Tello Films
Tello Films is a Nashville-based subscription streaming platform dedicated to lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's films, series, and podcasts, serving LGBTQ+ viewers and independent queer filmmakers via web, mobile, and smart TV apps.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Tello Films does
Tello Films is a Nashville-headquartered, privately-held subscription streaming platform founded in 2006 that exclusively curates and distributes lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's content. The service operates as a direct-to-consumer (D2C) product addressing the scarcity of dedicated streaming options for this audience segment, and simultaneously functions as a distribution channel for independent queer filmmakers, with a stated value proposition of subscriptions "directly supporting queer filmmakers." The company has operated for 19+ years without disclosed venture capital, parental ownership, or M&A activity, and runs a very lean team of 1-10 employees.
The product surface spans a web player at tellofilms.com plus native applications across iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and LG Smart TVs, with Chromecast support and offline viewing capability. Underlying technology appears to be a white-label OTT stack (Chromecast documentation is hosted on support.vhx.tv, indicating Vimeo OTT / VHX as the platform backbone). The content library is organized into thematic, identity-based collections (Femme Presenting Stories, Butch/Masc Presenting Leads, Masc/Femme Romance) and includes films, series, documentaries, shorts, and original audio content such as the Gay2K podcast.
The revenue model is primarily subscription-recurring, with a 3-day free trial, $7.99/month or $59.99/year pricing, and a secondary a la carte rental/purchase option for individual titles. Distribution is global via app stores and self-serve web access, with no stated geographic restrictions. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok) and an email newsletter. Awards include a 2017 OUTfest Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short for 'Jeanne Cordova: Butches, Lies & Feminism,' which functions as the most prominent third-party credibility signal in the dataset.
Tello Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tello Films
- Website
- https://tellofilms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tello Films is a Nashville-based subscription streaming platform dedicated to lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's films, series, and podcasts, serving LGBTQ+ viewers and independent queer filmmakers via web, mobile, and smart TV apps.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tello Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- LGBTQ Video Streaming
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transactional Video Platforms (TVOD/EST) (MPACAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- TVOD/Transactional & PPV Streaming Channels (MPABAHAC)
Keywords
Where Tello Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Tello Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Streaming: Monthly and annual subscription plans providing unlimited access to the streaming library of lesbian and sapphic content
- Individual Video Purchase/Rental: Customers can rent or buy individual films separately on a per-transaction basis
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription at $7.99/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription at $59.99/year (best deal) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual video rental and purchase |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tello Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tello Films operates a subscription-based streaming platform that produces and distributes lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's films, series, documentaries, shorts, and podcasts. The service has operated continuously for 19 years as the original lesbian streaming service, offering unlimited streaming access across multiple devices with offline viewing capability, and supports queer filmmakers by providing a distribution channel for their content.
Product overview
Tello Films is a subscription-based streaming platform that has operated for 19 years as the original lesbian streaming service. The platform offers a growing library of lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's content including films, series, documentaries, shorts, and podcasts. Users can access content through multiple channels: a web browser at tellofilms.com, mobile apps for iOS and Android, TV apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and LG Smart TV, as well as Chromecast support. The service offers subscription plans at $5/month or $59.99/year, with a 3-day free trial available. Content is organized into categories including Femme Presenting Stories, Butch/Masc Presenting Leads, and Masc/Femme Romance. The platform also hosts original podcasts like Gay2K and offers individual movie rentals or purchases alongside the subscription model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tello Films Streaming Service Subscription-based streaming platform offering unlimited access to a curated library of lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's films, series, documentaries, shorts, and podcasts. Operates as a direct-to-consumer service with a 3-day free trial and tiered subscription pricing.
- Individual Video Rentals and Purchases Transactional offering allowing customers to rent or buy individual films and videos on a per-title basis without a subscription. Available titles include films such as 'See You Soon', 'Bliss', and 'Silver Haze'.
- Tello Films Merch Store Online merchandise store offering Tello Films branded products to the community of subscribers and supporters.
Companies that use Tello Films
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tello Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tello Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tello Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Criterion Channel: Subscription film streaming service with a curated library. Comparable as a curated, filmmaker-friendly streaming subscription model, though not niche-LGBTQ focused.
- Netflix: Global general-audience SVOD that increasingly carries LGBTQ+ and lesbian/sapphic programming. Comparable as a competitor for the same viewer's subscription wallet, not as a niche specialist.
- Peacock: NBCUniversal's streaming service offering LGBTQ+ content including queer-focused originals and films (e.g., via partnerships such as with Here TV). Comparable as a broader-streaming competitor carrying LGBTQ content.
- MUBI: Curated global film streaming platform with a daily-rotating library of independent and arthouse cinema. Comparable in serving cinephile audiences who value curated indie/arthouse films.
Direct peers
- Wolfe Video: Long-running distributor and streaming label specializing in lesbian and queer women's cinema. Closely comparable on content niche and audience, with a hybrid distribution/streaming model.
- Here TV: LGBTQ-focused TV network and streaming service distributing queer film and series content. Comparable in audience targeting and content focus, with a longer linear-TV heritage.
- Revry: LGBTQ+ streaming platform offering films, series, and originals via SVOD/AVOD across web and connected TV apps. Directly competes for the same queer viewer and runs a similar multi-device DTC streaming model.
- Dekkoo: Subscription streaming service focused on LGBTQ+ film and series content, including a strong lesbian/sapphic library. Most directly comparable to Tello Films in audience, business model (SVOD), and content focus.
- WOW Presents Plus: Drag- and LGBTQ-focused streaming platform owned by World of Wonder, offering originals and library content. Comparable as a niche queer SVOD with multi-device distribution.
Emerging players
- Frameline: LGBTQ film nonprofit that distributes and showcases queer cinema, including streaming initiatives. Comparable as a content supply and distribution channel targeting the same lesbian/queer audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tello Films social profiles
Digital presenceTello Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tello Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tello Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tello 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 Tello Films
What does Tello Films do?
Tello Films operates a subscription-based streaming platform that produces and distributes lesbian, sapphic, and queer women's films, series, documentaries, shorts, and podcasts. The service has operated continuously for 19 years as the original lesbian streaming service, offering unlimited streaming access across multiple devices with offline viewing capability, and supports queer filmmakers by providing a distribution channel for their content.
Is Tello Films a public or private company?
Tello Films is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Tello Films founded?
Tello Films was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tello Films based?
Tello Films is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tello Films make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription Streaming is the primary driver. The others are individual Video Purchase/Rental.
Who are Tello Films's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Criterion Channel, Netflix, Peacock and MUBI. Direct peers are Wolfe Video, Here TV, Revry, Dekkoo and WOW Presents Plus. Frameline is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tello Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tello Films.
What industry is Tello Films in?
Tello Films's product category is LGBTQ Video Streaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAAAJ, Transactional Video Platforms (TVOD/EST), with a secondary code of MPABAHAC, TVOD/Transactional & PPV Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 5162 and its SIC code is 7822.