Atticus Education

What Atticus Education does

Atticus Education is an Ireland-based, privately held online education company founded in 2012 by Lord David Puttnam, the Oscar-winning producer of Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields. It operates from Puttnam's residence at The Farm, Grenagh, Co. Cork, with a headcount of 1–10, and is chaired by Puttnam himself. The company delivers interactive audio-visual seminars — branded as telepresence seminars — to film schools, universities, and screen-agency partners across Ireland, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States, using video clips, audio files, and live two-way discourse led by Puttnam.

The core technology is a telepresence seminar model combining live video conferencing with curated film content and real-time interaction; no proprietary software platform or AI/ML capability is evident in the source materials. Product surface is narrow and personal: the flagship offering is the telepresence seminar series, with a specialised sub-programme called Puttnam Scholars (launched 2020) that delivers six masterclasses per cycle to emerging filmmakers and is supported by €1,500 Accenture-sponsored bursaries. In May 2023 the company broadened its audience downward with the Screen Careers for Transition-Year Students programme in partnership with University College Cork and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.

Revenue is generated through professional-services seminar delivery to institutional clients — universities (University of Sunderland, Griffith Film School, La Salle College of the Arts, University College Cork) and screen agencies (Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Skills Ireland, Future Screens NI). No pricing is publicly disclosed; the partnership with Accenture Ireland provides financial sponsorship for the Puttnam Scholars bursaries. Distribution is partnership-led and global, relying on Puttnam's personal reputation and multi-year institutional relationships rather than direct sales or marketing spend. There is no evidence of external investment, M&A, or expansion beyond Puttnam's personal delivery capacity.

Name

Atticus Education

Legal name

Atticus Education

Website

https://davidputtnam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Atticus Education is an Ireland-based online education company founded in 2012 by Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam, delivering interactive telepresence seminars on film production and screen-industry careers to universities and emerging filmmakers across Ireland, the UK, Australia, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG), Lecture Capture, Live Streaming & Class Recording (EDAFABAD), Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK)

Keywords

• Online film education
• Interactive telepresence seminars
• Screen industry training
• Film masterclass programs
• Film school partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Seminar Services: Atticus Education provides interactive online seminars to universities and educational institutions. The company delivers masterclasses and educational programs to film schools and universities globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Atticus Education delivers interactive online telepresence seminars led by Lord David Puttnam to film schools, universities, and screen agencies worldwide. Seminars use video clips, audio files, and two-way live discourse with students to teach film production, screen industries, and creative careers. The core offering is supplemented by specialised programmes including the Puttnam Scholars masterclass for emerging filmmakers and the Screen Careers for Transition-Year Students programme in Ireland.

Product overview

Atticus Education is a single unified online education platform founded in 2012 that delivers interactive audio-visual seminars globally. The core product consists of live telepresence seminars led by David Puttnam, supplemented by specialized sub-programmes such as the Puttnam Scholars masterclass series. The offering uses video, audio, and two-way interactive discourse to bridge technology and learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Puttnam Scholars: A cross-border initiative providing interactive online seminars for emerging filmmakers, run in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen.

Products and services

• Telepresence Seminars Interactive live online seminars led by Lord David Puttnam from his home in west Cork, connecting film students globally through two-way video conferencing with embedded video clips, audio files, and real-time discussion. Delivered as recurring programmes to university film schools.
• Puttnam Scholars Programme Cross-border masterclass series with Lord David Puttnam for emerging filmmakers who have made or are developing their first feature or television drama, run in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen and supported by Future Screens NI.
• Screen Careers for Transition-Year Students Film-careers awareness programme introducing Cork transition-year students to opportunities in the screen industries, covering creativity and identity, the future of cinema, animation, gaming, and practical advice on film industry careers.

Named customers5 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fís Éireann/Screen IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024Collaboration on the Puttnam Scholars programme, a cross-border initiative delivering interactive online seminars to emerging filmmakers across Ireland, with Screen Ireland supporting talent development and skills training in the screen sector.
• Northern Ireland ScreencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024Partner in the Puttnam Scholars cross-border initiative delivering interactive online seminars to emerging filmmakers in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
• University College Cork (UCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC serves as the Irish hub for Atticus Education programmes, hosting the Puttnam Scholarship and Screen Careers for Transition-Year Students programme in partnership with Screen Ireland.
• Griffith Film SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership delivering interactive telepresence seminars to film students in Brisbane, Australia. Regular seminar series conducted with Lord Puttnam since 2013.
• La Salle College of the Arts (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Singapore arts college delivering telepresence seminars, thesis reviews, and animation sessions. Lord Puttnam lectures in Film Studies at the institution.
• University of SunderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership delivering telepresence seminars since 2012, with the programme entering its third year by 2014. Lord Puttnam served as Chancellor of Sunderland University.
• Screen Skills IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills development unit within Screen Ireland partnering with Atticus Education on the Puttnam Scholars masterclass programme for emerging filmmakers.
• Future Screens NIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorthern Ireland initiative selecting participants for the Puttnam Scholars programme, identifying emerging filmmakers for the masterclass series.
• StoryFutures (Royal Holloway, University of London)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLord Puttnam has been an enthusiastic supporter of StoryFutures for 4 years and helped with their bid for the UKRI Centre for AI in Digital Media Inclusion. Previously hosted a masterclass on immersive storytelling at BFI as part of StoryFutures activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BAFTA: Runs learning programmes, masterclasses, and skills initiatives for screen-industry professionals through BAFTA Crew and related programmes. Comparable in delivering industry-expert-led education and training to emerging filmmakers — Puttnam is also a BAFTA Fellow.
• MasterClass: Premium creator-led online masterclass platform offering video-based courses taught by world-class practitioners. Most directly comparable to Atticus in delivery model (expert-led online seminars), premium positioning, and learner experience, though MasterClass operates at platform scale across many domains.
• StoryFutures Academy: UK centre for storytelling in emerging media (immersive, AI-assisted, interactive), founded by Royal Holloway. Directly comparable because Atticus is already a partner, and both focus on advanced screen-storytelling skills delivered through expert-led sessions.
• National Film and Television School (NFTS): UK-based film school delivering postgraduate training and masterclasses across filmmaking disciplines. Comparable to Atticus as a film-education institution serving emerging filmmakers, and notably connected since Puttnam serves as Life President of NFTS.
• Sundance Institute: Provides filmmaker labs, masterclasses, and educational programming for emerging screen-industry talent. Comparable as a film-focused educator delivering masterclasses and mentorship to the same audience Atticus serves — emerging filmmakers and screen professionals.
• Met Film School: Film school offering practical training and industry-led masterclasses for emerging filmmakers. Comparable target audience and curriculum overlap, with a similar emphasis on industry-practitioner instruction in film production.
• Raindance Film School: Independent film school running courses, masterclasses, and training programmes for filmmakers. Comparable as a UK/European film-education provider serving emerging talent with industry-expert-led sessions.
• CreativeLive: Online platform offering live and recorded classes led by working professionals across creative disciplines including film and media. Comparable delivery model — expert-led live/recorded seminars to a global audience — and shares the screen/creative-courses overlap with Atticus.

Broad incumbents

• FutureLearn: Large-scale online higher-education platform offering courses and programmes from universities globally. Comparable as a partner-channel-style online educator reaching university learners, though operating at much larger scale and across many subjects beyond film.
• Skillshare: Large online learning platform with a substantial catalogue of creator-led video courses across creative disciplines including film and video production. Comparable in the online expert-led delivery model, but serves a much broader catalogue and learner base than Atticus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atticus-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Atticus Education