Spanner Films

What Spanner Films does

Spanner Films is a privately held, London-based independent documentary film production company founded by Franny Armstrong in 1997. The company produces feature-length and short documentaries focused on environmental and social justice issues, with a portfolio that includes McLibel (2002), Drowned Out (2002), Age of Stupid (2009), Crude, Pie Net Zero (2020), and Rivercide (2024). Its productions have demonstrably influenced UK policy — contributing to the rewrite of UK coal policy and the ban on junk food advertising on children's television — and the Age of Stupid premiere set a Guinness World Record by screening simultaneously in 62 UK cinemas via satellite, reaching an estimated 61.9 million cumulative viewers across TV, cinema, and community screenings.

The business operates on a project-by-project production model, financed primarily through crowdfunding from ordinary individual investors (notably £450,000 from 620+ investors for Age of Stupid, plus an equal sum for distribution — at the time the largest crowd-sourced film financing pot). Distribution is multi-channel and global: traditional cinema and TV broadcast, an indie community screenings network (1,400 local screenings in six months for Age of Stupid), online streaming and downloads, DVD sales (e.g., £12 for the Drowned Out DVD), and a unique mobile cinema model that has reached remote locations such as villages in Madhya Pradesh, India. The company also monetizes through direct donations and merchandise, and its films have spawned downstream activism — most notably the 10:10 climate campaign, now active in 40+ countries.

Customer segments span three groups: environmentally and socially conscious individual viewers (consumer/SMB channel via online shop and DVDs), activist and advocacy organizations (mid-market channel via community screenings and partnerships with groups like McSpotlight and the 10:10 campaign), and enterprise customers including UK TV broadcasters and cinema chains. The team is small (11–50 employees) and founder-led, with core members including director Franny Armstrong and producer Lizzie Gillett, plus producer John Battsek on Crude. Technology stack is light and centered on filmmaking rather than software: no AI, API, or SDK capabilities are disclosed, and the company's competitive advantage derives from content, brand, and activist ecosystem rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Spanner Films

Legal name

Spanner Films

Website

https://spannerfilms.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spanner Films is a London-based independent documentary studio, founded in 1997, producing feature and short films on environmental and social justice issues and distributing them via cinema, TV, grassroots screenings, and direct-to-consumer online and DVD sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK)

Keywords

• Documentary filmmaking
• Environmental documentaries
• Social justice films
• Film distribution
• Activist cinema

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film distribution: Revenue from TV screenings, online downloads/sales, DVD sales, and cinema screenings of documentary films
2. Donations and crowdfunding: Direct donations from supporters and crowdfunding campaigns for film production. Historically used crowd-funding for Crude film production (£450,000 from 620+ investors)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spanner Films is an independent documentary film production company that produces and distributes feature-length and short documentaries focused on environmental and social justice issues. Its portfolio includes Age of Stupid, McLibel, Drowned Out, Rivercide, PIE NET ZERO, and Scruffy Squad, distributed via cinema screenings, TV broadcasts, community screenings, online downloads, and DVD sales. The company pioneered crowd-sourced production funding and activist-integrated distribution models.

Product overview

Spanner Films is an independent documentary film production company producing feature-length and short documentaries focused on environmental and social justice issues. The company operates a multi-product portfolio including documentary films (Age of Stupid, McLibel, Drowned Out, Crude, Rivercide, Pie Net Zero, Scruffy Squad), physical DVDs, digital streaming/downloads, and public screening event services. Films are distributed through theatrical releases, TV broadcasts, community screenings, DVD sales, and online platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Age of Stupid: Feature documentary about climate change starring Pete Postlethwaite, premiered 2009
• McLibel
• Drowned Out
• Rivercide
• PIE NET ZERO
• Scruffy Squad
• Crude

Products and services

• Age of Stupid Feature documentary about climate change and humanity's response to the climate crisis, featuring animation and multiple international storylines starring Pete Postlethwaite. Distributed to cinema audiences, TV broadcasters, and community screening organizers.
• McLibel Documentary about the McDonald's vs Helen Steel and Dave Morris court case, a landmark case about fast food advertising and corporate accountability. Achieved 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and influenced the UK junk food advertising ban on children's TV.
• Drowned Out Documentary following an Indian tribal family who chose to stay in their ancestral village despite government attempts to displace them for dam construction. Distributed with Hindi version for Indian screenings via mobile cinema deployments.
• Rivercide Documentary film about UK river pollution, produced with a crowdfunding campaign. Targeted at audiences concerned with UK environmental and water quality issues.
• PIE NET ZERO Short comedy film starring fictional journalist Jonathan Pie addressing climate guilt and net zero topics, designed for online distribution and audience engagement.
• Scruffy Squad Documentary film produced by Spanner Films, distributed via its own dedicated website.
• Spanner Films DVDs Physical DVD copies of Spanner Films documentaries sold directly through the online shop, including bonus content such as commentary tracks and extras. Priced at 12 English pounds per DVD.
• Online Streaming and Downloads Digital access to Spanner Films documentaries available for online viewing and download through the Spanner Films shop on a transaction-based pricing model.
• Public and Community Screenings Organized public screening event service for Spanner Films documentaries, including local community screenings, cinema screenings, and TV broadcasts. Includes mobile cinema deployment for remote locations such as the Cinema Jalsindhi screening in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK Government changed coal policy - no new coal-fired power stations without 25% immediate carbon capture and 100% by 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Eon EnergyminorOthers · 24 April 2009Energy company that was planning to build Kingsnorth power station. Following Spanner Films' activism at Age of Stupid premiere, the company later withdrew from the project in October 2009, citing reduced electricity demand from the recession.
• 10:10 Climate CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200910:10 was spawned from Age of Stupid premiere - a climate campaign encouraging everyone to cut their emissions by 10% in a year. The campaign has now spread to 40+ countries worldwide, making it one of Spanner Films' most impactful partnerships.
• TorchboxcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDigital agency that built and designed the Spanner Films website. Torchbox deferred their fee in exchange for a percentage of Crude film revenue, demonstrating a unique partnership arrangement.
• The Funding NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK funding network that provided a grant enabling the Hindi version of Drowned Out film for Indian screenings.
• John BattsekcoreOthersProducer who joined Spanner Films to work on Crude (oil documentary). Has experience from Oscar-winning documentary Munich and brings industry expertise to the productions.
• Ken LoachminorOthersRenowned British director who directed McLibel drama sequences for Spanner Films on a voluntary basis, joining the production crew.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Participant Media: US-based media company producing impact-driven films and documentaries focused on social and environmental issues. Closely comparable to Spanner's mission-driven, activism-integrated documentary model with proven policy influence.
• Dogwoof: UK-based independent documentary sales and distribution company. Directly comparable to Spanner Films in the UK independent documentary ecosystem, distributing award-winning social impact films globally.
• Zeitgeist Films: US independent film distributor focused on documentary and art-house releases. Comparable to Spanner Films as a specialty distributor of socially engaged documentary programming.
• Kartemquin Films: US-based independent documentary producer known for socially engaged films like Hoop Dreams and The Interrupters. Directly comparable as an activist documentary producer with mission-driven output.
• Magnolia Pictures: US independent film distribution and production company specializing in documentaries and specialty films. Comparable as a documentary-focused distribution channel for impact content.
• Passion Pictures: UK-based independent production company specializing in documentaries, animation, and branded content with social impact themes. Comparable as a fellow UK indie documentary producer with Oscar-winning credentials.

Broad incumbents

• A24: US independent film and media company producing and distributing award-winning films across genres. Comparable as an independent film brand with strong critical recognition and alternative distribution expertise.
• National Geographic Partners: Global media brand producing environmental and exploration documentaries at scale. Comparable as a broad incumbent in environmental documentary production and distribution with much larger budgets and reach.
• BBC Studios Documentary Unit: UK-based documentary production arm of the BBC producing environmental, social, and factual programming at scale. Comparable as a major UK commissioner and producer of environmental and social justice documentaries that Spanner targets as distribution partners.

Emerging players

• Vice Media: Global digital media company producing documentary-style journalism on climate, social justice, and activism. Comparable as an emerging player targeting younger activist audiences with mission-driven content.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/frannyarmstrong
• Facebookfacebook.com/spannerfilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spanner-films-limited

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 Spanner Films