Arbelos

What Arbelos does

Arbelos Films is a Los Angeles-based film distribution and digital restoration label founded in 2017. The company acquires, restores, and distributes art house and world cinema — particularly canonical and historically overlooked films spanning Hungarian, Japanese, Czech, Slovak, Iranian, and independent American cinema. Its core technology is high-resolution digital restoration (4K and 2K) from original camera negatives and archival elements, executed in collaboration with leading film archives and laboratories including UCLA Film & TV Archive, the British Film Institute, the Hungarian Filmlab, the Academy Film Archive, the Hungarian National Film Institute, the Czech Film Archive, and The Film Foundation.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model: restored films premiere at festivals (TIFF, Sundance, Venice, NYFF), then receive coordinated theatrical runs at independent cinemas across North America and Europe (BAM, Lincoln Center, Alamo Drafthouse, and cinematheques), followed by licensing to streaming platforms (Apple TV, Amazon, Kanopy, Tubi, Night Flight+, Eternal Family) and direct-to-consumer Blu-ray sales through shoparbelosfilms.com. Catalog spans 25+ titles including Béla Tarr's Sátántangó and Damnation, Nina Menkes' six-film retrospective, Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie, and Toshio Matsumoto's Funeral Parade of Roses.

Revenue derives from transactional sources across physical media, streaming licensing royalties, and theatrical exhibition fees — with no subscription pricing and no publicly disclosed financials. The company is privately held with 1-10 employees and is led by David Marriott and Ei Toshinari. Customer segments include cinephiles and art house film enthusiasts (primary), academic institutions and film archives, and film festivals and cinematheques.

Name

Arbelos

Legal name

Arbelos Films

Website

https://arbelosfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arbelos Films is a Los Angeles-based film distribution and digital restoration label that acquires, restores, and distributes overlooked art house and world cinema through theatrical runs, streaming licensing, and Blu-ray sales, serving cinephiles, film festivals, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Arbelos releases films through theatrical distribution with coordinated screenings at independent cinemas across North America and internationally. Films premiere at festivals then receive theatrical runs at venues like BAM, Lincoln Center, Alamo Drafthouse locations, and cinematheques.
2. Physical Media Sales: Direct-to-consumer Blu-ray and DVD sales through their e-commerce storefront at shoparbelosfilms.com, offering restored editions of their catalog titles.
3. Streaming Licensing: Licensing deals with streaming platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Kanopy, Tubi, Night Flight+, and Eternal Family for distribution of catalog titles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arbelos is a Los Angeles-based film distribution and restoration label that acquires, restores (4K and 2K from original camera negatives), and distributes canon-expanding art house cinema. The company releases films theatrically at festivals and independent cinemas, licenses them to streaming platforms, and sells restored Blu-ray editions directly to consumers via shoparbelosfilms.com.

Product overview

Arbelos Films is a Los Angeles-based film distribution and restoration label that releases canon-expanding art house cinema. The company operates as a dual offering: (1) Film Distribution Services acquiring and distributing classic and contemporary art house films through theatrical releases, festival screenings, and streaming partnerships; and (2) Film Restoration Services performing 4K and 2K digital restorations in collaboration with film archives worldwide. The portfolio includes over 25 distributed films spanning multiple decades and countries, with restoration projects ranging from Béla Tarr's Sátántangó and Damnation, Nina Menkes' six-film retrospective, to Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie and Toshio Matsumoto's Funeral Parade of Roses. Additional revenue streams include Blu-ray sales through shoparbelosfilms.com and streaming partnerships with platforms including Apple TV, Amazon, Kanopy, Tubi, and Night Flight+.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Distribution Services Core distribution label service handling theatrical releases, film festival premieres (TIFF, Venice, Sundance, New York Film Festival), streaming licensing, and wider release of restored classic and contemporary independent films on behalf of rights holders.
• Film Restoration Services 4K and 2K digital film restoration performed from original camera negatives and archival elements, often in collaboration with world-leading film archives and foundations.
• Blu-ray and Physical Media Sales Physical Blu-ray disc sales via shoparbelosfilms.com, offering restored editions of catalog titles for collector/home video purchase.
• Nadja 1994 cult film by Michael Almereyda, starring Elina Löwensohn as vampire Nadja. New 4K restoration of director's cut with 93 min runtime, an Arbelos Films and Grasshopper Release.
• Sátántangó 1994 epic Hungarian film by Béla Tarr, running 439 minutes. New 4K restoration from original 35mm camera negative, in collaboration with The Hungarian Filmlab.
• Chameleon Street 1990 film by Wendell B. Harris Jr., winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. New 4K restoration from original camera negative under supervision of Wendell B. Harris Jr.
• Funeral Parade of Roses 1969 Japanese experimental masterpiece by Toshio Matsumoto. New 4K restoration from original 35mm camera negative and sound elements.
• The Last Movie 1971 Dennis Hopper directorial masterpiece, widely unseen for 50 years. New 4K restoration from original camera negative.
• The Juniper Tree 1990 film starring Björk in her first feature performance, directed by Nietzchka Keene. New 4K restoration.
• Cinematic Sorceress: The Films of Nina Menkes Six-film retrospective of Nina Menkes' uncompromising masterworks with new 2K and 4K restorations.
• Son of the White Mare 1981 Hungarian animated psychedelic masterpiece by Marcell Jankovics. New 4K restoration.
• János Vitéz (Johnny Corncob) 1973 Hungarian animated feature by Marcell Jankovics, the first feature-length animation produced in Hungary.
• Damnation 1988 Hungarian film by Béla Tarr, first in acclaimed trilogy with László Krasznahorkai. New 4K restoration.
• Private Property 1960 film noir gem starring Warren Oates, written and directed by Leslie Stevens (creator of The Outer Limits). New 4K restoration.
• Mutual Appreciation 2006 indie film by Andrew Bujalski, portrait of twenty-something life in NYC. New 2K restoration.
• Dark Night 2016 film by Tim Sutton, haunting critique of American gun culture loosely based on 2012 Aurora massacre. Winner of the Lanterna Magica Award at Venice Film Festival.
• Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive 1989 Wayne Wang film, genre-bending portrait of pre-handover Hong Kong. New 4K restoration.
• Dream Life 1972 Mireille Dansereau film, first feature directed by a woman in Quebec. New 2K restoration.
• 2/Duo 1997 Japanese film by Nobuhiro Suwa, intimate portrait of a young couple. 25th anniversary remastered version.
• Twilight 1990 Hungarian existential murder mystery by György Fehér. First-ever U.S. release in new 4K restoration.
• Far From Home 1975 Iranian-Turkish film by Sohrab Shahid Saless, portrait of immigrant experience in West Berlin. New 4K restoration.
• Time of the Heathen 1961 independent film by Peter Kass, lost marvel set in shadow of atomic bomb. New 4K restoration.
• Murdering the Devil 1970 Czechoslovak New Wave film by Ester Krumbachová. New 4K restoration.
• The Bloody Lady 1980 Slovak animation by Viktor Kubal, retelling of Báthory castle folk tale. New 2K restoration.
• Jurko the Highwayman 1976 Slovak animation by Viktor Kubal, the first feature-length animation in Slovakia. New 2K restoration.
• Nightshift 1981 UK film by Robina Rose, surrealist portrait of London hotel nightshift. New 4K restoration.
• The Sealed Soil 1977 Iranian film by Marva Nabili, the earliest complete surviving feature by an Iranian woman director. New 4K restoration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sátántangó ranked #36 on Sight & Sound / BFI's 100 Greatest Films Ever Made
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature13 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GrasshoppercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrasshopper is co-release partner with Arbelos Films for 'Nadja' (1994). The film is described as 'An Arbelos Films and Grasshopper Release.'
• Eos World FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEos World Fund co-presents 'Magdalena Viraga' and 'Queen of Diamonds' as part of the Nina Menkes retrospective restoration project.
• The Academy Film ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academy Film Archive provided materials and support for new 4K restorations of Nina Menkes films ('Queen of Diamonds' and 'The Bloody Child') as part of the 'Cinematic Sorceress' retrospective.
• The Film FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Film Foundation provided funding for the Nina Menkes restoration project, including new 4K restorations of 'Queen of Diamonds' and 'The Bloody Child.'
• Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew restoration of 'The Juniper Tree' by Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.
• Hungarian FilmlabcoreTechnology or IntegrationHungarian Filmlab collaborated with Arbelos Films on 4K restoration of 'Sátántangó' from original 35mm camera negative.
• Hungarian National Film Institute – Film ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian National Film Institute – Film Archive restored 'Damnation' in 4K from original 35mm camera negative under supervision of Béla Tarr.
• UCLA Film & Television ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLA Film & TV Archive located the only known 35mm elements for 'Private Property' which were restored in 4K for Arbelos' re-release.
• Lightbox Film Center (University of the Arts)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital restoration of 'Life Is Cheap… But Toilet Paper Is Expensive' by Lightbox Film Center at University of the Arts in collaboration with University of California Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
• British Film InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Film Institute provided original 16mm reversal a/b rolls and 16mm optical track for 4K restoration of 'Nightshift' in collaboration with Lightbox Film Center and Cinenova.
• Czech Film Archive (Národní filmový archiv)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech Film Archive restored 'Murdering the Devil' in 4K in 2023 by Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in collaboration with Národní filmový archiv.
• Shahid Saless ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShahid Saless Archive provided materials for new 4K restoration of 'Far From Home' for North American release.
• UCLA Film & Television ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner4K restoration of 'Time of the Heathen' in 2023 by UCLA Film & Television Archive and Lightbox Film Center at University of the Arts at Illuminate Hollywood laboratory.
• Éléphant – mémoire du cinéma québécoiscoreTechnology or IntegrationÉléphant – mémoire du cinéma québécois performed new 50th anniversary 2K restoration of 'Dream Life' for Arbelos Films.
• UCLA Film & Television ArchivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitally restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding provided by the Golden Globe Foundation, Century Arts Foundation, Farhang Foundation and Mark Amin. Restored from the 16mm original A/B negatives.
• Slovak Film InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlovak Film Institute provided restorations for Viktor Kubal films ('The Bloody Lady' and 'Jurko the Highwayman') as part of 'Viktor Kubal: Father of Slovak Animation' retrospective.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Flicker Alley: Specialty home video label focused on restored classic and silent cinema. Comparable to Arbelos in collector Blu-ray offerings and restoration scope.
• Arrow Video: Specialty distributor of restored cult, classic, and art house cinema with a strong physical media presence. Comparable to Arbelos in collector Blu-ray sales and curatorial scope.
• Cohen Film Collection: Art house distribution and restoration label focused on canonical world cinema. Comparable to Arbelos in curating restored classics and releasing via theatrical, streaming, and physical media.
• Janus Films: Pioneering US art house distributor (now part of Criterion), focused on theatrical releases of restored classic world cinema. Directly comparable to Arbelos in theatrical distribution of restored art house titles.
• Oscilloscope Laboratories: Art house distribution company known for curated, cinephile-focused releases. Comparable to Arbelos in theatrical and home video distribution of independent and restored cinema.
• Grasshopper Film: Niche art house distributor of restored classics and contemporary international cinema. Co-released 'Nadja' with Arbelos, making it a near-direct peer in distribution strategy and catalog positioning.
• Criterion Collection: The leading art house distribution and restoration label in the US, releasing canonical cinema on Blu-ray, streaming, and theatrical. Directly comparable to Arbelos in restoration scope, cinephile audience, and collector Blu-ray sales.
• Kino Lorber: Major US distributor of classic and contemporary art house cinema, with a strong in-house restoration arm. Competes with Arbelos across restoration, theatrical, streaming, and physical media channels.
• Milestone Films: Specialty distributor focused on restoration and re-release of underrepresented classic films. Comparable to Arbelos in restoration-driven approach and cinephile audience focus.
• Vinegar Syndrome: Specialty label restoring and distributing classic, cult, and overlooked cinema on physical media. Comparable to Arbelos in restoration focus and collector market positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arbelosfilms
• Facebookfacebook.com/arbelosfilms
• Instagraminstagram.com/arbelosfilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arbelosfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Arbelos