Cinema Defacto
Cinéma Defacto is a Paris-based, privately-held auteur film production company founded in 2007, producing and co-producing roughly 40 international feature films (20 selected at Cannes and Berlin) for the festival, theatrical, and VOD distribution circuit, financed through pre-sales, public subsidies, and multi-country co-productions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cinema Defacto does
Cinéma Defacto is a Paris-based, privately-held auteur film production company founded in 2007 by producer Tom Dercourt (with Sophie Erbs as co-producer). Over approximately seventeen years the company has built a track-record of roughly forty completed feature films, twenty of which have appeared in official selections at Cannes and Berlin, including recent main-competition placements such as Miguel Gomes's Grand Tour at Cannes 2024 and Berlinale Silver Bears wins for Rabiye Kurnaz v. George W. Bush in 2022. The company's value proposition is author-driven feature production and co-production for the international festival-and-distribution circuit, with no consumer-facing product of its own.
The business operates as a B2B project-based production house. Each title is financed through a combination of pre-sales to international sales agents (MK2, New Europe Film Sales, The Match Factory, Pyramide International, Films Boutique), French theatrical distributors (ARP Sélection, Shellac, Nour Films), broadcaster pre-purchases (Arte France Cinéma, Canal+, Ciné+), and European public film funds (CNC's Aide aux Cinémas du Monde and advance-on-receipts, MEDIA / Creative Europe, regional funds). The company both leads and co-produces, assembling multi-country financing structures with recurring partners in Switzerland (Point Prod, Bord Cadre Films), Germany (Pandora, Iskremas), Poland (Lava Films), Sweden (Zentropa), Portugal (Terratreme), Lebanon (Abbout Production), and France (Gaïjin). Distribution occurs through sales agents globally, French distributors domestically, and the Universciné VOD platform for digital streaming.
The team is small (1–10 employees) and the company is founder-operated with no disclosed parent, investor base, or external funding. Operations span 30+ countries across Europe, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Asia, and the company is actively diversifying beyond features into series (Green Underground with Point Prod). No revenue, funding, or ownership figures are publicly disclosed.
Cinema Defacto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cinema Defacto
- Legal name
- Cinéma Defacto
- Website
- https://cinemadefacto.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cinéma Defacto is a Paris-based, privately-held auteur film production company founded in 2007, producing and co-producing roughly 40 international feature films (20 selected at Cannes and Berlin) for the festival, theatrical, and VOD distribution circuit, financed through pre-sales, public subsidies, and multi-country co-productions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cinema Defacto industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB), Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA), Theatrical Distribution (International) (MPADAJAB)
Keywords
Where Cinema Defacto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cinema Defacto 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 author-driven feature films as lead producer or co-producer, with international distribution and festival premieres generating revenue through pre-sales, international sales agreements, and theatrical distribution.
Distribution channels3 records
Cinema Defacto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cinéma Defacto produces and co-produces international author-driven feature films, acting as both lead producer and co-producer across European and international projects. The company delivers films from development through post-production, secures financing via pre-sales, public funds, and broadcaster commitments, and licenses finished titles through international sales agents and VOD platforms. Its catalogue comprises approximately 40 completed features, with 20 selected for official competitions at Cannes and Berlin.
Product overview
Cinéma Defacto is an author-driven film production company founded in 2007 and based in Paris. As a single unified offering, the company specializes in producing and co-producing international independent feature films with a track-record of approximately 40 completed features. Their core product is feature film production and co-production, supplemented by a comprehensive film catalogue available for digital distribution through Universciné. The company focuses on international productions, serving as both lead producer and co-producer, with films premiered in prestigious festivals including Cannes and Berlin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Feature Film Production
Companies that use Cinema Defacto
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cinema Defacto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cinema Defacto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Point ProdcoreSwiss production company frequently co-producing with Cinéma Defacto on international projects such as Olga and Green Underground (series)
- MK2coreInternational sales agent handling distribution for films like Costa Brava, Lebanon
- New Europe Film SalescoreInternational sales agent for films including Sweat, The Load, The Here After, and Apprentice
- The Match FactorycoreInternational sales agent for Grand Tour, Rabiye Kurnaz v. George W. Bush, As We Were Dreaming, and La Vaca Que Canto Una Cancion Hacia El Futuro
- Pyramide InternationalcoreInternational sales agent and French distributor handling films including The Harvesters, After the War, and Transamazonia
- ARP SélectioncoreFrench theatrical distributor for films including Olga and Sweat
- ShellaccoreFrench distribution partner for films including As Happy As Possible, Adrienn Pál, Eat For This Is My Body, and Grand Tour
- Nour FilmscoreFrench distributor for Los Perros, The Load, The Here After, and La Vaca Que Canto Una Cancion Hacia El Futuro
- Terratreme FilmescorePortuguese production company co-producing films including As Happy As Possible, Ordinary Time, and Los Perros
- GaïjincoreFrench production company co-producing Transamazonia, Familiar, and La Vaca Que Canto Una Cancion Hacia El Futuro
- Bord Cadre FilmscoreSwiss production company involved in multiple coproductions including The Harvesters, After the War, and Los Perros
- Lava FilmscorePolish production company co-producing Sweat, The Here After, and The Harvesters
- ZentropacoreSwedish film company co-producing Sweat and The Here After
- Pandora FilmproduktioncoreGerman production company co-producing Rabiye Kurnaz v. George W. Bush and Transamazonia
- Mimesis FilmminorCzech production company co-producing Confession of the Vanished, Skokan, and We Are Never Alone
- Abbout ProductioncoreLebanese production company leading Costa Brava, Lebanon with Cinéma Defacto as coproducer
- UniverscinécoreVOD platform where multiple Cinéma Defacto films are available for streaming
- Iskremas FilmproduktioncoreGerman production company co-producing As We Were Dreaming and Rabiye Kurnaz v. George W. Bush
- Snowglobe FilmsminorDanish production company coproducing Costa Brava, Lebanon
- BarentsfilmminorNorwegian production company coproducing Costa Brava, Lebanon
- Fox In The SnowminorSwedish production company coproducing Costa Brava, Lebanon
- Lastor MediaminorSpanish production company coproducing Costa Brava, Lebanon
- Isabella FilmsminorDutch production company producing Truly Naked in coproduction with Cinéma Defacto
- Ici et Là ProductionsminorFrench production company coproducing Truly Naked
- CNCcoreFrench National Center for Cinema provides funding support through various aid programs including Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, advance on receipts, and coproduction funds
- MEDIA Programme / Creative EuropecoreEuropean Union funding programme supporting film development and coproduction through MEDIA sub-programme
- Arte France CinémacoreFrench-German broadcaster providing production financing and pre-purchasing rights for European films
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cinema Defacto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lava Films: Polish production company that has co-produced multiple Cinema Defacto films (Sweat, The Here After, The Harvesters). A similarly sized European auteur producer collaborating on the same international co-productions, comparable in scale and festival strategy.
- Final Cut for Real: Danish production company specializing in European auteur cinema with strong festival positioning (Cannes, Berlin, Venice), comparable in size and international co-production approach.
- Coproduction Office: Independent European production and sales company focused on auteur films, frequently present at Cannes, Berlin, Venice. Comparable model of international co-production with festival-first positioning.
- Haut et Court: French production company with a comparable auteur-led slate, frequent Cannes/Berlin selections, and deep integration with French distributors and sales agents. Closely mirrors Cinéma Defacto's positioning in the French arthouse ecosystem.
- MK2 Productions: Production arm of the MK2 group (international sales agent for Cinéma Defacto films) — a French producer-distributor that operates in both production and worldwide sales for auteur cinema, comparable in auteur focus but with broader vertical integration.
- Memento Films Production: Paris-based independent film production company specializing in auteur cinema with strong festival pedigree (Cannes, Berlin, Venice), analogous in scale and strategy to Cinéma Defacto — producing/co-producing European and international features targeting arthouse distribution.
- Les Films du Losange: Long-established French auteur production company behind Eric Rohmer and many contemporary directors; comparable in its focus on author-driven cinema, festival positioning, and partnership with French distributors/sales agents.
- Pyramide Films: French production and distribution company with both a sales arm (Pyramide International, which handles some Cinéma Defacto titles) and theatrical distribution; directly comparable auteur profile and Cannes/Berlin activity.
Broad incumbents
- Wild Bunch: Major French international sales and production group. Comparable in handling auteur cinema with strong festival presence, but operates at a much larger scale with a broader commercial catalogue and international sales infrastructure.
Emerging players
- MUBI (Producer/Acquirer): Global arthouse streaming platform and selective producer/acquirer; while not a direct production peer, it is a recurring downstream acquirer and occasional producer of auteur cinema, shaping the same festival circuit and providing distribution economics relevant to Cinéma Defacto.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cinema Defacto social profiles
Digital presenceCinema Defacto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cinema Defacto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cinema Defacto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cinema Defacto 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 Cinema Defacto
What does Cinema Defacto do?
Cinéma Defacto produces and co-produces international author-driven feature films, acting as both lead producer and co-producer across European and international projects. The company delivers films from development through post-production, secures financing via pre-sales, public funds, and broadcaster commitments, and licenses finished titles through international sales agents and VOD platforms. Its catalogue comprises approximately 40 completed features, with 20 selected for official competitions at Cannes and Berlin.
Is Cinema Defacto a public or private company?
Cinema Defacto is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cinema Defacto founded?
Cinema Defacto was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cinema Defacto based?
Cinema Defacto is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Cinema Defacto make money?
One revenue line is on record: feature Film Production.
Who are Cinema Defacto's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lava Films, Final Cut for Real, Coproduction Office, Haut et Court, MK2 Productions, Memento Films Production, Les Films du Losange and Pyramide Films. Wild Bunch is listed as a broad incumbent. MUBI (Producer/Acquirer) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cinema Defacto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cinema Defacto.
What industry is Cinema Defacto in?
Cinema Defacto's product category is Independent Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAA, Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action), with a secondary code of MPADABAB, Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action). Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.