Epithete Films

Name

Epithete Films

Legal name

Epithète Films

Website

https://epithete-films.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Revenue generated from theatrical release of films in France and international markets through distribution partnerships with companies like Pathé Distribution, Gaumont, Pyramid Distribution, and Playtime.
2. International Sales: Revenue from international sales and distribution through intermediaries such as Charades, Playtime, and Le Petit Bureau for specific territories.
3. Co-production Arrangements: Partnership-based co-production model with major French broadcasters and studios (France 3 Cinéma, Gaumont, M6 Films, Warner Bros.) sharing production costs and rights.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Epithete Films is an independent French film production company that develops and produces feature-length films (long-métrages) across genres including drama, comedy, family adventure, literary adaptation, and documentary-style musicals. The company operates a co-production model with major French broadcasters and studios, then distributes completed films through theatrical partners and international sales agents. Its catalog spans 30+ feature films from 1991 to 2019, including award-winning titles such as Ridicule and the Belle et Sébastien franchise.

Product overview

Epithète Films is an independent French film production company specializing in feature-length films (long-métrages). The company produces films across multiple genres including drama, comedy, family adventure, and documentary. Their portfolio includes notable titles such as the Belle et Sébastien franchise (family adventure films), Micmacs (comedy), Ridicule (period comedy), No et Moi (drama), and The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (fantasy adventure). The company operates primarily in French cinema with international distribution through partnerships with companies like Gaumont, M6 Films, France 3 Cinéma, Warner Bros., and Pathé Distribution. Epithète Films also produces short films such as Mort aux Codes (To Hell with Codes). The company is led by Frédéric Brillion and Gilles Legrand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Les Éblouis (The Dazzled) A 2019 drama film directed by Sarah Suco about a 12-year-old girl whose parents join a religious community, exploring themes of indoctrination and sectarianism.
• Exfiltrés (Escape from Raqqa) A 2019 dramatic thriller based on a true story about a French family trapped in Syria and the activists who help them escape.
• Les Bonnes Intentions (Best Intentions) A 2018 comedy film directed by Léonore Confino about a woman obsessed with charitable causes who opens a driving school for refugees.
• Belle et Sébastien, Le Dernier Chapitre (Belle and Sebastian, The Last Chapter) A 2018 family adventure film about Sebastian and his dog Belle facing new challenges as they defend Belle's puppies and discover the injustices of the adult world.
• Belle et Sébastien, L'Aventure Continue (Belle and Sebastian, The Adventure Continues) A 2015 family adventure film following Sebastian's search for Angelina after her plane crashes in the mountains during World War II.
• L'Odeur de la Mandarine (The Scent of Mandarin) A 2015 romantic drama set during WWI about a nurse and a wounded soldier who fall in love while healing from their wartime traumas.
• Tu Seras Mon Fils (You Will Be My Son) A 2011 drama about a wine estate owner who favors his vineyard manager's son over his own, exploring themes of family and inheritance.
• L'Extraordinaire Voyage du Jeune et Prodigieux T.S. Spivet (The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet) A 2013 fantasy adventure film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet about a gifted 10-year-old who invents a perpetual motion machine and travels alone to receive the Smithsonian prize.
• Belle et Sébastien (Belle and Sebastian) A 2013 family adventure film set in WWII Alps about an orphan boy who befriends and tames a wild dog accused of killing sheep.
• A Coup Sûr (Best in Bed) A 2014 comedy film directed by Delphine de Vigan about a young woman who decides to become the best lover in Paris after experiencing relationship failures.
• No et Moi (No and Me) A 2010 drama film directed by Zabou Breitman based on Delphine de Vigan's novel about a gifted 13-year-old who befriends a homeless young woman.
• Micmacs à Tire-Larigot (Micmacs) A 2009 comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet about a man shot in the head who joins a gang of scrap metal recyclers to revenge himself against weapon manufacturers.
• Musée Haut, Musée Bas (A Day at the Museum) A 2008 comedy directed by Jean-Michel Ribes based on his play, depicting humorous encounters among various characters in an art museum.
• Les Âmes Grises (Grey Souls) A 2005 drama based on Philippe Claudel's novel set in WWI France about a judge investigating the murder of a young girl in a village near the front.
• Malabar Princess A 2004 family drama about an 8-year-old boy searching for his missing mother on a Mont-Blanc glacier while discovering the wreck of the Malabar Princess aircraft.
• Dogora A 2004 documentary-style musical film directed by Patrice Leconte shot in Cambodia with no actors or dialogue, featuring a symphonic score by Étienne Perruchon.
• Le Nouveau Jean-Claude (The New Jean-Claude) A 2002 comedy about a pizza delivery man and street mime who gets dumped and must rebuild his life with help from his friends.
• Vertiges de l'Amour (Love Vertigo) A 2001 romantic comedy about a man who spends a night with a mysterious woman on the eve of his wedding.
• La Veuve de Saint-Pierre (The Widow of Saint-Pierre) A 2000 period drama set on a French colony island about a condemned murderer who becomes popular while awaiting execution, leading the population to oppose his death sentence.
• Je Règle Mon Pas Sur Le Pas De Mon Père (I Follow in My Father's Footsteps) A 1999 drama about a young man who discovers his father's identity after his mother's death and approaches him incognito for a swindle, leading to disillusionment.
• Tenue Correcte Exigée (Proper Attire Required) A 1997 comedy about hotel staff preparing for the World Business Forum, complicated by a man with a dog who has a past with one of the guests.
• Tombés du Ciel (Lost in Transit) A 1994 comedy about a traveler trapped in a Paris airport transit zone after losing his passport, who befriends a group of similarly stranded people.
• Blanc d'Ébène (The Ebony White Man) A 1991 drama directed by Cheick Doukouré about the conflict between a colonial adjutant and a new black schoolteacher in 1943 Guinea.
• Mort aux Codes (To Hell with Codes) A 2017 short film directed by Léopold Legrand about a man who dies of a heart attack while emergency responders are blocked by all the security codes at his apartment building.
• La Jeune Fille et les Loups (The Maiden and the Wolves) A 2008 adventure drama about a young woman in 1925 determined to become France's first female veterinarian while searching for the last wolf pack.
• Au Plus Près du Soleil (Too Close to Our Son) A 2015 drama about an investigative judge who discovers the defendant is the biological mother of her adopted son and becomes obsessed with the case.
• Ridicule A 1996 period comedy-drama directed by Patrice Leconte set in 1780s Versailles about a poor lord who must master court wit to secure funding for a drainage project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ridicule (1996): 12 César nominations, 4 wins including Best Film and Best Director, BAFTA for Best Foreign Film, Oscar nomination
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• France 3 CinémacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing co-production partner with France 3 Cinéma on multiple films including Les Éblouis, Les Bonnes Intentions, La Veuve de Saint-Pierre, and many others. France 3 is a major French public broadcaster and film financier.
• GaumontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French film studio and distributor co-producing the Belle et Sébastien franchise and T.S. Spivet. Gaumont handles theatrical distribution for several productions.
• M6 FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench television group and co-producer on Belle et Sébastien films, Vertiges de l'amour, and Le Nouveau Jean-Claude.
• ARTEmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean broadcaster ARTE broadcast Mort aux codes short film in October 2018, representing distribution partnership for short film content.
• Warner Bros. (France)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarner Bros. Entertainment France distributed Micmacs and La Jeune Fille et les Loups theatrically in France.
• Pathé DistributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPathé Distribution handled theatrical release for Le Nouveau Jean-Claude in France.
• CharadesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling worldwide sales for Les Bonnes Intentions and other recent productions.
• PlaytimemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent and distributor handling Exfiltrés, providing global sales and distribution services.
• Radar FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company co-producing the entire Belle et Sébastien franchise (2013, 2015, 2018) with Epithete Films.
• Tapioca FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on Micmacs (Jeunet film) and T.S. Spivet, partnering on major feature productions.
• Mon Voisin ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on Musée haut Musée bas, Les Éblouis, and Mort aux codes.
• Davis FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on L'Odeur de la mandarine alongside Epithete Films and France 3 Cinéma.
• Rhône-Alpes CinémaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional film fund and co-producer on Belle et Sébastien films, La Jeune Fille et les Loups, and Malabar Princess, providing regional financing.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wild Bunch: Paris-based independent film production, sales, and distribution company that produces and internationally sells auteur-driven French and European features. Directly comparable independent French production company with overlapping sales-agent and festival distribution functions.
• SBS Productions: Independent French film and television production company producing French-language features and series with international sales. Comparable size and producer-driven model producing French features with international distribution.
• Why Not Productions: Paris-based independent film production company producing auteur-driven French features with strong festival positioning (e.g., Jacques Audiard collaborations). Highly comparable as a similarly sized French indie producer with international auteur ambitions.
• MK2 Productions: Independent French film production, distribution, and exhibition company with a substantial catalog and strong auteur track record. Comparable independent French producer/distributor with similar theatrical and international sales footprint.
• Mandarin Cinéma (Mandarin Films): French independent film production company producing French-language features with international festival and sales presence. Comparable French indie producer with similar size, output cadence, and auteur-driven approach.
• Pan Européenne: Long-established independent French film production and distribution company producing mainstream French features with theatrical reach. Comparable as a similarly positioned French indie producer-distributor.

Broad incumbents

• StudioCanal: Major European film production, distribution, and studio-sales company owned by Canal+ Group, active in French feature production and global catalog licensing. Comparable in the French production and library-monetization space, but operates at vastly larger scale with a deeper catalog.
• Gaumont: Historic French film studio and distributor that co-produces the Belle et Sébastien franchise with Epithete and handles theatrical distribution for multiple Epithete titles. Much larger and broader portfolio, but directly comparable in the French feature production and distribution space.
• EuropaCorp: Major French independent film production company founded by Luc Besson, producing French and international feature films. Comparable as a French independent feature producer, though EuropaCorp operates at significantly larger scale with broader genre ambitions.
• Pathé Films: One of the oldest French film production and distribution companies, theatrical distributor for Le Nouveau Jean-Claude and a longstanding industry counterpart to Epithete. Operates at significantly larger scale across production, distribution, and exhibition.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epithetefilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epithete-films

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 Epithete Films