Longride
Longride is a Tokyo-based Japanese boutique film distributor that acquires international art-house and independent cinema and releases it theatrically through TOHO Cinemas and Shochiku, while also licensing self-screening rights to schools and community venues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Longride does
Longride (有限会社ロングライド) is a privately held Japanese limited liability company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It operates as a boutique film distributor specializing in theatrical and non-theatrical distribution of international art-house and independent cinema in the Japanese market. The company acquires rights to foreign films and releases them nationwide through core cinema chain partners including TOHO Cinemas (Shanti, Shinjuku Piccadilly, and additional locations) and Shochiku, alongside co-distribution arrangements with KADOKAWA, Asmik Ace, and VAP.
The company runs three commercial lines. The primary line is theatrical distribution, monetized through box office proceeds from major cinema chain partnerships. The second line is a self-screening (自主上映) library providing Blu-ray, DVD, and DCP format materials to schools, community centers, and event venues on a transactional rental basis (base fee around ¥50,000 for select titles, quote-based otherwise). The third is the LONGRIDE STORE, an online channel selling Blu-rays, DVDs, pamphlets, posters, and flyers tied to the film slate. The company also operates the Daniel Blake Fund, a charitable initiative channeling a portion of revenue to poverty-relief organizations through a Prime Minister-certified public foundation.
Longride's catalog of 100+ titles includes multiple Palme d'Or, Venice, Berlin, and Academy Award-winning and nominated films, with works by directors such as Ken Loach, Barry Jenkins, Woody Allen, and François Ozon. Marketing is executed through organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), the longride.jp website, and participation in international film festivals for acquisition and domestic festivals for promotion. The firm has no external funding, no parent company, and no disclosed institutional investors, operating as a self-funded specialty distributor under President Norio Hatano.
Longride firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Longride
- Legal name
- 有限会社ロングライド
- Website
- https://longride.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Longride is a Tokyo-based Japanese boutique film distributor that acquires international art-house and independent cinema and releases it theatrically through TOHO Cinemas and Shochiku, while also licensing self-screening rights to schools and community venues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Longride industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Video Tape and Disc Rental (532282)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Catalog / Library Distribution & Re-Release (MPADAJAK)
Keywords
Where Longride is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Longride business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Theatrical Film Distribution: Longride acquires distribution rights for international films and releases them in Japanese theaters through partnerships with cinema chains. Revenue comes from theatrical box office proceeds.
- Self-Screening Rentals: Schools, community centers, and event venues can rent films for self-screening. Pricing varies based on whether the screening is free or paid, venue capacity, and expected audience size.
- Merchandise and Promotional Materials: Sale of promotional materials (posters, flyers, press materials) and merchandise related to films.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Base self-screening fee for select films |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Promotional materials (posters, flyers) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Longride product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Longride is a Japanese independent film distribution company that acquires rights to international art-house and award-winning foreign films and releases them theatrically in Japan through major cinema chains nationwide. The company also maintains a film library offering self-screening (自主上映) rental services with Blu-ray, DVD, and DCP formats to schools, community centers, and event organizers, and runs an online merchandise store for film-related products.
Product overview
Longride (有限会社ロングライド) is a Japanese independent film distribution company that specializes in theatrical distribution of international art-house and foreign films in Japan. The company operates three core offerings: theatrical film distribution through major cinema chains nationwide, a film library for self-screening (自主上映) services providing Blu-ray, DVD, and DCP screening materials to schools and community venues, and the LONGRIDE STORE for merchandise sales. The company also maintains the Daniel Blake Fund, a charitable initiative that channels a portion of film revenue to poverty relief organizations in Japan. Notable distributed films include Academy Award-winning titles such as 'I, Daniel Blake,' 'If Beale Street Could Talk,' and 'Vice,' as well as works by renowned directors including Ken Loach, Barry Jenkins, Woody Allen, and Anne Fontaine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Theatrical Film Distribution (劇場配給) Theatrical distribution of international art-house and award-winning foreign films in Japan through major cinema chains including TOHO Cinemas Shanti, Shinjuku Piccadilly, and other national theater networks.
- Self-Screening Library (ライブラリー / 自主上映作品) Film library providing self-screening (自主上映) services with Blu-ray, DVD, and DCP formats to schools, community centers, and event spaces for educational and community screenings.
- LONGRIDE STORE Online store selling film-related merchandise including Blu-rays, DVDs, and pamphlets for distributed films, as well as promotional materials (B5 flyers, B1/B2 posters, press materials).
Quantifiable outcome
- Palme d'Or at Cannes for 'I, Daniel Blake' (2016)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Longride
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Longride technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Longride partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TOHO CinemascoreMajor cinema chain partner for theatrical distribution of Longride films. TOHO Cinemas Shanti and other locations regularly screen Longride distributed films.
- 松竹 (Shochiku)coreCo-distribution partner for select films where Longride handles promotion while Shochiku handles distribution.
- ショウゲート (Shochiku)minorCo-distribution partner for select films.
- KADOKAWAminorCo-distribution partner and provider for select film releases.
- アスミック・エース (Asmik Ace)minorCo-provider for select film releases.
- バップ (VAP)minorProvider and co-distribution partner for multiple films including 'If Beale Street Could Talk' and 'VICE'.
- Daniel Blake Fund (ダニエル・ブレイク基金)coreCharitable initiative established by Longride and team 'Daniel Blake' to support organizations helping people in poverty. Administered through the Prime Minister-certified public foundation 'Public Interest Promotion Association'.
- Counterpoint Inc. (カウンターポイント株式会社)minorContact point for self-screening inquiries for 'いろとりどりの親子' (Far From the Tree), handling screening arrangements and inquiries.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Longride competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bitters End: Boutique Japanese arthouse film distributor focused on foreign independent cinema. Directly comparable to Longride in niche positioning, festival-circuit titles, and theatrical distribution to Japanese art-house audiences.
- GAGA Corporation: Japanese film distributor specializing in foreign arthouse and independent titles for Japanese theaters. Closely comparable to Longride in business model (rights acquisition, theatrical release, marketing) and target audience (Japanese arthouse cinema-goers).
- Neon: US-based independent film distributor with strong track record acquiring and releasing Palme d'Or and Oscar-winning titles. Comparable as a boutique distributor competing for the same festival-circuit film rights pool that Longride targets.
- A24: US-based independent entertainment company focused on producing and distributing arthouse and award-winning films. Comparable curation-led model around festival/Oscar titles, though Longride is Japan-territory distributor while A24 is creator/originator.
- Asmik Ace: Japan-based film distributor handling both Japanese and international theatrical releases, listed as a co-distribution partner for Longride. Overlaps in foreign film acquisition, theatrical release, and partnerships with major cinema chains.
Broad incumbents
- KADOKAWA: Japanese media conglomerate with film production, distribution, and publishing arms. A documented co-distribution partner for Longride; comparable in film distribution activity but operates at substantially larger scope.
- Shochiku: Major Japanese film studio and distributor with century-old history, both producing and distributing films. A core channel partner for Longride but operates at significantly larger scale across mainstream and arthouse content.
- Toei: One of Japan's largest film studios and distributors, with integrated production, distribution, and exhibition businesses. Comparable in theatrical distribution of Japanese and foreign content but far broader in scope and scale.
- Happinet: Japanese entertainment company distributing video, packaged media, and game software with film distribution arm. Comparable in physical media (Blu-ray/DVD) distribution and ancillary revenue streams but much broader portfolio.
- Nikkatsu: Long-established Japanese film studio and distributor with strength in arthouse, genre, and international titles. Comparable in arthouse distribution role but operates with production, library monetization, and streaming verticals Longride does not.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Longride social profiles
Digital presenceLongride financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Longride leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Longride funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Longride 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 Longride
What does Longride do?
Longride is a Japanese independent film distribution company that acquires rights to international art-house and award-winning foreign films and releases them theatrically in Japan through major cinema chains nationwide. The company also maintains a film library offering self-screening (自主上映) rental services with Blu-ray, DVD, and DCP formats to schools, community centers, and event organizers, and runs an online merchandise store for film-related products.
Is Longride a public or private company?
Longride is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Longride founded?
Longride was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Longride based?
Longride is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Longride make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Film Distribution is the primary driver. The others are self-Screening Rentals and merchandise and Promotional Materials.
Who are Longride's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bitters End, GAGA Corporation, Neon, A24 and Asmik Ace. Broad incumbents are KADOKAWA, Shochiku, Toei, Happinet and Nikkatsu.
Does Longride have an API?
No public API is recorded for Longride.
What industry is Longride in?
Longride's product category is Film Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAJAK, Catalog / Library Distribution & Re-Release. Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.