Library Films

What Library Films does

Library Films is a privately held, New York-based documentary and narrative film production company, founded in 1999 and led by director Chris Smith. The company finances and produces feature documentaries and multi-part documentary series spanning true crime (Tiger King, Hollywood Con Queen, Bad Vegan), sports (100 Foot Wave, the upcoming Andre Agassi docuseries for Apple TV+), music (Devo, WHAM!), investigative (Fyre, Collapse), and cultural subjects (Operation Varsity Blues, Skywalkers: A Love Story). Its core technology stack consists of traditional filmmaking tools and craft; no proprietary software platform or AI-driven workflow is disclosed. The company has no app products, no published APIs, and no subsidiaries.

The company operates two distinct revenue streams. Its primary income is documentary licensing to streaming platforms — Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max — generated through per-project production deals and licensing agreements for original series and feature documentaries. Its secondary stream is commercial production, handled in partnership with Smuggler, which directs advertising work for major brands including Geico, Mastercard, Volkswagen, USPS, and Bank of America. Customer-facing revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed; production budgets and licensing fees are private contract terms. Distribution reach is global via the partner streaming platforms, with marketing conducted through festival premieres (notably Sundance), earned media in outlets such as Variety, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly, and platform promotional features.

Library Films is structured as a creator-led boutique with 11-50 employees, anchored almost entirely on Chris Smith's reputation and creative output. CAA (Creative Artists Agency, Amanda Lebow) provides talent representation across documentary dealmaking, while Smuggler manages commercial directing. The company is independently owned with no identified external investors, parent, or holding company. It is currently operating and has ongoing commissions across all four major U.S. streaming platforms. A defamation lawsuit filed in 2026 against Library Films, Amazon MGM Studios, Vice Studios, and the Hollywood Hustler director regarding the documentary's portrayal of a $650 million Ponzi scheme figure represents a notable litigation overhang.

Name

Library Films

Legal name

Library Films

Website

https://libraryfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Library Films is a New York-based, privately held documentary and narrative film production company led by director Chris Smith, producing feature documentaries and series for major streaming platforms including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max, alongside commercial directing through Smuggler.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary and Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

True Crime Documentaries (MPADADAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ)

Keywords

• Documentary production
• Film production services
• Content licensing
• Commercial directing
• Streaming content production

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Documentary Licensing to Streaming Platforms: Library Films produces documentary content that is licensed to major streaming platforms including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. Revenue is generated through production deals and licensing agreements for original documentary series and feature films.
2. Commercial Production: Production of commercial content directed through Smuggler production company for clients including Geico, Mastercard, VW, USPS, Bank of America, and other major brands.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Library Films is a production company that produces and finances original documentaries, documentary series, and narrative films for licensing to major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. It also directs commercial content for major brands through the Smuggler production company, serving clients including Geico, Mastercard, VW, USPS, and Bank of America.

Product overview

Library Films is a documentary and narrative film production company helmed by director Chris Smith. The company produces and finances documentary projects including acclaimed feature documentaries (American Movie, Fyre, Collapse, Jim & Andy, Devo) and multi-part documentary series for streaming platforms (Tiger King, 100 Foot Wave, WHAM!, Bad Vegan, Operation Varsity Blues). Library Films distributes its content through major streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+, with recent projects spanning sports (Andre Agassi docuseries), true crime (Tiger King, Hollywood Con Queen), music (Devo, WHAM!), and investigative journalism (Fyre, Collapse).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Movie A documentary about filmmaker Mark Borchardt's quest to make his dream film, chronicling his struggle with his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis over two years.
• American Job

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amazon MGM StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon MGM Studios is named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit along with Library Films regarding the Hollywood Hustler documentary that premiered on Prime Video.
• Vice StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVice Studios is named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit regarding the Hollywood Hustler documentary, co-produced with Library Films.
• Article 19 FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticle 19 Films is named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit alongside Library Films regarding the Hollywood Hustler documentary.
• SmugglercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmuggler is the production company partner for Library Films commercial work, representing Chris Smith's commercial directing work through their site.
• CAA (Creative Artists Agency)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAA represents Library Films for talent representation, with Amanda Lebow handling documentary deals at CAA.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix is a major distribution partner for Library Films, distributing productions including Tiger King, Jim & Andy, Fyre, and Skywalkers.
• Apple TV+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApple TV+ announced a new docuseries about Andre Agassi, with Library Films producing and Chris Smith directing, to stream exclusively on Apple TV+.
• Rebecca ChaiklincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRebecca Chaiklin co-directed Tiger King with Eric Goode, and is named in a defamation lawsuit alongside Library Films regarding Hollywood Hustler.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kartemquin Films: Long-running independent documentary production company producing acclaimed nonfiction for broadcast and streaming. Comparable indie documentary pedigree and festival-to-platform pathway.
• XTR: Documentary streaming and production company producing original feature documentaries with theatrical and streaming distribution. Direct peer in documentary production targeting streaming-first audiences.
• Smuggler: Commercial production company representing Library Films' directing work for major brands. Closely related operationally as the commercial channel partner; comparable as a creative-led production company.
• Campfire Studios: New York-based documentary and nonfiction production company producing series and features for streaming platforms. Comparable in scale and operating model, focused on premium documentary commissions for tier-1 buyers.
• Radical Media: Independent production company producing documentary features, branded content, and commercials. Comparable mix of documentary production and commercial work, similar boutique creative-led structure.
• Vice Studios: Documentary and nonfiction production division of Vice Media producing feature docs and series for streamers. Direct comparator, also co-produced Hollywood Hustler with Library Films and named in the same defamation suit.
• Imagine Documentaries: Documentary production arm of Imagine Entertainment (Ron Howard, Brian Grazer) producing prestige nonfiction for major streamers and networks. Highly comparable model: creator-led documentary production securing premium commissions from Netflix, Disney+, and HBO.
• Duplass Brothers Productions: Independent film and documentary production company founded by Mark and Jay Duplass, producing hybrid documentary and narrative content for Netflix, HBO, and Amazon. Same creator-led indie production structure as Library Films.

Broad incumbents

• Participant Media: Large impact-focused media company producing documentary and narrative content with social-issue themes. Wider portfolio and greater capital base, but operates in the same premium documentary commissioning space as Library Films.
• A24: Independent film and documentary producer and distributor with broader slate across narrative and nonfiction. Larger and more diversified than Library Films, but operates in overlapping indie documentary distribution and production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/library-films

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 Library Films