Max Films

What Max Films does

Max Films Inc. is a privately held, Quebec-based independent film production company headquartered at 5639 avenue Christophe-Colomb in Montréal. Founded by producer Roger Frappier, whose career began at the National Film Board of Canada in the 1970s, the company has produced more than 50 feature films over four decades. Its catalog includes commercially successful Quebec titles such as Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain, Un Zoo la Nuit, Jésus de Montréal, Ding et Dong le Film, and La Vie après l'amour, as well as the internationally acclaimed The Power of the Dog (2021) directed by Jane Campion, which received 12 Oscar nominations and won Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics Choice Awards for Best Film.

The company's core business is the development, financing, and production of feature-length films, typically as a co-producer alongside international partners such as See-Saw Films, BBC Film, A24, and Netflix. Max Films monetizes its productions through theatrical distribution in Quebec and select international markets, streaming licensing deals (Netflix, Apple TV, ZEE5), cable VOD (Illico/Videotron), and ancillary rights sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies project-by-project. The company operates with a small core team of three named executives—Roger Frappier as President/Producer, Sylvie Lacoste as Producer/Director of Development and Postproduction, and Veronika Molnar as Producer/General Manager—with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company.

Max Films' competitive positioning rests on Roger Frappier's industry relationships with elite directors (Denys Arcand, Jean-Claude Lauzon, Denis Villeneuve, Jane Campion) and its track record of award-winning productions. The company maintains a curated intake process, accepting scripts only through literary agents or established industry contacts. Recent activity includes 2026 co-productions on India-linked projects (September 21 and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai), signaling modest geographic expansion into international co-production. The company is private with no disclosed revenue, funding history, or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Max Films

Legal name

MAX FILMS INC.

Website

https://maxfilms.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Max Films is a privately held, Montréal-based independent film production company founded by Roger Frappier, producing award-winning feature films and international co-productions for theatrical, streaming, and ancillary distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Max Films develops, produces, and co-produces feature films, encompassing original Quebec productions and international co-productions. The company handles the full production lifecycle from development through post-production, and licenses finished films to theatrical distributors, streaming platforms, and cable VOD operators. With a catalog of 50+ films over four decades, Max Films' productions have earned Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and numerous Genie Awards.

Product overview

Max Films is a Montreal-based film production company producing and distributing feature films. The company operates as a unified production house with a portfolio of Canadian and international co-productions. Key productions include award-winning Canadian films (Un Zoo La Nuit, Jésus de Montréal, Ding et Dong le Film, La Vie après l'amour) and the internationally acclaimed The Power of the Dog (Le Pouvoir du chien). The company also serves as co-producer on international projects and distributes through streaming platforms including Apple TV, Netflix, and illico (Videotron).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• See-Saw FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSee-Saw Films (produced by Emile Sherman, Iain Canning) co-produced The Power of the Dog with Max Films and Jane Campion. This is a major international co-production partnership that contributed to the film's Oscar-winning success.
• BrightstarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrightstar was a co-production partner on The Power of the Dog, contributing to the international production financing and development.
• BBC FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Film was a co-production partner on The Power of the Dog, providing British production support and financing for the international feature film.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix served as the global distribution partner for The Power of the Dog, streaming the film internationally after its theatrical release. The film is available on Netflix globally.
• A24coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA24 was the theatrical distribution partner for The Power of the Dog in the United States, handling the theatrical release that preceded the Netflix streaming debut.
• Humara MovieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumara Movie was the primary production company behind 'September 21', with Max Films serving as co-producer on this Alzheimer's-themed feature film.
• Visica Films & FMD ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint production partners on 'September 21' with Max Films as co-producer. The film was showcased in the Work-in-Progress category at the 56th International Film Festival of India.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lyla Films: Canadian independent producer of feature films and series; operates at a similar scale within the Canadian indie film ecosystem with co-production and international financing experience.
• Rhombus Media: Toronto-based independent film and documentary producer with a comparable catalog of award-winning Canadian and international works, sharing a similar scale and production profile.
• Babe Nation Films: Canadian independent producer focused on auteur-driven feature films; comparable scale and positioning in the Canadian indie film landscape with award-eligible projects.
• See-Saw Films: UK-Australian independent producer (Emile Sherman, Iain Canning) of prestige feature films; co-produced The Power of the Dog with Max Films and operates the same premium co-production model across internationally-funded features.
• Bron Studios: Canadian-based independent production company producing premium film and TV content for global distributors; comparable positioning as a Canadian indie producer with international streaming partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Anonymous Content: US-based independent production company across film and prestige TV; comparable in producing award-eligible, director-driven feature films for global streaming and theatrical buyers.
• A24: US-based independent film production and distribution company with a prestige-driven slate; Max Films' theatrical distribution partner on The Power of the Dog and a benchmark for indie producer-distributor positioning.
• Film4: UK public broadcaster's film arm that finances and co-produces independent features; comparable to Max Films' role as a co-production partner on international projects like The Power of the Dog.
• BBC Film: BBC's feature film financing arm; co-production partner on The Power of the Dog and a comparable institutional co-producer of independent English-language features.

Regional players

• Mongrel Media: Canadian independent film distributor operating in the same Quebec/Canadian ecosystem as Max Films, frequently handling release and distribution of independent Canadian productions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/maxfilms.ca
• Instagraminstagram.com/maxfilms_officiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Max Films