Girls in Film (GiF)

What Girls in Film (GiF) does

Girls in Film (GiF) is a global community platform and content network founded in 2016 in London by Nikola Vasakova to represent, champion, and connect women, non-binary, and trans creatives working in the film industry. The organization operates a curated video platform showcasing short films across six categories — Fashion, Music Video, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, and Animation — alongside a paid membership network, a production services arm (UK production company added in 2018), film funding programs, and the annual Girls in Film Festival. The technology backbone is a Webflow-hosted website with Vimeo for video hosting; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, mobile apps, or third-party integrations are disclosed. GiF has expanded to seven international branches — UK (London, HQ), Prague (2017), South Africa (Cape Town), Amsterdam, Aotearoa/New Zealand (Auckland, 2024), NYC (2023), and Greece (2024) — each typically led by local filmmaker-directors who run events, screenings, and community programming.

The business model blends three revenue streams: recurring subscription membership fees for filmmakers joining the network, fee-based production services through the UK production company, and partnership-funded programs such as the Dr Martens Film Fund and Vans Film School. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the organization is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds, subsidiaries, or acquisitions. GTM is community-led and organically distributed through Instagram, Facebook (members-only GiF Exchange group), Vimeo, international film festivals, and institutional partnerships with BFI and ICA. GiF UK remains the operating hub, overseeing the website, core social accounts, and major brand-funded projects, while newer branches operate with significant local autonomy and partnership-driven ownership structures. The organization is small (9 employees across 7 branches) and founder-controlled, with membership growth, brand sponsorship renewals, and geographic expansion as the primary scaling levers.

Name

Girls in Film (GiF)

Legal name

Girls in Film

Website

https://girlsinfilm.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Girls in Film (GiF) is a global community platform founded in 2016 that connects women, non-binary, and trans creatives in the film industry through a curated video platform, membership network, production services, film funding programs, and an annual festival, operating across seven international branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Filmmaker community and film discovery platform

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Photography & Videography (EDAAAGAF)

Keywords

• Filmmaker community network
• Independent short film platform
• Video streaming platform
• Film production services
• Creative industry membership

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: GiF operates a membership network model where filmmakers can join the community
2. Production Services: UK team added a production company in 2018; provides production services to members and external clients
3. Film Fund Programs: Manages film funds such as Dr Martens Film Fund and Vans Film School; likely takes a program fee or partnership allocation

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Girls in Film (GiF) operates a curated online video platform showcasing short films by women, non-binary, and trans filmmakers across six categories (Fashion, Music Video, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, Animation), alongside a community membership network and an in-house production company. It also manages brand-sponsored film funding programs (Dr Martens Film Fund, Vans Film School) and runs the annual Girls in Film Festival. The organization sustains these offerings through seven international branches (UK, Prague, Amsterdam, South Africa, NYC, Aotearoa/NZ, Greece) that localize community support and run regional events.

Product overview

Girls in Film (GiF) is a global platform and community organization that represents, champions, and connects women, non-binary, and trans creatives in the film industry. The core offering includes the GiF Video Platform for streaming short films, GiF Network Membership for community and networking, GiF Production services including a production company, and the GiF Film Fund for supporting filmmakers. GiF also operates regional branches across UK, Amsterdam, South Africa, Prague, Greece, NYC, and Aotearoa (New Zealand), with the UK branch established in 2016 and serving as the founding hub that oversees international expansion. The platform organizes the Girls in Film Festival and collaborates with institutions and brands on major projects including Dr Martens Film Fund and Vans Film School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GiF Video Platform A curated streaming and discovery platform showcasing short films by women, non-binary, and trans filmmakers across six categories: Fashion, Music Video, Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, and Animation. For filmmakers seeking visibility and audiences interested in underrepresented voices in film.
• GiF Network Membership A community membership program connecting women, non-binary, and trans creatives in the film industry through networking opportunities, events, professional resources, and access to the GiF Exchange Facebook members group. For filmmakers and creative professionals seeking community and industry connections.
• GiF Production Production services and support for filmmakers, delivered through the GiF production company established in 2018 by the UK team, working with institutions and brands on major projects. For filmmakers needing production support and for brands/institutions commissioning film projects.
• GiF Film Fund Funding program supporting emerging women filmmakers through brand-sponsored initiatives including the Dr Martens Film Fund and the Vans Film School. For emerging women filmmakers seeking financial support to produce films.
• Girls in Film Festival Annual film festival celebrating work by women, non-binary, and trans filmmakers, organized by the UK branch and connected to the broader GiF network. For filmmakers seeking festival exposure and audiences interested in underrepresented film work.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dr MartenscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDr Martens Film Fund - major partnership for film funding program supporting women filmmakers. GiF London works with Dr Martens on this initiative.
• VanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVans Film School - major partnership for film education and funding program. GiF London collaborates with Vans on this film school initiative.
• BFI (British Film Institute)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGiF film 'Featherbones' screened at BFI Stephen Street. GiF works with BFI on various film initiatives.
• ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrace Pickering's 'UNDERGROUND' premiered at ICA's 'Life on Venus' exhibition with Awkward Moments & friends.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• It's Nice That: UK-based platform celebrating and commissioning creative work across film, photography, and design. Comparable to GiF in the discovery/showcase model for emerging creative talent and in UK creative-community footprint.
• Dazed Media: UK-based independent media company covering fashion, film, music, and culture with a strong youth/creative audience. Comparable to GiF in overlapping content categories (fashion film, music video, documentary) and London-based creative community, but operates primarily as a media publisher rather than a filmmaker-support platform.

Broad incumbents

• Film Independent: A larger, established non-profit supporting independent filmmakers through labs, fiscal sponsorship, festivals (Spirit Awards), and education. Overlaps with GiF on filmmaker-development, funding, and screening/community functions, but at significantly greater scale and scope.
• Sundance Institute: Premier US-based non-profit supporting independent film and storytellers, with labs, grants, and a flagship festival. Comparable to GiF on the mission of championing diverse, independent filmmakers and providing funding and showcase opportunities, though at vastly larger scale and budget.
• British Film Institute (BFI): UK's lead organization for film culture, archiving, funding, and exhibition (including BFI Southbank, BFI London Film Festival). Already a partner of GiF for screenings, and broadly comparable in the festival/screening/film-culture mission space.
• MUBI: Global curated film streaming platform with a strong emphasis on independent, arthouse, and director-driven cinema. Comparable to GiF's curated video platform on the streaming/distribution model, though MUBI is a paid subscription service and far larger.
• Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI): Global umbrella organization of national Women in Film chapters advocating for gender parity in the screen industries. Closely aligned with GiF's mission of supporting women in film and operates an international chapter network analogous to GiF's branch model.

Direct peers

• Free The Bid: Initiative advocating for gender parity in the commercial directing industry, with a roster of female directors and brand-partner commitments. Closely comparable to GiF in the women-in-film-creative mission and brand-sponsorship angle, though narrower in scope (commercials only).
• Free The Work: A non-profit platform and talent directory focused on underrepresented directors and creators in film and advertising. Most directly comparable to GiF in mission (diversifying film/ad creative pipelines) and model (curated platform + community + brand partnerships).

Others

• Vimeo OTT: Vimeo operates both the public video-hosting platform GiF uses for its Vimeo channel and Vimeo OTT, a white-label streaming/creator-monetization service. Relevant as the underlying infrastructure/peer for the video-platform arm of GiF's business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/girlsinfilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/girlsinfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/girlsinfilm_gif/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girls-in-film-gif

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Girls in Film (GiF)