Cornerstone Films
Cornerstone Films is a London-based international film sales and distribution agency representing independent producers by acquiring worldwide rights and licensing them to territorial distributors across 20+ markets via Cannes, AFM, and Sundance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cornerstone Films does
Cornerstone Films Limited is a privately held international film sales and distribution agency headquartered in London, with an additional office in Los Angeles. Founded in 2015 by Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder, the company operates as an intermediary between independent film producers and global territorial distributors, acquiring international sales rights to films and licensing them territory-by-territory across markets including the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Poland, Portugal, Israel, Latin America, and Benelux. Its core product is film sales agency services supported by a slate of 11+ active titles in various stages of development, pre-production, production, and distribution (including Pillion, Bedford Park, Stuffed, When Darkness Loves Us, Foxfinder, Cavendish, A Waiter in Paris, From Below, The Arrival, Fangs, and Breathe Deep), with marquee cast and auteur attachments (Mike Leigh, Bijan Sheibani, Aoife McArdle, Jodie Comer, Emilia Clarke, Tessa Thompson, Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling).
The business model is transaction-based: Cornerstone earns commissions on the territory-by-territory sales it closes on behalf of producers, with go-to-market concentrated at major international film markets and festivals — Cannes Film Market, American Film Market (AFM), and Sundance — where it launches titles and negotiates with buyers. Distribution partners include A24 (US), Picturehouse (UK), Sony Pictures Classics, Bleecker Street, Memento (France), Weltkino (Germany/Austria), and iWonder (Italy), among others. The company maintains co-financing and co-production relationships with public and private financiers including BBC Film, BFI, Film4, and CAA Media Finance, and works closely with leading UK and European production companies such as Element Pictures, House Productions, DMC Film (Michael Fassbender), and Wild Swim Films.
The company has demonstrated recent commercial and critical momentum: Pillion won Un Certain Regard Best Screenplay at Cannes 2025 and four British Independent Film Awards, with BAFTA nominations; Bedford Park won the Sundance 2026 U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature and was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. No external investment, parent entity, or ownership change is disclosed; the firm operates independently with a small headcount of 1–10 employees.
Cornerstone Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cornerstone Films
- Legal name
- Cornerstone Films Limited
- Website
- https://cornerstonefilm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cornerstone Films is a London-based international film sales and distribution agency representing independent producers by acquiring worldwide rights and licensing them to territorial distributors across 20+ markets via Cannes, AFM, and Sundance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cornerstone Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Sales and Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Royalty, Reporting & Revenue Share Administration (MPADALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments) (MPADAAAA)
Keywords
Where Cornerstone Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cornerstone Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Film Sales and Distribution: Cornerstone Films acts as an international film sales agent, handling worldwide sales and distribution for films. They acquire sales rights to films and sell them to distributors across different territories.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Cornerstone Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cornerstone Films is an international film sales agency that acquires sales rights from independent film producers and sells/licenses distribution rights to territorial distributors worldwide. The company handles the full commercial lifecycle from development through distribution, connecting filmmakers with global buyers at major film markets (Cannes, AFM, Sundance) and through an established network of distribution partners across 20+ countries.
Product overview
Cornerstone Films is a film sales agency offering a comprehensive platform for films from development through to global distribution. The company provides international sales representation and distribution services, connecting creative vision with global commercial success. The core product is their Film Sales Agency Services, supported by their Current Film Slate of films in various stages (Tender Loving Care, Pretend I'm Not Here, The Arrival, Cavendish, Foxfinder, A Waiter in Paris, When Darkness Loves Us, Stuffed, From Below, Fangs, Breathe Deep). The company operates a territory-specific distribution network with partnerships across major markets worldwide including A24 (US), Picturehouse (UK), and regional distributors across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia. Cornerstone also provides specialized sales services at major film markets including Cannes Film Market and American Film Market (AFM), representing films like Pillion, Bedford Park, Foxfinder, Cavendish, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Film Sales Agency Services
Companies that use Cornerstone Films
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cornerstone Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cornerstone Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Element PicturescoreElement Pictures is a major Irish film production company that has produced films including Pillion. Cornerstone works closely with Element on film projects, with Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe producing films like Pillion together.
- BBC FilmcoreBBC Film is a co-financier and co-producer on multiple Cornerstone films including Pillion, Bedford Park, and others. They provide development and production financing.
- A24coreA24 acquired US distribution rights for Pillion and handles US theatrical distribution.
- PicturehousecorePicturehouse acquired UK distribution rights for Pillion and is handling UK theatrical distribution.
- September FilmcoreSeptember Film handles distribution in Benelux territories for Pillion and other films.
- Memento FilmscoreMemento acquired French distribution rights for Pillion.
- WeltkinominorWeltkino acquired German and Austrian distribution rights for Pillion.
- Sony Pictures ClassicscoreSony Pictures Classics acquired Bedford Park for distribution following its Sundance premiere.
- Logical Pictures GroupcoreLogical Pictures Group co-represents international sales and distribution for Foxfinder alongside Cornerstone.
- Bleecker StreetcoreBleecker Street is handling US distribution for When Darkness Loves Us starring Emilia Clarke.
- House ProductionscoreHouse Productions (behind Conclave) co-produced The Arrival and develops/produces quality British independent films.
- DMC FilmcoreDMC Film (Michael Fassbender's production company) produced The Arrival alongside Cornerstone.
- FremantleminorFremantle is an executive producer on Pillion and a media company involved in film production and distribution.
- Wild Swim FilmscoreWild Swim Films (Ivana MacKinnon and Emily Leo) produced Cavendish, a film Cornerstone is launching at Cannes.
- January FilmsminorJanuary Films (Rosa Attab and Jacqueline De Croy) co-produced Cavendish.
- MadantsminorPolish production entity Madants co-produced Cavendish with Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska and Bogna Szewczyk-Skupien.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cornerstone Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wild Bunch International: Paris-based international sales and distribution company handling independent films across global territories; comparable to Cornerstone in scope and business model, with a deeper European catalog.
- Films Boutique: Berlin-based international sales agent specializing in arthouse and festival-driven independent films; directly comparable to Cornerstone in business model, slate type, and reliance on Cannes/Berlinale market windows.
- The Match Factory: Cologne-headquartered international sales and distribution company for arthouse cinema; comparable to Cornerstone as a European sales agent focused on festival titles and auteur-driven projects.
- Altitude Film Distribution: UK-based international sales and distribution company handling independent features across multiple territories; comparable to Cornerstone in business model and UK-based festival-to-market strategy.
- Playtime: Paris-based international sales, production, and financing company for independent films; comparable to Cornerstone in handling European auteur titles and managing multi-territory distribution.
- Protagonist Pictures: London-headquartered international film sales and co-finance company handling worldwide rights for independent films; directly comparable to Cornerstone on size, business model, UK base, and prestige indie focus.
- mk2 Films: Paris-headquartered international sales and arthouse distribution company with a curated catalog of independent and art films; closely comparable to Cornerstone's festival-driven, prestige-focused slate strategy.
- Bankside Films: London-based international sales and distribution company specializing in independent features; comparable to Cornerstone as a UK boutique sales agent of similar scale handling festival titles.
- HanWay Films: London-based international sales, production, and distribution company representing independent features across global territories; closely comparable as a UK boutique sales agent competing for similar art-leaning slates.
- Celluloid Dreams: Paris-based international sales and production company focused on independent arthouse cinema; comparable to Cornerstone as a boutique European sales agent operating at Cannes and other major festivals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cornerstone Films social profiles
Digital presenceCornerstone Films compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cornerstone Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cornerstone Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cornerstone Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cornerstone Films 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 Cornerstone Films
What does Cornerstone Films do?
Cornerstone Films is an international film sales agency that acquires sales rights from independent film producers and sells/licenses distribution rights to territorial distributors worldwide. The company handles the full commercial lifecycle from development through distribution, connecting filmmakers with global buyers at major film markets (Cannes, AFM, Sundance) and through an established network of distribution partners across 20+ countries.
Is Cornerstone Films a public or private company?
Cornerstone Films is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cornerstone Films founded?
Cornerstone Films was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cornerstone Films based?
Cornerstone Films is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cornerstone Films make money?
One revenue line is on record: film Sales and Distribution.
Who are Cornerstone Films's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wild Bunch International, Films Boutique, The Match Factory, Altitude Film Distribution, Playtime, Protagonist Pictures, mk2 Films, Bankside Films, HanWay Films and Celluloid Dreams.
Does Cornerstone Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cornerstone Films.
What industry is Cornerstone Films in?
Cornerstone Films's product category is Film Sales and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADALAJ, Royalty, Reporting & Revenue Share Administration, with a secondary code of MPADAAAA, Development & Packaging (IP Sourcing, Script, Attachments). Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.