AppleTV+, CNN Films, BBC Films, NatGeo, and ESPN Films.

Product overview

September Club is an editorial-driven documentary production company offering a portfolio of film and video production services. The core offering consists of documentary production spanning feature films (such as Ueck, Highway 99: A Double Album, and Napoleon Dynamite), docu-series (including The Last Movie Stars and The Romantics), branded content for Fortune 500 brands (Brand Stories), and documentary shorts. The company operates as both a production studio creating original documentary content and a service provider for branded documentary projects, with work featured at major film festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, Cannes, and SXSW.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Documentary Production Services End-to-end documentary production services including directing, cinematography, editing, color grading, and post-production for streaming platforms, networks, and independent filmmakers.
• Branded Content & Brand Stories Branded documentary content and storytelling services for Fortune 500 brands, agencies, and distributors seeking long-form video content.
• Original Documentary Films Original feature documentaries produced for streaming platforms and theatrical release, including titles such as Boys State, Napoleon Dynamite, The Last Movie Stars, Highway 99, Ueck, and Gallagher.
• Post-Production & Editorial Services Post-production services including senior editorial, color grading, and finishing work for outside producers, networks, and filmmakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple films won Grand Jury Prizes and major festival awards
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PBS Independent LenscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2024Acquisition partnership for Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen, acquired by PBS Independent Lens for broadcast.
• NetflixcoreTechnology or IntegrationOngoing collaboration on documentary projects including docu-series and feature documentaries. September Club has produced multiple projects for Netflix including Meltdown: Three Mile Island, Murder Among the Mormons, The Romantics, and The Last Movie Stars.
• HulucoreTechnology or IntegrationProduction partnership for documentary content including Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal and Red, White and Wasted.
• HBO MaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on docu-series production including The Last Movie Stars for CNN Films and HBO Max.
• AppleTV+coreTechnology or IntegrationDistribution partnership for documentary content including Boys State released on Apple TV+.
• CNN FilmscoreTechnology or IntegrationOngoing collaboration on documentary projects including The Last Movie Stars and The 414s.
• BBC FilmscoreTechnology or IntegrationProduction partnership for documentary content.
• NatGeocoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on documentary series including Legends Bollywood dance competition series.
• ESPN FilmscoreTechnology or IntegrationProduction partnership for sports documentary content including Mecca: The Floor.
• Live NationcoreTechnology or IntegrationProduction partnership for documentary content including Truth To Power about System of a Down.
• A&E FilmscoreTechnology or IntegrationProduction collaboration on documentary projects.
• Drafthouse FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTheatrical distribution partner for Raiders! released by Drafthouse Films in 2016.
• AbramoramacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide theatrical distribution rights acquired for Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.
• OscilloscopecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American theatrical rights acquired for Wildcat.
• 42 EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for Zedd: True Colors interactive fan experience documentary.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kartemquin Films: Chicago-based independent documentary production house (Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) producing feature docs and series. Closely comparable in editorial DNA, mid-sized independent structure, and reliance on public/streaming funding.
• XTR: Documentary production and streaming company building a curated slate of feature documentaries for theatrical and streaming release. Comparable in commissioning-for-streamers model and festival-to-platform pathway.
• Moxie Firecracker Films: Independent documentary production company producing award-winning feature documentaries (Homeroom, Framing Britney Spears) for streamers including Netflix and Hulu. Closely comparable in size, slate model, and streamer commissioning.
• Concordia Studio: Documentary and non-fiction production company (founded by Laurene Powell Jobs; senior leadership from Participant) that produces feature docs and docuseries for major streamers. Directly comparable in editorial-driven positioning, project scale, and platform relationships.
• The Documentary Group: Documentary production company founded by Jon Else producing feature docs and series for broadcasters and streamers. Directly comparable in editorial-led, festival-credentialed documentary production at similar headcount.
• Dogwoof: UK-based documentary production and distribution company producing and releasing award-winning feature docs theatrically and to streamers. Comparable in festival-circuit positioning and documentary-first identity, with similar distributor relationships.
• Loki Films: Independent documentary production company with credits on streaming platforms including Netflix and HBO. Comparable in small-team, editorially focused documentary model and platform relationships.
• Field of Vision: Documentary production unit (founded by Laura Poitras, AJ Schnack, and Charlotte Cook) producing short and feature-length documentaries for streaming and theatrical. Comparable in editorially driven, director-attached documentary slate and festival positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Participant Media: Larger impact-driven entertainment company producing documentaries and narrative films for streaming and theatrical. Overlaps in documentary production, festival/awards positioning, and platform distribution, but with broader scale, distribution arm, and corporate mission focus.
• A24: Independent entertainment company producing and distributing film, television, and documentaries. Overlaps in indie festival positioning and documentary titles in its slate, but operates at significantly larger scale across narrative and documentary.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_SeptemberClub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 September Club