What JHR Films does

JHR Films is a privately held French film distribution company founded in July 2014 by Jane Roger (Director of Distribution and Acquisitions Manager) and Arnaud Dommerc, in association with Andolfi (Jean-Baptiste Legrand) and Everybody On Deck (Gaëlle Bayssière, Didier Creste). The company positions itself as a 'distributeur engagé' (committed distributor), curating and releasing independent films that are artistically, politically, and socially engaged, with content sourced from international film markets including Romania, Portugal, Ukraine, Iran, Belgium, Chile, Argentina, and Costa Rica.

The company's two core revenue streams are theatrical distribution across French cinemas and physical media sales through an e-commerce DVD/Blu-ray boutique. All DVDs are sold at a uniform price of €18.90 per unit, with categories spanning documentary, fiction, specialty ('cinéma différent'), youth, and collector ('cinefil') films. The catalog has grown to more than 100 titles since inception, with active theatrical releases extending through 2026 (including Seuls les rebelles, Julian, and Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines). DVDs are supplemented with booklet inserts and filmmaker interview materials, functioning as collector editions.

The operational team is small, approximately 6 employees including programming, distribution, communications, and management support roles, all based at the headquarters in Paris (3 rue des Cascades, 75020). The company has no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Patron supporters including Tony Gatlif, Nicolas Philibert, Renato Berta, Eliane Le Grivès, Simon Luciani, and Serge Le Péron lend credibility to the brand. Marketing relies on the company website, social media (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), newsletter communications, and press relations.

Name

JHR Films

Legal name

JHR Films

Website

https://jhrfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

JHR Films is a French independent film distribution company founded in 2014 that acquires and releases artistically and politically engaged films theatrically in French cinemas and through an e-commerce DVD/Blu-ray shop, serving art house cinema audiences and home entertainment collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Film Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Home Entertainment Distribution (Physical: DVD/Blu-ray) (MPADAJAD)

Keywords

• Independent film distribution
• Art house cinema
• Theatrical distribution
• DVD Blu-ray sales
• Engaged cinema

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Cinema distribution of films in France, releasing titles theatrically before home entertainment availability.
2. DVD/Blu-ray Sales: Sale of DVDs and Blu-rays through the company's e-commerce platform and retail partners. DVDs priced uniformly at €18.90.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

JHR Films is a French independent film distribution company that acquires and theatrically releases singular, artistically and politically engaged cinema in French cinemas, and subsequently sells matching DVD and Blu-ray editions through its own online boutique and physical retail outlets. Founded in July 2014, it curates a catalogue of over 100 documentary, fiction, and specialty films at a uniform DVD price of €18.90, targeting art-house cinema audiences in France.

Product overview

JHR Films is a French independent film distribution company founded in July 2014 by Jane Roger and Arnaud Dommerc, in association with Jean-Baptiste Legrand (Andolfi), Gaëlle Bayssière, and Didier Creste (Everybody On Deck). The company operates two core offerings: (1) theatrical film distribution through their catalog platform featuring new releases and catalog titles, and (2) a DVD/Blu-ray e-commerce boutique where customers can purchase physical media. The portfolio includes films across genres including fiction, documentary, and specialty cinema, with titles from directors such as Danielle Arbid, Eugène Green, Radu Jude, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, and many others. All DVDs are priced at €18.90.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Film Distribution Services Theatrical distribution of independent, artistically and politically engaged films to cinemas across France, including new releases and catalogue titles from directors such as Radu Jude, Eugène Green, Gianfranco Rosi, and Tony Gatlif. Targeted at French art-house cinema exhibitors.
• DVD and Blu-ray E-commerce Boutique Online shop selling DVDs and Blu-rays of JHR Films' distributed titles at a uniform price of €18.90 per DVD, with categories including Fiction, Documentaire, Cinéma différent, Cinefil, and youth films. Targeted at home entertainment consumers and independent film collectors in France.
• Film Catalogue An extensive library of over 100 distributed titles including Seuls les rebelles, Julian, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, L'arbre de la connaissance, STUPS, Fantôme utile, Collapse, Pompei sotto le nuvole, and others, with theatrical run and DVD availability tracked per title. Targets French art-house cinema audiences and home collectors.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Andolfi (Jean-Baptiste Legrand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014Co-founding partner of JHR Films, established in July 2014 alongside founders Jane Roger and Arnaud Dommerc. Andolfi is an associated production/distribution entity in the French independent film sector.
• Everybody On Deck (Gaëlle Bayssière, Didier Creste)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014Co-founding partner entity of JHR Films, established in July 2014 alongside founders Jane Roger and Arnaud Dommerc. Didier Creste is a co-founder of this collective.
• Parrains Bienfaiteurs (Renato Berta, Tony Gatlif, Eliane Le Grivès, Simon Luciani, Serge Le Péron, Nicolas Philibert)minorOthersDistinguished filmmakers and industry figures who serve as patron supporters ('parrains bienfaiteurs') of JHR Films, lending their names and credibility to the distribution company.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Potemkine Films: French art house distributor combining theatrical release with a curated DVD/blu-ray retail operation. Direct match for JHR Films' integrated theatrical-and-physical-media distribution approach.
• Sophie Dulac Distribution: Independent French film distributor focused on art house and auteur cinema, often with politically engaged selections. Comparable to JHR Films in curatorial taste and theatrical distribution focus.
• Pyramide Distribution: Independent French film distributor focused on auteur and art house cinema, distributing theatrically in France and abroad. Directly comparable to JHR Films in targeting singular, artistically engaged films with similar theatrical-plus-ancillary business model.
• Ad Vitam Distribution: French independent distributor specializing in art house and auteur cinema with a strong catalogue focus. Comparable to JHR Films in target audience, acquisition philosophy, and theatrical-plus-DVD model.
• Carlotta Films: French distributor specializing in classic and contemporary art house cinema, with both theatrical release and significant home video/DVD sales. Closely mirrors JHR Films' theatrical-plus-physical-media dual revenue model.
• Wild Bunch Distribution: Major French independent film distributor handling art house and auteur titles, with both theatrical and home entertainment activity. Comparable to JHR Films in product category, though typically operating at larger scale.
• Jour2fête: French independent distributor specializing in documentary and art house cinema, including theatrical release. Comparable to JHR Films' documentary-forward, socially engaged acquisition slate.
• Blaq Out: Small French independent distributor of auteur and engaged cinema, releasing theatrically and on home video. Comparable to JHR Films in scale, niche positioning, and dual theatrical/DVD operations.
• Memento Films Distribution: Paris-based independent film distributor with a similar art house, politically and socially engaged curatorial mandate. Operates theatrical distribution and home video, overlapping closely with JHR Films' positioning.

Broad incumbents

• MK2 Films: Long-established French film distributor and exhibitor with both theatrical distribution and cinema exhibition operations. Operates in the same art house space as JHR Films but at significantly larger scale and with broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JhrFilms
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@jhrfilms4648
• Facebookfacebook.com/JHRFilms
• Instagraminstagram.com/jhrfilms?igsh=MXNwOGR3Z3hwejE2MA==
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jhrfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 JHR Films