Polaris

What Polaris does

Polaris Film Production & Finance is an independent film production company founded in 2005 by Christophe Mazodier and headquartered in Paris, France. The company develops and produces feature films and short films for cinema and television with strong international market potential, operating with budgets typically ranging from 2M to 10M USD. Its portfolio spans 16+ productions over two decades, including notable titles such as '2 Days in Paris' (2007) and '2 Days in New York' (2012) by Julie Delpy, 'The Smell of Us' (2014) by Larry Clark, 'Cessez-le-feu' (2017) by Emmanuel Courcol, and more recent releases including 'Habib, la grande aventure' (2022), 'Jour de colère' (2023) and 'Un Noël en famille' (2023), with 'Le Roi du Game' (Eric Judor) currently in production for an October 2026 theatrical release. The company specializes in European co-productions, having structured multi-territory projects with partners in Belgium, Germany and the United States.

Polaris generates revenue through three principal streams: (1) film production and co-production, typically structured as one-time licensing deals on individual projects; (2) executive production services for French and foreign productions; and (3) international sales and distribution royalties handled through external sales agents (Rezo Films, Wide, Wild Bunch, Indie Sales, Premium Films, Ikki Films) and French distributors (Eurozoom, Jour2fête, Le Pacte). The company does not publicly disclose pricing for its production services, with terms negotiated on a project-by-project basis. Its go-to-market is event-driven, centered on participation in major international film festivals (Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Tribeca) to showcase productions and secure distribution partners. The competitive positioning rests on founder Christophe Mazodier's deep expertise in European co-production financing — developed over a career beginning at Studio Babelsberg in 1993 and including work with X-Filme Creative Pool — and on the company's accumulated festival credibility, evidenced by César Award nominations, FIPRESCI prizes, and multiple international animation awards.

Name

Polaris

Legal name

Polaris Film Production & Finance

Website

https://polarisfilmproduction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Polaris Film Production & Finance is a Paris-based independent film production company founded in 2005 by Christophe Mazodier, producing feature films and short films with budgets of 2M-10M USD for international markets through European co-productions and executive production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financing & Investment (Equity, Debt, Gap, Slate) (MPADAAAB), Budgeting, Scheduling & Line Producing (MPADAAAG)

Keywords

• Feature film production
• Independent film financing
• European co-productions
• Film distribution services
• Short film production

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

Revenue model

1. Film Production and Co-production: Polaris develops and produces feature films of all budgets, primarily oriented toward international markets. Revenue is generated through co-production agreements, delegated production contracts (CESSEZ-LE-FEU, 2 DAYS IN PARIS, 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK), and co-production deals (THE SMELL OF US, RONDO, LA TRAQUE).
2. Executive Production Services: Polaris offers executive production services for French or foreign productions, taking on the entire production of French projects or offering complementary funding services for international projects.
3. International Sales and Distribution: Films produced by Polaris are distributed internationally through sales agents (Rezo Films, Wide, Wild Bunch, Indie Sales, Premium Films, Ikki Films) and distributors (Eurozoom, Jour2fête, Le Pacte).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Polaris Film Production & Finance is an independent film production company based in Paris, France, founded in 2005. The company produces and finances feature films and short films with budgets typically ranging from 2M to 10M USD, engaging in European co-productions across France, Belgium, Germany, and the USA. It provides production services, executive production, co-production financing, and international sales/distribution support.

Product overview

Polaris Film Production & Finance is an independent film production company founded in 2005 by Christophe Mazodier. The company operates as a single unified offering focused on producing high-quality audiovisual content for cinema and TV with strong international potential. The portfolio consists of three main areas: feature films production (including titles like 2 Days in Paris, 2 Days in New York, The Smell of Us, Cessez-le-feu, and more recent releases), short films production (including award-winning works like Oh Willy and Geraldine je t'aime), and films currently in production (such as Le Roi du Game). The company also offers executive production services and specializes in European co-productions, having worked with productions in Germany, Belgium, and the US, typically handling budgets ranging from 2M to 10M USD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Film Production End-to-end production of independent feature films with budgets typically ranging from 2M to 10M USD. Service is offered to independent filmmakers, directors, and writers seeking production financing and creative producing support.
• Short Film Production Production of independent short films, typically used as creative development projects or festival-facing works, complementing the company's feature film slate.
• European Co-Productions Cross-border co-production services that aggregate financing and creative resources across France, Belgium, Germany, and the USA, enabling films to access multiple national funding mechanisms and tax incentive schemes.
• Executive Production Executive production oversight provided to independent film projects, including financing packaging, creative supervision, and international sales/distribution coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 2 Days in Paris (2007) which was nominated for Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature and César Best Original Screenplay
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Studio Babelsberg (Berlin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristophe Mazodier worked at Studio Babelsberg from 1993, gaining experience in international co-production financing and film development before founding Polaris.
• X-Filme Creative PoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristophe Mazodier worked with X-Filme Creative Pool between 2002-2004, producing Parfum d'Absinthe (Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken) with Daniel Brühl and August Diehl.
• Rezo FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent and French distributor for 2 Days in Paris, 2 Days in New York, and La Traque.
• EurozoomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor for Hitler à Hollywood and Rondo.
• Wild BunchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for The Smell of Us.
• Indie SalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for Cessez-le-feu.
• Tempête sous un crânecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on 2 Days in Paris and 2 Days in New York.
• Saga Film (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on Rondo, Hitler à Hollywood, and 2 Days in New York.
• Quasar PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer on La Traque with Polaris as co-producer.
• 3L FilmproduktionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on 2 Days in Paris.
• Morgane ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on The Smell of Us.
• PolyesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer on The Smell of Us.
• Daylight FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer on L'Ennemi and Habib, la grande aventure.
• Formosa ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer on L'Ennemi and Habib, la grande aventure.
• Studio XIV FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer with Polaris on Le Roi du Game.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rezo Films: French independent production, sales, and distribution company handling both production and international sales for arthouse titles. Comparable to Polaris on production side while also serving as one of Polaris's distribution partners.
• Bac Films: French independent film production, international sales, and distribution company focused on arthouse titles. Comparable to Polaris on the production side and overlaps on distribution relationships that touch Polaris titles.
• Les Films du Losange: Independent French production company producing arthouse and auteur feature films, frequently co-producing across European territories. Closely comparable to Polaris in budget band, European co-production orientation, and festival-driven distribution strategy.
• Pan Européenne: French independent film production company focused on European co-productions in the mid-budget range. Closely comparable in budget band, co-production orientation, and operating territory to Polaris.
• MK2 Productions: Paris-based independent production and distribution company with a strong European arthouse and auteur slate, including production, international sales, and theatrical distribution. Comparable to Polaris on production activity, European co-production structures, and reliance on festival circuits.
• Agat Films & Cie: Paris-based independent production company producing feature films and short films for cinema and television, with strong festival track record. Comparable to Polaris on auteur-driven feature slate, festival positioning, and European co-production structures.
• Mandarin Films: French independent production company producing arthouse feature films with European co-production structures and festival-driven releases. Comparable to Polaris on budget band, European co-production orientation, and auteur-driven slate.
• Saga Film: Belgian independent film production company and recurring co-producer with Polaris on Rondo, Hitler à Hollywood, and 2 Days in New York. Directly comparable on mid-budget European co-production activity and is both peer and partner.

Broad incumbents

• Studio Babelsberg: Major German film studio and production services company where Polaris's founder previously worked. Larger, established player offering studio facilities, co-production infrastructure, and production services across a broader portfolio than Polaris's boutique slate.
• X-Filme Creative Pool: Major German independent production collective (Good Bye, Lenin!, The Lives of Others) where Polaris's founder worked 2002-2004. Established player with broader slate, library, and financing scale than Polaris, but comparable on European auteur co-production activity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Polaris