The Rogues

What The Rogues does

The Rogues is a privately held Dutch film production company, established as a foundation in May 2015 and headquartered in Amsterdam. It produces fiction features, documentaries, short films, animations, music theater, and audio drama/podcasts aimed at both adult and children's audiences, with a stated mission inspired by the Robin Hood story: to collaborate with independent creators and bring socially relevant, often overlooked stories to light. Its output to date spans more than 30 projects, including three feature films — 'About That Life' (2019), 'I Don't Wanna Dance' (2021) and 'Bite'/'Bijt' (2024, world premiere at IFFR) — plus short documentaries such as 'Spottertjes', the children's series 'Operatie Aarde', the animation 'Volle Bak', and the music theater production 'Over de beiaardier die in een klok veranderde'. The portfolio has been recognized with two Gouden Kalveren, a Méliès d'Or at Sitges, a Gryphon Award at Giffoni, an Oscar submission ('Nightshade'), and premieres at Toronto, Locarno and Clermont-Ferrand.

The underlying production model is project-based and grant- and broadcaster-financed rather than technology-driven: there are no proprietary software products, AI/ML systems, patents or APIs. Core technology is the creative collective itself — owner/producer Rianne Poodt leading a five-person core team (Head of Development, Assistant Producer, Project Coordinator, Marketing/Content Intern) augmented by recurring directors, writers and freelancers. The company finances each project by stacking competitive Dutch cultural grants (Nederlands Filmfonds, CoBO, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds voor Podiumkunsten, plus smaller foundations and municipal subsidies) with co-production commissions and broadcast licensing from Dutch public broadcasters (NPO/NPO3, BNNVARA, VPRO, KRO-NCRV, HUMAN, NTR, AVROTROS). Distribution flows through theatrical Dutch cinema release, NPO Start streaming and NPO3 broadcast, plus international sales agents (e.g., Gargantua Distribution) and the international festival circuit. Customer concentration is structurally high — almost all named counterparties sit inside the Dutch public broadcasting and public film-fund ecosystem — and there is no disclosed venture or private equity capital.

Name

The Rogues

Legal name

THE ROGUES

Website

https://therogues.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rogues is an Amsterdam-based, privately held Dutch film production company (foundation, founded 2015) that produces fiction features, documentaries, shorts, animation, music theater, and audio drama for adult and children's audiences, financed primarily via Dutch film funds and co-productions with Dutch public broadcasters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

akta.pro primary industry

Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments) (MPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Format & Remake Rights Licensing (MPADALAB)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Documentary filmmaking
• Co-production partnerships
• Broadcast licensing
• Film distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Film Production Grants and Subsidies: Primary revenue from Dutch cultural film funds (Nederlands Filmfonds, CoBO) and arts funds that support film development, production, and realization. These are competitive grants for eligible film projects.
2. Broadcast Licensing: Revenue from licensing finished films to Dutch public broadcasters including VPRO, BNNVARA, KRO-NCRV, HUMAN, NTR, and AVROTROS for television and streaming distribution on NPO Start.
3. Co-production Revenue: Revenue from co-productions with partner production companies and broadcasters, sharing production costs and rights.
4. International Sales and Distribution: Revenue from international sales agents and festival distribution, including premieres at major festivals like IFFR, Toronto, Sitges, and commercial distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Rogues is a Dutch independent film production company that develops, produces, and realizes feature films, short films, documentaries, animated films, music theater productions, and audio dramas for both adult and children's audiences. The company collaborates closely with independent filmmakers and finances projects through Dutch cultural film funds, public broadcaster co-productions, broadcast licensing, and international sales. It delivers finished works to Dutch cinemas, public broadcasters, festival audiences, and streaming platforms such as NPO Start.

Product overview

The Rogues is a Dutch film production company producing documentaries, fiction films, animations, and music theater for both adults and children. The portfolio includes feature films (Wheelie, Bijt, I Don't Wanna Dance, Fietskamp), animations (Volle Bak, Vis uit het Water), short films (Nachtschade, Wild, Tienminutengesprek, Luza Kan Alles Zelf), documentaries (Spottertjes, Kleine Broertjes Gaan Niet Dood, Futurity), series (Operatie Aarde), audio dramas (Luchten), and music theater productions. The company operates as a collective of independent filmmakers working in close collaboration, with films distributed through broadcasters (BNNVARA, NPO, VPRO, HUMAN, KRO-NCRV) and platforms (NPO Start, Vimeo), and screened at international festivals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wheelie Feature film following 21-year-old Reza who, after a motorcycle accident in Thailand, must reshape his life being permanently confined to a wheelchair. Co-produced with BNNVARA and supported by CoBO.
• Bijt (Bite) Feature film starring Mark who suffers from intense self-loathing. When he meets Lisa at his grandfather's deathbed, a loving but bizarre bond forms that spirals out of control. Premiered at IFFR 2024.
• I Don't Wanna Dance Coming-of-age film about Joey (13) who must decide whether to step out of his destructive dance with his mother or stay at the cost of his own happiness. Won Gryphon Award at Giffoni Festival.
• Fietskamp (Bicycle Camp) Feature film about a perfectionist girl sent to cycling camp by her performance-oriented parents because she cannot ride a bike at age 12. In pre-production for theatrical release in 2027.
• Don't Kill Bob (Ben & Benjamin) Feature film about Ben and Benjamin, father and son who are polar opposites. When their mother leaves for work abroad, Ben tries to change his autistic son but becomes involved in fraud, leading to a role reversal. In development.
• Volle Bak (Fully Loaded) Animated comedy about a family going on a camping trip to France. In production, to be released as theatrical pre-feature in VUE cinemas.
• Vis uit het Water (A Fish out of Water) Animated children's film about goldfish Minnow and bird Liv who are best friends and roommates. As Minnow wants independence, they embark on a journey meeting new friends. In development.
• Luza Kan Alles Zelf (Luza Can Do It All by Herself) Short film about perfectionist Luza (9) who must run her parents' magical message-in-a-bottle lock for the first time. In pre-production.
• Kleine Broertjes Gaan Niet Dood (Little Brothers Don't Die) Documentary with stopmotion animation by Renée van Hout about losing her brother 15 years ago. Co-produced with HUMAN, in pre-production.
• Spottertjes (Car Boys) Short youth documentary (13 minutes) following friends Kursat (14) and Jan (13) and their shared passion for car spotting. A film about friendship, love for cars, and courage. Realized in collaboration with VPRO.
• Operatie Aarde Series about trio Kit, Zef and Ronja who decide to go bigger to save the world. Pilot made in collaboration with BNNVARA as part of 3LAB Zapp.
• Nachtschade (Nightshade) Short film about young Tarik (11) helping his father transport illegal immigrants. Selected as Dutch Oscar submission for Best Live Action Short Film.
• Wild Short film about a father misbehaving during a weekend trip, causing his family to turn against him. Won the Méliès d'Or at Sitges Film Festival.
• Tienminutengesprek (School's Out) Murderous comedy about a mother and teacher whose pent-up feelings explode during a parent-teacher conference. Won multiple awards including Zilveren Krulstaart.
• Luchten Series of letter exchanges between an inmate and someone outside prison. 8 episodes of 25 minutes with 8 correspondence duos.
• Over de beiaardier die in een klok veranderde (About the carillonneur who turned into a bell) Music theater production about two fathers and two sons, interwoven stories about letting go and saying goodbye. Received five-star reviews.
• Futurity Series of four short documentaries about the meaning, pleasure and connecting power of making music.
• Obesk Short film about a close-knit group of young dockworkers after one member disappears. Had international premiere at Clermont-Ferrand Festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 Gouden Kalveren awards for 'About That Life' (2019)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• BNNVARAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster co-producing Wheelie and Operatie Aarde with The Rogues. Provides broadcast licensing, production support, and creative collaboration.
• VPROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster co-producing Spottertjes documentary with The Rogues as part of Zappdoc campus.
• KRO-NCRVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster co-producing Fietskamp feature film with The Rogues.
• HUMANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch public broadcaster co-producing Kleine Broertjes Gaan Niet Dood documentary with The Rogues.
• Spotted BirdstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company co-producing Ben & Benjamin (Don't Kill Bob) feature film with The Rogues.
• GROM ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on Wheelie feature film.
• NTRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch broadcaster co-producing Tienminutengesprek short film.
• AVROTROSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch broadcaster supporting Luchten audio drama/podcast project.
• Gargantua DistributionstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent representing Obesk for international distribution and festival premiere at Clermont-Ferrand.
• BNNVARAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcaster partner for Operatie Aarde series through 3LAB Zapp series contest.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Submarine: Amsterdam-based production and distribution company handling independent Dutch features, documentaries, and animation with co-production and broadcaster financing model similar to The Rogues.
• NL Film: Amsterdam-based Dutch production company focused on feature films, series, and documentaries with comparable co-production funding model using Dutch public broadcasters and Filmfonds support.
• Lemming Film: Dutch production company producing independent features, documentaries, and series with international co-production partners — closely aligned with The Rogues' festival-circuit positioning and Dutch public funding base.
• Column Film: Dutch production company developing and producing feature films and documentaries with comparable public funding and broadcaster co-production dependencies.
• BosBros: Dutch feature film and series production company headquartered in Amsterdam, producing arthouse and mainstream Dutch content with similar public broadcaster and Filmfonds funding structure.
• BALDR Film: Amsterdam-based Dutch production company producing arthouse features and documentaries, similarly reliant on Dutch Filmfonds, CoBO, and public broadcaster commissions.
• Halal Films: Amsterdam-based Dutch production company producing arthouse features and series with similar funding architecture and broadcaster relationships, often overlapping in creative talent and festival positioning.
• Keplerfilm: Dutch production company specializing in arthouse features and documentaries, with comparable portfolio breadth across formats and similar festival-circuit positioning.
• Viking Film: Dutch feature film and documentary producer with parallel dependence on Nederlands Filmfonds and public broadcaster co-productions, operating at a similar boutique scale.
• Topkapi Films: Amsterdam-based Dutch film production company producing features, documentaries, and series with similar reliance on Filmfonds, CoBO, and public broadcaster co-financing. Highly comparable in scale, mission, and Dutch-market orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Rogues-921581544653822
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/therogues
• Instagraminstagram.com/theroguesfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Rogues