What Les Valseurs does

Les Valseurs is a French independent film production company founded in 2013 and registered as a SARL with its headquarters at 40 rue Bouret, 75019 Paris. The company is managed by Damien Megherbi and operates with a small team (1-10 employees), producing fiction, animation, and documentary works across short and feature-length formats. Its catalog spans over 80 productions since 2013, with notable titles including the ARTE-broadcast series 'Samuel' (50M+ views), the Oscar-shortlisted and César-nominated 'Big Bang' by Carlos Segundo, the internationally multi-awarded animated short 'Guaxuma' by Nara Normande, 'Arthur Rambo' by Guillaume Levil, and the recent 'Elephants in the Fog' by Abinash Bikram Shah which won the Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize in 2026.

The company's core business is project-based film production: it develops, finances (typically in combination with public subsidies from CNC, regional French councils, and international film funds), and produces films which are then monetized through multiple parallel channels. Revenue is generated via pre-sales and licensing to TV broadcasters (primarily ARTE France, France 2, France 3, Canal+), theatrical distribution in France and internationally (e.g., Soundtrack to a Coup d'État with 50,000 admissions; Elephants in the Fog released September 2026), VOD and digital licensing (own VOD platform, WeShort, Brut, Arte.tv, Air Canada in-flight entertainment), international sales via ShortCuts Distribution and New Europe Film Sales, and festival-driven licensing deals across 115+ international festivals.

Les Valseurs operates a horizontal go-to-market focused on auteur and festival-caliber content, supporting inclusivity and diversity in its projects globally. It regularly co-produces with international partners (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Australia, China, Germany, Tunisia, India) and extends flagship IP into adjacent revenue streams such as merchandise (La Boutique de Samuel). Its distribution model combines direct broadcaster relationships, channel partners, and a growing direct-to-consumer VOD and e-commerce footprint.

Name

Les Valseurs

Legal name

Les Valseurs

Website

https://lesvalseurs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Les Valseurs is a small Paris-based independent French film production company (SARL, founded 2013) producing fiction, animation, and documentary shorts and features, primarily for broadcasters led by ARTE France (Samuel series, 50M+ views), international festivals, and VOD platforms, with a César-winning and Oscar-shortlisted catalog.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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. TV Broadcasting Rights: Sales of broadcast rights to television networks, most notably ARTE France, which has commissioned and broadcast multiple Les Valseurs productions including the hit series Samuel.
2. Theatrical Distribution: Feature-length and short films receive theatrical releases in France and internationally, generating box office revenue and visibility that drives downstream sales.
3. VOD and Digital Licensing: Films are made available on VOD platforms including the company's own VOD page and third-party platforms such as WeShort and Brut.
4. International Distribution and Festival Sales: ShortCuts Distribution and New Europe Film Sales handle international sales. Festival premieres drive licensing deals across territories.
5. Film Production Services: Les Valseurs produces films for external directors as a production partner, earning producer fees and revenue shares.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Les Valseurs is an independent French film production company that develops, finances, produces, and distributes fiction, animation, and documentary short and feature films. Its productions are licensed primarily to ARTE France (including the hit fiction series "Samuel" with 50M+ views), with international distribution handled by sales agents and theatrical/VOD release across multiple territories. The company also operates a proprietary VOD platform and a merchandise e-commerce store tied to its flagship Samuel franchise.

Product overview

Les Valseurs is a French SARL film production company based in Paris (40 rue Bouret, 75019 Paris) that produces fiction, animation, and documentary films and series. The company operates across several product lines: a core film production and distribution business offering a catalog of short films, feature films, animation, and documentary works; a VOD streaming platform for on-demand access to its catalog; the ARTE-broadcast TV fiction series Samuel (50M+ views) with its own merchandise e-commerce store; La Gazette, an editorial content platform publishing company news and updates; and the newsletter series Les Nouvelles à la Fraîche. The portfolio spans productions in France, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, with international sales and festival presence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Samuel (TV Fiction Series) Hit TV fiction series produced by Les Valseurs and broadcast on ARTE France with over 50 million views; serves ARTE audiences and supports a consumer merchandise line.
• Les Valseurs VOD Platform Les Valseurs' in-house video-on-demand streaming platform offering direct access to its catalog of short films, features, animation, and documentaries for individual consumers.
• Film Catalog (Catalogue) Production and licensing catalog of 80+ short films, feature films, animation, and documentaries across fiction, animation, and documentary genres, licensed to broadcasters (ARTE, France 2, France 3, Canal+, HBO) and digital platforms (WeShort).
• La Boutique de Samuel E-commerce merchandise store for the Samuel TV series, selling collector figurines and related items directly to consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 million views for the ARTE series 'Samuel' produced by Les Valseurs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ARTE FranceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013ARTE France is the primary broadcaster and co-producer of Les Valseurs content. The hit series 'Samuel' (50M+ views) was produced for and broadcast on ARTE. Multiple films (Guaxuma, Vilaine Fille, Les Décentrés, Faire la parole, and others) received ARTE's support and broadcast. This is the company's most significant production and broadcast partnership.
• Vilarejo Filmes (Brazil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'Guaxuma' by Nara Normande with Vilarejo Filmes. This Brazilian co-production won 68 awards and screened at 115+ international festivals.
• Sintagma Films (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'Aunque es de noche' by Guillermo García López with Sintagma Films and Salon Indien Films. The film premiered in Official Competition at Cannes 2023.
• ShortCuts DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling the worldwide distribution and sales of Les Valseurs short films including Les Décentrés, Guaxuma, and others.
• New Europe Film SalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling worldwide distribution of select Les Valseurs titles including 'She runs' by Qiu Yang.
• CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNC provides production funding and support for numerous Les Valseurs productions including Guaxuma, Vilaine Fille, Arthur Rambo, and others. It is a key institutional partner for French independent film production.
• Golden Moss (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'The Diver' by Michael Leonard & Jamie Helmer with Australian production company Golden Moss.
• Nadador Cine (Uruguay) and Le Tiro Cine (Argentina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'La Muerte de un perro' (feature-length black comedy) with Nadador Cine (Uruguay) and Le Tiro Cine (Argentina).
• ARTEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir Canada has licensed Les Valseurs films (Vìré, Martin est tombé d'un toit) for in-flight entertainment, providing revenue and international audience reach.
• Wild Grass (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'She runs' by Qiu Yang with Wild Grass. The film won the Prix Découverte Leitz Cine at Cannes Critics' Week 2019.
• João Paulo Miranda MariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Valseurs is producing the film 'I Don't Even Know Who I Was' by João Paulo Miranda Maria, following their earlier collaboration on 'Meninas Formicida'. The director is also working on 'Anaconda' with Selton Mello.
• WeShortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital platform distributing Les Valseurs short films to consumers alongside Brut and Arte.tv.
• BrutminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital platform distributing Les Valseurs animated and short films to consumers alongside WeShort and Arte.tv.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mubi: Mubi is a global arthouse film streaming and distribution platform with a curated catalog of festival-circuit and auteur cinema. It overlaps with Les Valseurs' arthouse positioning and VOD distribution model but at significantly larger scale.
• A24: A24 is a US-based independent entertainment company that produces and distributes arthouse and festival-circuit films with a strong brand identity. It shares Les Valseurs' festival-driven, auteur-first ethos but operates at a much larger scale and broader genre portfolio.

Direct peers

• Films du Worso: Films du Worso is a French independent production company specializing in documentary and short-form content with international festival presence. It is comparable to Les Valseurs in its focus on documentary shorts and festival-circuit auteur work.
• Shorts International: Shorts International is a global short film distribution and streaming platform focused on festival-quality shorts. It is comparable to Les Valseurs in its focus on short-form cinema and international distribution of short-form works.
• Miyu Productions: Miyu Productions is a French animation production and distribution company that champions independent animated shorts and features. It is closely comparable to Les Valseurs in its animation specialty, festival positioning, and distribution of short animated works.
• Wild Bunch: Wild Bunch is a French-founded international film sales and distribution company that handles arthouse and festival-circuit titles globally. It is comparable as both a sales agent for arthouse content and as a French-headquartered indie film operator.
• The Jokers Films: The Jokers Films is a French independent film distribution and production company focused on arthouse and auteur cinema. It shares Les Valseurs' independent French production model and arthouse positioning.
• Playtime Films: Playtime is a French independent film production company with international co-productions and a track record of festival-selected titles. It shares Les Valseurs' focus on auteur-driven French productions with global distribution.
• MK2 Productions: MK2 is a long-standing French independent film production, distribution, and exhibition company with a strong arthouse and international festival pedigree. It is a closely comparable French independent operator to Les Valseurs, with both spanning production, distribution, and theatrical presence.
• Haut et Court: Haut et Court is a French independent production company specializing in arthouse fiction, documentary, and short-form content with international festival circulation. It mirrors Les Valseurs' combination of arthouse focus, shorts, and festival circuit activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lesvalseursfilms/?locale=fr_FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-valseurs
• Instagraminstagram.com/lesvalseurs

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 Les Valseurs