Sub-ti

What Sub-ti does

Sub-ti (SUB-TI Ltd) is a London-headquartered international subtitling company founded in 2002, providing interlingual and intralingual subtitles, live and pre-recorded subtitling, audio description, SDH, theatre surtitles, and DCP-master production for film festivals, TV networks, film archives, theatres, and corporate clients. Its core technical asset is the patented Sub-ti Projection System, a proprietary video-projection software stack with adaptable font/width/spacing controls and bilingual-operator workflows designed for live festival screenings. The company maintains a database of more than 24,000 translated films, processes over 4,000 hours of subtitled material annually, and operates across 30 languages supported by a London-based multilingual team and hundreds of freelance translators, with representative offices in Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Montreal, and New York.

The business is a project-based, sales-led professional services operation. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with revenue derived from per-project engagements with enterprise clients such as the Venice Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, BFI, MoMA, National Gallery, Walter Presents (Channel 4), and the Old Vic Theatre. A sister company, SubTi Access Srl (Turin), extends the offering into accessibility services including audio description, SDH, and respeaking, and together the two entities have driven initiatives such as the INCinema inclusive film festival, the Final Cut in Venice awards, and participation in EU-funded projects (LTA Consortium, MediaVerse, TRACTION).

Customer acquisition relies on direct enterprise sales, repeat relationships, and presence at international film festivals and industry panels rather than on broad marketing. Sub-ti is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding rounds, and Federico Spoletti serves as CEO. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sub-ti

Legal name

SUB-TI Ltd

Website

https://subti.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Subtitling and Language Services

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Subtitling & Captioning Services (Timed Text, SDH/CC) (MPAHAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Localization Technology & Automation (TMS, Subtitle Tools, MT/AI, Speech-to-Text) (MPAHAFAH), Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation) (MPAHAFAD)

Keywords

• Subtitling services
• Film festival subtitling
• Accessibility services
• Audio description
• Interlingual translation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Subtitling Services: Project-based professional services for subtitling, translation, and access services for film festivals, TV networks, film archives, theatres, and corporate clients. Services include interlingual and intralingual subtitles, pre-recorded and live subtitling, audio description, and DCP master production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sub-ti provides professional subtitling and access services for film festivals, TV networks, film archives, theatres, and corporate clients. Services include interlingual and intralingual subtitles (pre-recorded, semi-live, and live), audio description, SDH, DCP master production, and theatre surtitles, delivered across 30 languages using a proprietary patented video projection system and a global network of freelance translators.

Product overview

Sub-ti is an international subtitling company founded in London in 2002, providing high-quality subtitling services across multiple media formats. The product portfolio centers on film festival subtitling (their founding specialty), television network services, film archive subtitling, and accessibility services. Key offerings include the proprietary Sub-ti Projection System with patented video projection software for live festival events, interlingual and intralingual subtitling in over 30 languages, audio description services for the visually impaired, and SDH for the hearing impaired. The subsidiary Sub-ti Access focuses on accessibility solutions. Services span digital formats (DCP, DVD, Blu-ray), theatre surtitles, and corporate video subtitling. The company processes over 4,000 hours of subtitled material annually and maintains relationships with major clients including Venice Film Festival, BFI, MoMA, and Walter Presents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sub-Ti Access: Sister company focused on accessibility services including audio description, subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, and live subtitling by respeaking for cinema, television and festivals.

Products and services

• Subtitling for Film Festivals Provides digital and live subtitling services for international film festivals including Venice, Zurich, Locarno, and London Spanish Film Festival, using the proprietary Sub-ti Projection System with patented video projection software, bilingual operators, and a two-tier quality control system.
• Subtitling for TV Networks Provides multi-language subtitles for TV series and networks including interlingual and intralingual subtitling in pre-recorded and live formats, audio description for the visually impaired, and SDH services.
• Subtitling for Film Archives Provides subtitling services for restored films, archive content, and legacy film collections for institutions including BFI London, MoMA New York, and National Gallery Washington, with access to a database of over 24,000 translated films.
• Subtitling for Digital Formats Provides subtitles in European languages, Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese (Mandarin and Simplified) for digital media formats including DCP, DVD, and Blu-ray, including video conversion services and DCP production from DCP masters or QuickTime files.
• Sub-ti Projection System Proprietary patented video projection system for live film festival subtitling with automated subtitle synchronization and manual override capability, adaptable font size and formatting, and superior legibility compared to electronic display systems.
• Subtitling for Theatre Provides surtitles for theatre and live performances in both intralingual and interlingual formats, including equipment provision (projectors, screens, software) and live delivery by multilingual operators for clients such as Biennale Teatro Venice.
• Access Services Provides accessibility services for cinema, television, and festivals including audio description, audio introduction, SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing), and live subtitling by respeaking.
• Corporate Services Provides multilingual subtitles for corporate videos and promotional material for companies and international organizations, applying cinematic standards to business communications.
• Film Translation Provides high-quality interlingual and intralingual film translation services to enhance international film success and support the concept of accessible filmmaking.

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Venice Production Bridge / La Biennale di VeneziacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Final Cut in Venice workshop; Sub-ti and Sub-Ti Access provide awards worth up to €7,500 each for DCP master creation and accessible content for films from Africa and Middle East. Partnership active since 2013 (over 10 years).
• Sub-Ti AccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company (SubTi Access Srl, Turin) specializing in accessibility services. Together they form the primary service offering with Sub-Ti providing subtitles and Sub-Ti Access providing accessibility services.
• MYmoviesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in INCinema inclusive film festival initiative; provides VOD platform for online screenings alongside physical cinema events.
• FONDAZIONE SISTEMA TOSCANAstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in INCinema inclusive film festival initiative in Tuscany region.
• Lovers Film Festival TorinostrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial subtitles provider for the LGBTQI film festival since 2017.
• BFI (British Film Institute)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular provider of subtitling services for film archive content at BFI London.
• MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular provider of subtitling services for film retrospectives at MoMA New York.
• National GallerystrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular provider of subtitling services for film programs at National Gallery Washington.
• LTA Consortium (Live Text Access)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project co-funded by EU (2018-2021) to harmonize professional profile of real-time subtitlers across Europe. Partners include SDI Munich, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Scuola superiore per mediatori linguistici Pisa, ECQA, Velotype, ZDF Digital, European Federation of Hard of Hearing People.
• ELIA (European Language Industry Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association membership in the language services industry.
• WICIP ProjectstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational project for promotion of Italian cinema written, produced and directed by women. Selected as Special Project by Italian Ministry of Culture. Coordinated by L'Age D'Or with SUB-TI and SUB-TI ACCESS as implementation partners.
• Wake Up Europe Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing Italian subtitles for European films at pan-European film festival for first-time voters and young Europeans.
• ARSAD (Advance Seminar on Audio Description)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing support for international seminar on audio description since 2007, engaging practitioners, researchers, and industry stakeholders.
• MediaVerseTechnology or IntegrationEuropean project collaboration for immersive content accessibility; organized joint panel at Venice Film Festival 2022.
• TRACTIONstrategicTechnology or IntegrationEuropean project collaboration for immersive content accessibility; organized joint panel at Venice Film Festival 2022.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pixelogic Media: Media localisation services including subtitling, dubbing, and access for theatrical and streaming clients. Comparable in its focus on film and broadcast localisation and access services.
• BTI Studios: Subtitling and access services provider (now part of Iyuno) serving broadcasters, streamers, and festivals. Directly comparable in service mix to Sub-ti, particularly in European broadcast and access services.
• ZOO Digital: Cloud-based localisation and subtitling services for the entertainment industry, with proprietary workflow tooling. Comparable to Sub-ti's localisation technology angle and media-industry client base.
• VSI Group: International subtitling, dubbing, and access services provider for film, TV, and digital platforms. Comparable to Sub-ti in subtitling and accessibility focus, with global reach across multiple languages.
• Eurotitling: European-based subtitling and localisation specialist serving broadcasters, festivals, and distributors. Closely comparable to Sub-ti's European festival and broadcast focus.
• Visual Data Media Services: End-to-end post-production and localisation services for film and TV, including subtitling and mastering. Direct competitor in the media localisation and post-production value chain.
• Iyuno (formerly SDI Media): Global leader in media localisation including subtitling, dubbing, and access services for film, TV, and streaming. Closest direct peer to Sub-ti's core offering, though at vastly greater scale and with broader service breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Deluxe Media: Large media-services incumbent offering localisation, distribution, and post-production services. Overlaps with Sub-ti in subtitling/access services but operates as part of a broader portfolio.
• The Kitchen (Localization): International media localisation company providing subtitling, dubbing, and accessibility services to major studios and streamers. Comparable in service mix but operates at substantially larger scale.

Others

• ELIA (European Language Industry Association): Industry association for the European language services sector, of which Sub-ti is a member. Not a commercial peer but a relevant ecosystem/peer-network participant for benchmarking and visibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Sub-ti