Leone Film Group
Leone Film Group is an Italian film production and distribution company that owns the Sergio Leone catalog, produces films through its Lotus Production subsidiary, and distributes theatrically via 01 Distribution and digitally via Amazon Prime Video, serving Italian cinema audiences with a mix of classic catalog titles and new co-productions.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersRoma, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Leone Film Group does
Leone Film Group S.p.A. is an Italian audiovisual production and distribution company headquartered in Rome, founded in 1989 and listed on AIM Italia (Euronext Growth Milan) under ticker LFG. The company operates two main pillars: (1) a film catalog and distribution business managing the complete Sergio Leone film catalog alongside a broader library of non-current Italian and international titles, and (2) Lotus Production, its wholly-owned production subsidiary responsible for Italian theatrical and television productions such as 'Perfetti Sconosciuti', 'La Pazza Gioia', 'A casa tutti bene', and 'Italiano Medio'. In February 2026, the company completed a partial demerger of its non-current film library into a new vehicle, LV Legacy Media, in which Vice Pictures (LMDV Capital) acquired a 49% stake for €13.5 million.
The company monetizes its content through theatrical distribution in Italian cinemas via a partnership with 01 Distribution, digital and streaming licensing through Amazon Prime Video, co-production participation with international studios, and catalog licensing/sales. Its 2025–2026 slate includes major releases such as 'Sunny Dancer' (opening Giffoni56), 'In the Grey' (Guy Ritchie), and 'Paper Tiger' (James Gray, in competition at Cannes). The company has also begun acquiring audiovisual rights to commercial novels (Roberta Recchia via Rizzoli; Lily Red's 'Be Unstoppable' series via Newton Compton) to feed its production pipeline. The customer base is B2B distribution partners (01 Distribution, Amazon Prime Video) with the end consumer being general Italian cinema audiences; pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on negotiated deal terms.
The business faces two material operational signals: a cybersecurity incident that affected some corporate systems and document archives, and a corporate restructuring via the LV Legacy Media joint venture that injected €13.5 million (partially) and combined LFG's library with VP's commercial and financial capabilities in audiovisual distribution. The non-current library held within LV Legacy Media is valued at €24.7 million in assets and €23.9 million in equity, and the JV had not yet generated revenues as of February 2026.
Leone Film Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Leone Film Group
- Legal name
- Leone Film Group S.p.A.
- Website
- https://leonefilmgroup.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Leone Film Group is an Italian film production and distribution company that owns the Sergio Leone catalog, produces films through its Lotus Production subsidiary, and distributes theatrically via 01 Distribution and digitally via Amazon Prime Video, serving Italian cinema audiences with a mix of classic catalog titles and new co-productions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Leone Film Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Production and Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distribution Strategy & Release Planning (MPADAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cashflow & Production Accounting (MPADAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Leone Film Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roma
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Leone Film Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Theatrical Film Distribution: Theatrical distribution of films in Italian cinemas through partnerships such as 01 Distribution, generating revenue from box office sales.
- Film Production: Production of Italian and international films through the Lotus Production subsidiary, including co-productions with major studios. Revenue from production fees, minimum guarantees, and co-production participation.
- Library Sales and Licensing: Exploitation of the non-current film library through sales, licensing, and broadcast rights. Revenue from catalog titles distributed via digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
- Film Library Monetization (Partial Demerger): In February 2026, Leone Film Group completed a partial demerger of its non-current film library into LV Legacy Media, with 49% sold to Vice Pictures (LMDV Capital) for 13.5 million euros. The transaction reduces LFG's debt and creates a joint venture combining LFG's library with VP's commercial and financial capabilities in audiovisual distribution.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Leone Film Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Leone Film Group is an Italian audiovisual production and distribution company that produces films through its Lotus Production subsidiary and distributes theatrical and library film content in Italian cinemas and on digital platforms. The company owns and monetizes the complete Sergio Leone film catalog alongside a non-current film library held through the LV Legacy Media joint venture, generating revenue from theatrical box office, digital streaming licensing, and broadcast rights.
Product overview
Leone Film Group is a film production and distribution company operating two main divisions: (1) Lotus Production, its in-house production house for theatrical and television content, and (2) its film catalog covering classic Sergio Leone titles (Per un pugno di dollari, Per qualche dollaro in più, Il buono il brutto il cattivo, C'era una volta in America) alongside contemporary international and Italian productions (Killers of the Flower Moon, Ferrari, CIVIL WAR, The Beekeeper, Sunny Dancer, In the grey). Distribution channels include theatrical releases via 01 Distribution and streaming via Amazon Prime Video. The company is listed on AIM Italia (Euronext Growth Milan) under ticker LFG.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lotus Production: The film and television production house of Leone Film Group, responsible for productions such as Perfetti Sconosciuti, La Pazza Gioia, A casa tutti bene, and Italiano Medio.
Products and services
- Film Catalog Extensive catalog of classic and contemporary films including Sergio Leone's complete western catalog (Per un pugno di dollari, Per qualche dollaro in più, Il buono il brutto il cattivo, C'era una volta in America, Giù la testa, Il colosso di Rodi), international productions (Killers of the Flower Moon, Ferrari, CIVIL WAR, The Beekeeper), and upcoming releases. Licensed to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and theatrical distributors.
- Lotus Production Film and television production house producing Italian theatrical and television content. Productions include Perfetti Sconosciuti, La Pazza Gioia, A casa tutti bene, Italiano Medio, Un bel giorno, Le cose non dette, FolleMente, and Fino alla Fine. Operates as Leone Film Group's in-house production arm.
- Theatrical Distribution Services Theatrical distribution of Italian and international film productions in Italian cinemas through distribution partners such as 01 Distribution. Revenue generated from box office sales.
- Non-Current Film Library Licensing (LV Legacy Media) Licensing of non-current film library titles through the LV Legacy Media joint venture (49% owned by Vice Pictures/LMDV Capital). The library is exploited through sales, licensing, and broadcast rights for audiovisual distribution.
Quantifiable outcome
- A 49% stake in the non-current film library (LV Legacy Media) was valued at 13.5 million euros, implying a total library entity valuation of approximately 27.55 million euros.
Companies that use Leone Film Group
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Leone Film Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Leone Film Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Vice Pictures (LMDV Capital)coreVice Pictures, a subsidiary of LMDV Capital, acquired a 49% stake in LV Legacy Media — a newly incorporated vehicle containing the non-current film library of Leone Film Group — for 13.5 million euros. The transaction (partial demerger) creates a joint venture combining LFG's library with VP's commercial and financial capabilities in audiovisual distribution. Payment: 10.9 million euros paid at closing on February 5, 2026; remainder in three annual installments of 870.3 thousand euros each. LV Legacy Media holds assets valued at 24.7 million euros and equity of 23.9 million euros.
- Rizzoli (Mondadori Group)flagshipLotus Production (Leone Film Group's production subsidiary) acquired the audiovisual rights to two novels by Roberta Recchia published by Rizzoli: 'Tutta la vita che resta' (All the Life That Remains), a debut novel with 200,000 copies sold and translated into 17 countries; and 'Io che ti ho voluto così bene' (I Who Loved You So Much), a May 2025 bestseller. Both novels are in creative development for film adaptation.
- Newton ComptonflagshipLotus Production acquired the audiovisual rights to 'Cuori di ghiaccio' (Hearts of Ice), the first novel in the 'Be Unstoppable' bestseller series by Lily Red, published by Newton Compton. The Wattpad success has nearly 10 million reads and is described as the year's breakout debut and a top 10 bestseller.
- 01 Distributioncore01 Distribution serves as the theatrical distributor for Leone Film Group productions in Italian cinemas. For example, 'Sunny Dancer' was released theatrically in Italy on September 2 with 01 Distribution handling theatrical release.
- Amazon Prime VideominorAmazon Prime Video serves as a digital streaming platform for several Leone Film Group catalog titles, including 'Shadow Force' and 'Marked Men - Oltre le regole'.
- Lotus ProductioncoreLotus Production is the film and television production company of Leone Film Group. It has produced successful Italian films including 'Perfetti Sconosciuti' by Paolo Genovese, 'La Pazza Gioia' by Paolo Virzì, 'A casa tutti bene' by Gabriele Muccino, 'Italiano Medio' by Maccio Capatonda, and more. It operates as an internal production subsidiary.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Leone Film Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gaumont: Gaumont is one of Europe's oldest film production-distribution-library operators with extensive theatrical and catalog operations, comparable to Leone Film Group's production-distribution-library model at much larger European scale.
- StudioCanal: StudioCanal is a leading European production and distribution company with a large catalog that includes Italian/Spaghetti Western-era rights, comparable to Leone Film Group's library exploitation strategy.
- Pathé: Pathé is a major European film production and distribution company spanning theatrical exhibition, production, and library sales, broadly comparable to Leone Film Group's integrated European content model.
Direct peers
- Eagle Pictures: Eagle Pictures is an Italian film production and distribution company covering theatrical, home video and digital channels — directly comparable to Leone Film Group's dual production-distribution model in the Italian market.
- 01 Distribution: 01 Distribution (RAI Cinema) is a major Italian theatrical distributor and Leone Film Group's primary theatrical channel partner; it operates the same Italian theatrical distribution business that Leone Film Group depends on.
- Fandango: Fandango is an Italian film production and distribution company producing and theatrically releasing Italian films, comparable to Leone Film Group's integrated production-and-distribution model.
- Wildside: Wildside is an Italian film and television production company producing high-end Italian and international content, comparable to Lotus Production's role within Leone Film Group.
- Indigo Film: Indigo Film is an Italian film production company producing arthouse and commercial Italian features, comparable to Lotus Production's output profile within Leone Film Group.
- Medusa Film: Medusa Film is Italy's leading theatrical distributor and a major Italian film producer, directly comparable to Leone Film Group's combined production (Lotus Production) and theatrical distribution activities serving the same Italian audience.
- Vision Distribution: Vision Distribution is an Italian theatrical distributor and producer managing both new releases and library titles, comparable to Leone Film Group's mix of theatrical distribution and catalog exploitation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Leone Film Group social profiles
Digital presenceLeone Film Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Leone Film Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Leone Film Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Leone Film Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Leone Film Group 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 Leone Film Group
What does Leone Film Group do?
Leone Film Group is an Italian audiovisual production and distribution company that produces films through its Lotus Production subsidiary and distributes theatrical and library film content in Italian cinemas and on digital platforms. The company owns and monetizes the complete Sergio Leone film catalog alongside a non-current film library held through the LV Legacy Media joint venture, generating revenue from theatrical box office, digital streaming licensing, and broadcast rights.
Is Leone Film Group a public or private company?
Leone Film Group is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Leone Film Group founded?
Leone Film Group was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Leone Film Group based?
Leone Film Group is headquartered in Roma, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Leone Film Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Film Distribution is the primary driver. The others are film Production, library Sales and Licensing and film Library Monetization (Partial Demerger).
Who are Leone Film Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gaumont, StudioCanal and Pathé. Direct peers are Eagle Pictures, 01 Distribution, Fandango, Wildside, Indigo Film, Medusa Film and Vision Distribution.
Does Leone Film Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Leone Film Group.
What industry is Leone Film Group in?
Leone Film Group's product category is Film Production and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAL, Distribution Strategy & Release Planning, with a secondary code of MPADAAAJ, Cashflow & Production Accounting. Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.