East City Films

What East City Films does

East City Films Limited is a London-based private immersive media studio founded in 2006 by Ashley Cowan and Darren Emerson, operating from Mainyard Studios in Hackney Wick with a core creative team of approximately four people (CEO Darren Emerson, COO Ashley Cowan, Executive Producer of Exhibitions & Touring Dan Tucker, Producer & Project Manager Micaela Blitz). The company develops, produces, and tours location-based VR and AR experiences for museums, cultural institutions, film festivals, broadcasters, and purpose-driven brands in the UK and internationally. It functions as an IP-holding company owning and controlling a catalogue of award-winning VR documentaries that spans social impact, historical testimony, and cultural heritage themes — notably the Holocaust survivor trilogy "The Journey Back" (Letters From Drancy, Walk To Westerbork, Escape To Shanghai, commissioned by Illinois Holocaust Museum), the acid house era experience "In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats" (now in a four-player multiplayer format), "Common Ground" (Aylesbury Estate social housing documentary), "Indefinite" (immigration detention exposé), "Witness 360: 7/7" (London bombings survivor story), and "Project Endeavour" (autonomous vehicles).

The studio's technical stack combines cinematic 360° video, volumetric capture, photogrammetry, motion capture, spatial audio, and real-time interactive VR design, with multi-sensory installations incorporating haptics, environmental effects (wind, vibrations via Subpacs, DMX-controlled fans), and adaptive deployment across gallery, museum, festival, and exhibition contexts. Its technology partners include All Seeing Eye (VR production), Transmission TX (camera), 1.618 Digital (spatial audio), and Target 3D (motion capture), supported by a roster of specialist directors and producers.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: licensing of VR experiences to museums and cultural institutions for permanent or temporary exhibition (e.g., permanent installation at Illinois Holocaust Museum since October 2023); direct venue bookings and touring exhibitions with ticket revenue share (Barbican, Wales Millennium Centre, Testbed Leeds, Warwick Arts Centre); production commissions from cultural bodies and broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Sky Arts, NYT VR); and public arts funding and R&D grants from UK institutions including BFI, Arts Council England, Innovate UK (Creative Catalyst), and Coventry City of Culture Trust. The Barbican world premiere of the multiplayer version of In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats (22 May to 3 August 2025) sold over 11,000 tickets, evidencing audience throughput at flagship venues. Pricing is venue- and project-specific; licensing is on multi-year contracts with museums, while tickets flow through venue box offices.

Name

East City Films

Legal name

East City Films Limited

Website

https://eastcityfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

East City Films is a London-based immersive studio that produces and tours location-based VR documentaries for museums, cultural institutions, film festivals, and broadcasters internationally, owning a catalogue of award-winning works including The Journey Back trilogy and In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immersive VR Documentary Production

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D) (BPAFAIAL)

Keywords

• Immersive VR documentaries
• Location-based VR experiences
• 360 video production
• Museum VR exhibitions
• Spatial audio storytelling

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum/Festival Licensing: Licensing VR experiences to museums and cultural institutions for exhibition. 'The Journey Back' is available for licensing by museums and art institutions. Includes permanent installations and touring exhibitions.
2. Venue Bookings and Touring: Direct touring of experiences to venues like Barbican, theatres, and festivals with ticket revenue share or direct booking arrangements.
3. Commissioning and Production: Production commissions from cultural institutions, museums, and commissioning bodies including BFI, Arts Council England, and Illinois Holocaust Museum. Collaborative development of bespoke VR experiences.
4. Government and Arts Funding: Support and funding from public bodies including BFI, Arts Council England, Innovate UK Creative Catalyst programme, Coventry City of Culture Trust, and other arts funding organizations.
5. R&D Development Grants: Innovate UK funding for R&D to expand single-player VR into multiplayer interactive experiences, supporting software development, networking infrastructure, and large-scale deployment optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

East City Films develops, produces, and tours location-based VR documentary experiences for museums, festivals, cultural venues, and brand clients. The company combines 360° video, volumetric capture, spatial audio, motion capture, photogrammetry, and multi-sensory installation into interactive VR works that preserve survivor testimonies, tell social issue stories, and engage audiences at venues internationally. Revenue is generated through production commissions, IP licensing to museums and institutions, and touring of experiences to venues.

Product overview

East City Films is an immersive studio that develops, produces, and tours location-based VR experiences and documentaries. Their portfolio includes award-winning interactive VR documentaries such as In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats (acid house era experience), The Journey Back trilogy (Holocaust survivor stories including Letters From Drancy, Walk To Westerbork, and Escape To Shanghai), Common Ground (social housing documentary), Witness 360: 7/7 (London bombings survivor story), Indefinite (immigration detention exposé), and advocacy-focused pieces like Some Inattention On The Left. The company operates as an IP-holding company owning and controlling their catalogue, with capabilities spanning VR development, 360 video production, motion capture, volumetric capture, photogrammetry, spatial audio, and VR exhibition touring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Journey Back: A trilogy of VR experiences featuring Holocaust survivors Marion Deichmann, Rodi Glass, and Doris Fogel, created in partnership with the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Includes Letters from Drancy, Walk to Westerbork, and Escape to Shanghai.

Products and services

• In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats Interactive VR documentary that immerses viewers in the UK acid house rave scene of 1989, featuring room-scale VR with haptics, stereoscopic 360 video, and interactive elements. Available as solo and four-player multiplayer experience, licensed and toured to museums, cultural venues, and festivals worldwide.
• In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats Multiplayer Four-player multiplayer iteration of the In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats VR experience, allowing groups to explore, interact, pass objects, and dance together. Developed with Innovate UK Creative Catalyst funding and premiered at the Barbican.
• Letters From Drancy VR documentary featuring Holocaust survivor Marion Deichmann's journey through Nazi-occupied Paris, using 360 video, animation, and spatial audio for an immersive first-person wartime experience. On permanent display at the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
• Walk To Westerbork VR documentary following Holocaust survivor Rodi Glass through Amsterdam, Westerbork, and Vittel, reconstructing her World War II experiences using 360 video, motion capture, and photogrammetry at historical locations.
• Escape To Shanghai VR documentary sharing Holocaust survivor Doris Fogel's journey from Nazi Germany to Shanghai, where her family found refuge. Combines 360 video, cinematic VR, and CGI to retell her story.
• The Journey Back Trilogy Trilogy of VR documentaries featuring Holocaust survivors Marion Deichmann, Rodi Glass, and Doris Fogel (Letters From Drancy, Walk To Westerbork, Escape To Shanghai). Commissioned by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center for permanent exhibition and international touring.
• Common Ground Interactive VR documentary exploring the Aylesbury Estate in South London, a landmark social housing project undergoing regeneration. Uses stereoscopic 360 video, photogrammetry, 3D modelling, and archival materials.
• Witness 360: 7/7 Immersive VR documentary exploring the London 7/7 bombings through survivor Jacqui Putnam, combining personal testimony, reconstruction, and abstract imagery to tell her story from the attack through recovery.
• Indefinite VR documentary exposing the UK's indefinite immigration detention system, using real-life testimony, stylised reconstructions, and immersive sound design. Distributed via The New York Times VR app.
• Some Inattention On The Left Multi-sensory VR documentary exploring Elizabeth Printer's experience with stroke and NHS rehabilitation failures, featuring volumetric capture and multi-sensory elements including wheelchairs, DMX-controlled fans, and Subpacs for parliamentary presentations.
• Project Endeavour Two immersive VR experiences exploring autonomous vehicles. 'Today' takes viewers on a current-day AV journey in Oxford, and 'Tomorrow' presents an animated vision of a future city with autonomous transport. Accessible via Google Cardboard.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ tickets sold for single venue run
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Major strategic partnership for production and exhibition of Holocaust survivor VR documentaries. The museum commissioned three VR films ('Letters From Drancy', 'Walk To Westerbork', 'Escape To Shanghai') collectively known as 'The Journey Back'. The museum hosts a permanent VR gallery exhibition since October 2023. Shared Best Use of Digital International award at Museums + Heritage Awards 2025.
• StoryFutures AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of 'Common Ground' VR documentary alongside CreativeXR. StoryFutures Academy focuses on immersive storytelling research and development.
• Coventry City of Culture TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial commissioner and supporter of 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats' for Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Tony Guillan from CCCT credited as executive producer. Premiere at sold-out audiences during City of Culture year.
• All Seeing EyecoreTechnology or IntegrationVR production partner on multiple projects including 'Walk To Westerbork' (VR interactive design), 'Letters From Drancy', 'Escape To Shanghai', and 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats'. Ollie Lindsey and team instrumental in shaping immersive experiences.
• Transmission TXcoreTechnology or IntegrationCamera partner on all major VR productions. Technical experts Andrew, Jon and Tom credited for expertise on projects. Provided camera equipment and technical support across Holocaust VR trilogy and 'Beats'.
• 1.618 DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationSound design partner (also listed as 1618 Digital) on 'Letters From Drancy', 'Walk To Westerbork', 'Escape To Shanghai', and 'Some Inattention On The Left'. Spatial audio expertise for immersive VR experiences.
• Future Arts & CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported bringing 'The Journey Back' from Illinois to SXSW festival 2024. Arts and culture organization supporting international exhibition development.
• British UndergroundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in bringing 'The Journey Back' to SXSW 2024. Organization supporting UK arts presence at international festivals.
• British CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported bringing 'The Journey Back' to SXSW 2024 alongside other UK arts organizations.
• Phi CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats' (February-April 2024) and participated in panel at SXSW. Myriam Achard from Phi Centre spoke on SXSW panel about permanent VR exhibitions. Canadian partner for immersive storytelling.
• BFI London Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUlrich Schrauth from BFI London Film Festival participated in SXSW panel. BFI LFF is regular venue for East City Films work including 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats' 2022 screening.
• Wales Millennium CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurrently exhibiting 'The Journey Back' and presenting 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats' (multiplayer version) October-November 2025. Venue partner for touring VR experiences in Wales.
• BarbicancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor London venue partner for world premiere of multiplayer 'In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats' (May-August 2025). Sold over 11,000 tickets. Part of Barbican's summer programme Feel the Sound exhibition.
• OxboticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner on Project Endeavour (autonomous vehicles VR). Provided AV trial route in Oxford for VR experience filming. Stephen Kyberd from Oxbotica featured in 'Today' experience.
• DG CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Endeavour delivery partner alongside Oxbotica, Immense, TRL, BSI, and Oxfordshire County Council. Balazs Csuvar credited for project management. Hosted Greenwich in-person trials.
• The New York TimescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor'Indefinite' VR documentary selected for NYT VR app - pioneering immersive journalism platform. The New York Times Magazine commissioned accompanying op-docs piece. Major distribution and credibility partner.
• Trajectory TheatreminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVR technician Roderick Morgan from Trajectory Theatre provided technical expertise for SXSW exhibition adaptation of 'The Journey Back'.
• Frances NorburnminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesigner credited for creative talents in adapting 'The Journey Back' exhibition for SXSW festival environment.
• Sheffield Doc/Fest & Site GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal commissioners of 'Indefinite' VR documentary. Sheffield Doc/Fest premiered the work and has continued to support East City Films projects.
• Comic ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with East City Films to use immersive technology for social impact. Listed on partnerships page.
• British Heart FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization using immersive technology for social impact campaigns. Listed on partnerships page.
• Detention ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner for 'Indefinite' VR documentary advocacy. Organization uses the film in campaigns to raise awareness and push for detention reform.
• The Old VicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed on partnerships page. Cultural institution partner.
• Digital CatapultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK technology innovation organization. Listed on partnerships page.
• Royal CaribbeanminorOthersCorporate partner listed on partnerships page.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EastCityFilms
• Facebookfacebook.com/eastcityfilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastcityfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 East City Films