Lucky Red
Lucky Red is a Rome-based independent Italian film production and distribution company founded in 1987, serving Italian cinema audiences and schools through theatrical distribution, film and TV production, international sales, and the MioCinema streaming platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersRome, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lucky Red does
Lucky Red is a Rome-based independent Italian film production and distribution company founded in 1987 by Andrea Occhipinti. The company operates an integrated cinema platform spanning theatrical distribution of international art-house and auteur cinema (over 600 films brought to Italian theaters over 40 years), film and television production (since 2016, both Italian and international co-productions), international sales through the True Colours joint venture with Indigo Film (founded 2015), and the MioCinema subscription streaming platform launched in 2020 as the first quality-cinema streaming service in Italy. An educational school screenings program dating to 2005 extends the company's reach into Italian schools with curated films and pedagogical materials.
The company monetizes content through four streams: theatrical distribution transaction fees and box-office share from Italian cinemas, production services and producer credits, international licensing royalties via True Colours, and subscription revenue from MioCinema. Its primary customer segment is quality-conscious Italian cinema audiences seeking art-house and auteur-driven films, with a secondary institutional segment in Italian schools. Distribution partnerships include BIM Distribuzione for select theatrical releases, and premium TV co-productions with Sky Studios and Amazon MGM Studios.
Lucky Red has been recognized with 37 Oscars (including 3 Best Film and 10 Best Foreign Film), 41 Golden Globes, 7 Palme d'Or, 8 Golden Lions, and 68 David di Donatello awards for distributed and produced films. Following the 2026 acquisition of a 51% majority stake by StudioCanal (Canal+ Group) for €26.6 million, Lucky Red operates as an independent entity within the StudioCanal portfolio, with founder Andrea Occhipinti retaining a 49% stake and continuing as an active founder and director.
Lucky Red firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lucky Red
- Legal name
- Lucky Red S.r.l.
- Website
- https://luckyred.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lucky Red is a Rome-based independent Italian film production and distribution company founded in 1987, serving Italian cinema audiences and schools through theatrical distribution, film and TV production, international sales, and the MioCinema streaming platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lucky Red industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Distribution and Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theatrical Distribution (International) (MPADAJAB), Non-Theatrical Distribution (Educational, Airlines, Cruise, Community) (MPADAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Lucky Red is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lucky Red business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Theatrical Distribution: Lucky Red distributes films to Italian cinemas, earning revenue from box office sales. The company has distributed over 600 films in 40 years of activity.
- Film Production: Since 2016, Lucky Red has expanded into production of film and TV content, both Italian and international co-productions.
- International Sales: Through True Colours joint venture with Indigo Film, Lucky Red generates international sales revenue from distributing Italian cinema abroad.
- Streaming Platform: MioCinema, launched in 2020, provides streaming revenue from quality cinema content.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Lucky Red product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lucky Red distributes international art-house and independent films to Italian theaters and produces feature films and television series, often in co-production with European partners. The company operates the MioCinema on-demand streaming platform for direct-to-consumer access to its catalogue and runs a school-screening initiative that brings curated cinema to Italian students.
Product overview
Lucky Red is an independent Italian film production and distribution company founded in 1987 by Andrea Occhipinti. The company operates as an integrated quality cinema hub with a multi-platform offering that spans theatrical distribution (bringing over 600 films to Italian theaters in 40 years), film and TV production (since 2016), international sales through its True Colours joint venture with Indigo Film, the MioCinema streaming platform for quality cinema, and an educational school screenings program. Lucky Red is known for distributing art-house and auteur-driven international cinema in Italy, including works by directors such as Hirokazu Kore'eda, Jim Jarmusch, and Asghar Farhadi.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lucky Red Theatrical Distribution
Quantifiable outcome
- 37 Oscar wins for distributed films
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lucky Red
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lucky Red technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lucky Red partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Indigo FilmcoreLucky Red co-founded True Colours with Indigo Film in 2015, a international sales company that has become a leader in distributing Italian cinema abroad and maximizing circulation in international markets and festivals.
- Sky StudiosmajorSky Studios is co-producing the limited series 'Gucci: Game Over' with Lucky Red. The six-episode Italian series is directed by Gabriele Muccino and depicts the Gucci family saga.
- Amazon MGM StudiosmajorAmazon MGM Studios co-produces the series 'Gigolò per caso – La sex guru' with Lucky Red, Stefano Massenzi, and Serena Sostegni.
- BIM DistribuzioneminorBIM Distribuzione collaborates with Lucky Red on theatrical distribution of select films, including 'Sheep in the Box' and 'Look Back'.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Lucky Red competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- MUBI: Global streaming platform and film distributor dedicated to curated, quality cinema. Direct competitor in Italy for art-house audiences and overlapping content acquisition strategy with Lucky Red's MioCinema and theatrical slate.
Regional players
- Curzon: UK-based independent film distributor and cinema operator with a strong quality/art-house identity. Comparable in editorial positioning and auteur-driven distribution model, though serving a different geographic market.
Direct peers
- Indigo Film: Italian film production company and Lucky Red's joint-venture partner in True Colours, the international sales company. Comparable Italian production-distribution player with overlapping auteur slate and festival strategy.
- BIM Distribuzione: Italian independent film distributor and Lucky Red's co-distribution partner on select titles (e.g., Sheep in the Box, Look Back). Operates in the same domestic theatrical distribution market with similar auteur and quality-cinema positioning.
- GKIDS: US-based independent distributor specialising in animated, auteur, and art-house cinema. Similar mix of theatrical distribution, awards-driven strategy, and quality-positioning (e.g., handling Studio Ghibli and world cinema).
- 01 Distribution: Italian theatrical distributor handling both local productions and international titles (part of the Leone Film Group). Competes directly with Lucky Red for cinema chains, P&A budgets, and release slots in Italy.
- Cohen Media Group: US/UK independent distributor and producer focused on prestige cinema and restored classics. Comparable arthouse theatrical and digital distribution model with strong festival orientation.
- Medusa Film: One of Italy's largest film distributors and producers, active across both commercial and arthouse releases. Directly competes with Lucky Red for Italian box-office share and Italian/international co-production opportunities.
Broad incumbents
- StudioCanal: European film producer, distributor, and rights-holder owned by Canal+ Group; acquired a 51% stake in Lucky Red in February 2026. Comparable as a broader incumbent across production, distribution, and international sales that Lucky Red is now plugged into.
- Pathé: Major European film production and distribution group operating across France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and Spain. Overlaps with Lucky Red in theatrical distribution of European/international films and in international sales of European cinema.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lucky Red social profiles
Digital presenceLucky Red financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lucky Red leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lucky Red subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Lucky Red funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lucky Red 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 Lucky Red
What does Lucky Red do?
Lucky Red distributes international art-house and independent films to Italian theaters and produces feature films and television series, often in co-production with European partners. The company operates the MioCinema on-demand streaming platform for direct-to-consumer access to its catalogue and runs a school-screening initiative that brings curated cinema to Italian students.
Is Lucky Red a public or private company?
Lucky Red is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lucky Red founded?
Lucky Red was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lucky Red based?
Lucky Red is headquartered in Rome, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Lucky Red make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Distribution is the primary driver. The others are film Production, international Sales and streaming Platform.
Who are Lucky Red's main competitors?
MUBI is listed as an emerging player. Curzon is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Indigo Film, BIM Distribuzione, GKIDS, 01 Distribution, Cohen Media Group and Medusa Film. Broad incumbents are StudioCanal and Pathé.
Does Lucky Red have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lucky Red.
What industry is Lucky Red in?
Lucky Red's product category is Film Distribution and Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAJAA, Theatrical Distribution (Domestic), with a secondary code of MPADAJAB, Theatrical Distribution (International). Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.