Lemming Film
Lemming Film is a privately held Dutch film and TV production company founded in 1995, producing theatrical features, high-end drama series, and children's content for Dutch public broadcasters, international streamers, and global film festivals, with operations in Amsterdam and Ghent.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lemming Film does
Lemming Film is a privately held Dutch film and TV production company founded in 1995 by Leontine Petit and headquartered in Amsterdam, with a Belgian production hub (Lemming Film Belgium) established in 2021 as a joint venture with A Private View in Ghent. The company produces four primary content streams: (1) theatrical feature films targeting Dutch, Belgian, and international festival/cinema audiences; (2) high-end TV drama series commissioned by Dutch public broadcasters (AVROTROS, NTR, NPO MAX) and distributed internationally through streamers such as Netflix; (3) children's and animated content for NPO Zappelin and AVROTROS, including the stop-motion series Rusty; and (4) international co-productions distributed through sales agents TrustNordisk and Indie Sales to platforms including Shudder/AMC Networks. Its revenue model is project-based, financed through a mix of Dutch public funding (Netherlands Film Fund, Netherlands Film and TV Production Incentive), Belgian Tax Shelter, broadcaster pre-sales, international co-production partners, and post-production licensing/sales revenue.
The company's core technology stack is industry-standard film and TV production; no proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or platform architecture is disclosed. Distribution runs through a sales-led go-to-market: world premieres at A-list festivals (Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, IFFR, Berlinale), theatrical release in Dutch and Belgian cinemas via independent distributors, linear broadcast on Dutch public channels, and selective international streaming deals. The firm is a co-founder of The Creatives, a 9-company European independent production alliance with a three-year development and funding partnership with Fremantle, and counts Academy membership and European Film Academy Deputy Chair status among its leadership credentials. The 30-year operating history has produced four Oscar nominations and two Golden Globe wins for The Secret Agent (2025-2026) alone, positioning Lemming Film as one of the most internationally recognized independent producers in the Benelux.
Lemming Film firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lemming Film
- Legal name
- Lemming Film
- Website
- https://lemmingfilm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lemming Film is a privately held Dutch film and TV production company founded in 1995, producing theatrical features, high-end drama series, and children's content for Dutch public broadcasters, international streamers, and global film festivals, with operations in Amsterdam and Ghent.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lemming Film industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film and Television Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)
Keywords
Where Lemming Film is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lemming Film business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Feature Film Production: Production of theatrical feature films for cinema release in Netherlands, Belgium, and international markets through co-productions with international partners.
- TV Drama Series Production: Production of high-end drama series for Dutch broadcasters (AVROTROS, NTR, NPO MAX) and international streaming platforms, including co-productions with European partners.
- Children's and Animated Content: Production of children's programming including animated series (Rusty) and live-action children's dramas for NPO Zappelin.
- International Sales and Distribution: Revenue from international sales agents (TrustNordisk, Indie Sales) selling distribution rights to territories worldwide, and direct streaming deals with platforms like Netflix and Shudder.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lemming Film product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lemming Film is an independent film and TV series production company that develops, finances, and produces theatrical feature films, high-end drama series, and children's animated content for Dutch public broadcasters (AVROTROS, NTR, NPO), international streaming platforms (Netflix, Shudder), and global cinema audiences. The company operates from Amsterdam and Ghent (via the Lemming Film Belgium joint venture with A Private View), producing both Dutch-language domestic content and English-language international co-productions distributed through international sales agents (TrustNordisk, Indie Sales) and via The Creatives alliance.
Product overview
Lemming Film is a film and TV production company offering a portfolio of feature films and drama series. The company's core offerings include high-end drama series (Dag & Nacht, Rust en Vreugd, Fenix, Heirs of the Night), feature films (The Secret Agent, Straf, Beginnings, The Wolf the Fox & the Leopard), and animated children's content (Rusty 2). They operate from Amsterdam (headquarters) and Ghent, Belgium through Lemming Film Belgium. Productions range from Dutch-language series for national broadcasters (NPO, AVROTROS, KPN) to international English-language co-productions targeting global festival circuits and streaming platforms. The company has a track record of producing award-winning content including Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning films.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Creatives: A creative alliance of nine independent European production companies formed in 2021 to jointly develop high-end drama series and feature films, partnered with Fremantle.
Products and services
- Dag & Nacht (Day & Night) High-end Dutch-Belgian medical drama series following healthcare workers across different hospital departments; Season 3 focuses on the psychiatric ward. Co-produced with AVROTROS.
- Rust en Vreugd TV drama series adaptation of Hendrik Groen's popular books about a widowed retired library director who discovers new joy through allotment gardening. Co-produced with Omroep MAX and broadcast on NPO 1.
- The Secret Agent Drama film set in Brazil 1977, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, starring Wagner Moura. Won 2 Golden Globe awards and 4 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best International Feature Film.
- The Wolf, the Fox & the Leopard
- Beginnings Danish-Belgian co-production directed by Jeanette Nordahl about a couple continuing to live together after the wife's stroke. Premiered at Berlinale Panorama 2025.
- Straf (After School) Dutch-Belgian comedy about a control-freak high school teacher who gets help from an unlikely source. Won the Golden Film Award at the Netherlands Film Festival after reaching 100,000+ cinema visitors.
- Heirs of the Night
- Fenix Crime drama series about drug crime in Brabant, co-produced with A Private View Belgium; previously broadcast on KPN, now available on Netflix internationally.
- Do Not Hesitate War drama following three young soldiers in a peacekeeping mission. Selected as the Netherlands submission for the 94th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. Co-produced with NTR.
- Rusty (Animated Series) Stop-motion children's animation series featuring Fox Terrier Rusty. 26 episodes for ages 3-6, co-produced with AVROTROS and broadcast on NPO Zappelin.
- Dead & Beautiful Psychological thriller by David Verbeek about young rich people who turn into vampires after a night of partying. Acquired by Shudder (AMC Networks) for US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Melk Film by Stefanie Kolk about a woman dealing with her body after stillbirth, part of the De Oversteek program for emerging directors.
- Berlin Alexanderplatz Adaptation of Alfred Döblin's classic 1929 novel, directed by Burhan Qurbani. Lemming Film served as Dutch co-producer with Sommerhaus (Germany) as lead producer. Selected for Main Competition at Berlinale 2020.
- Above the Dust Chinese feature directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, the first Chinese feature funded by the Netherlands Film Fund since 2015. Co-production partnership.
- Lemming Film Belgium Joint venture launched with Belgium's A Private View in 2021 to attract international co-productions and broaden the offer of high-quality series and films made in Belgium. Operates from Ghent with access to Belgian Tax Shelter financing.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Secret Agent achieved 4 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best International Feature Film
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lemming Film
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lemming Film technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lemming Film partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The Creatives AlliancecoreNine leading independent European production companies formed a creative and development alliance called The Creatives, including Lemming Film, Haut Et Court (France), Versus Production (Belgium), Maipo Film (Norway), Razor Film (Germany), Spiro (Israel), Unité (France), Masha (USA), and Good Chaos (UK). Later joined by Komplizen Film (Germany). The alliance signed a three-year partnership with Fremantle for development and funding of high-end drama series and feature films. Companies maintain individual identities while cooperating in co-production, talent sharing, and strategic partnerships.
- A Private ViewcoreLemming Film partnered with Belgium's A Private View to launch Lemming Film Belgium joint venture based in Ghent. A Private View's Dries Phlypo joined as producer. The venture aims to attract international co-productions and broaden quality series/films made in Belgium, with access to Belgian Tax Shelter and Netherlands Film and TV Production Incentive.
- AVROTROScoreDutch public broadcaster AVROTROS is a key production partner for Lemming Film series including Dag & Nacht, Heirs of the Night, Rusty animated series, and Clutter in the Courtyard. AVROTROS provides broadcast platform and often co-production financing.
- NTRcoreDutch public broadcaster NTR co-produced Do Not Hesitate and Fenix series, providing broadcast platform and co-production funding.
- Omroep MAXcoreDutch public broadcaster Omroep MAX is co-producer of Rust en Vreugd drama series, premiering March 2026 on NPO 1.
- TrustNordiskcoreInternational sales agent TrustNordisk handles world sales for Do Not Hesitate and other Lemming Film productions, selling distribution rights to territories worldwide.
- Indie SalescoreParis-based Indie Sales handles international sales for Dead & Beautiful and other titles, including promotional activities at AFM and other markets.
- Shudder (AMC Networks)majorAMC Networks' streaming service Shudder acquired Dead & Beautiful for US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, premiering November 2021.
- NetflixmajorNetflix streaming platform distributes Lemming Film's Fenix series internationally, providing global reach beyond initial Dutch broadcast.
- NDR (Germany)coreGerman public broadcaster NDR is co-producer of Heirs of the Night vampire series along with AVROTROS (Netherlands), NRK (Norway), and ZDF Enterprises for international distribution.
- NRK (Norway)coreNorwegian broadcaster NRK co-produces Heirs of the Night, enabling Nordic partnership and funding through Norwegian Filminstitute.
- ZDF EnterprisescoreZDF Enterprises handles international distribution for Heirs of the Night, selling rights to territories beyond the three co-producing broadcasters.
- Sommerhaus (Germany)coreGerman production company Sommerhaus is lead producer of Berlin Alexanderplatz, with Lemming Film as Dutch co-producer. Film was directed by Burhan Qurbani and received strong festival recognition.
- ZDF (Germany)coreGerman broadcaster ZDF co-produced Berlin Alexanderplatz in collaboration with Arte and Lemming Film.
- Maze Pictures (Germany)minorGerman production company Maze Pictures co-produced Heirs of the Night vampire series.
- Maipo Film (Norway)minorNorwegian production company Maipo Film co-produced Heirs of the Night, contributing Nordic production expertise.
- A Private View BelgiumcoreBelgian producer A Private View (Flemish) co-produced Fenix series, enabling Dutch-Belgian collaboration for crime drama.
- Heretic (Greece)minorGreek production company Heretic co-produced Do Not Hesitate, with support from Greek Film Center and EKOME.
- FremantlecoreMajor entertainment company Fremantle signed three-year development and funding partnership with The Creatives alliance (including Lemming Film) for high-quality international drama series.
- Mockingbird Productions (Belgium)minorBelgian production company Mockingbird co-produced Rusty 2 animated series with Lemming Film and AVROTROS.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lemming Film competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A Private View: Belgian independent production company led by Dries Phlypo. Lemming Film Belgium is a joint venture with A Private View, giving it essentially identical positioning on Flemish/Dutch co-productions and Belgian Tax Shelter financing.
- Haut Et Court: Leading French independent film and drama producer (Les Intouchables, Call Me By Your Name co-productions). A fellow co-founder of The Creatives alliance alongside Lemming Film, with a comparable boutique indie model focused on auteur-driven features and high-end series.
- Versus Production: Belgian independent production company and a fellow co-founder of the Creatives alliance. Comparable boutique indie with similar auteur-driven feature and high-end drama slate across Belgium and France.
- Topkapi Films: Major independent Dutch production company producing premium cinema and international co-productions. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-headquartered indie competing for the same Dutch broadcaster, Netherlands Film Fund, and co-production financing pool.
- Sommerhaus Film Productions: German independent production company that led Berlin Alexanderplatz with Lemming Film as co-producer. Closest direct co-production peer given the joint funding, festival positioning, and creative alignment on a single major title.
- Maipo Film: Leading Norwegian independent production company and a Creatives alliance co-founder. Most direct Nordic comparator for Lemming, with shared exposure to European co-production financing (Norwegian Filminstitute, NRK) and festival-circuit positioning.
- Razor Film: German independent production company and a Creatives alliance co-founder. Similar boutique indie profile, and partner on cross-border productions in Lemming's slate.
- Komplizen Film: German independent production company (Toni Erdmann, Maren Ade collaborations) and a later Creatives alliance member. Closest comparable German indie producer for Lemming-style prestige feature production and cross-border co-financing.
- Zentropa: Danish independent production company founded by Lars von Trier. A larger but functionally comparable auteur-led European indie with similar festival-circuit focus, international co-production financing, and feature/drama mix.
- Good Chaos: UK-based independent production company and Creatives alliance co-founder. Comparable in size, international co-production focus, and emphasis on filmmaker-driven prestige titles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lemming Film social profiles
Digital presenceLemming Film financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lemming Film leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Lemming Film subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Lemming Film funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lemming Film 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 Lemming Film
What does Lemming Film do?
Lemming Film is an independent film and TV series production company that develops, finances, and produces theatrical feature films, high-end drama series, and children's animated content for Dutch public broadcasters (AVROTROS, NTR, NPO), international streaming platforms (Netflix, Shudder), and global cinema audiences. The company operates from Amsterdam and Ghent (via the Lemming Film Belgium joint venture with A Private View), producing both Dutch-language domestic content and English-language international co-productions distributed through international sales agents (TrustNordisk, Indie Sales) and via The Creatives alliance.
Is Lemming Film a public or private company?
Lemming Film is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lemming Film founded?
Lemming Film was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lemming Film based?
Lemming Film is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Lemming Film make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Feature Film Production is the primary driver. The others are TV Drama Series Production, children's and Animated Content and international Sales and Distribution.
Who are Lemming Film's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A Private View, Haut Et Court, Versus Production, Topkapi Films, Sommerhaus Film Productions, Maipo Film, Razor Film, Komplizen Film, Zentropa and Good Chaos.
Does Lemming Film have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lemming Film.
What industry is Lemming Film in?
Lemming Film's product category is Film and Television Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAJAC, International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales). Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7812.