What Keplerfilm does

Keplerfilm is an Amsterdam-based independent film production company founded in 2016 by Derk-Jan Warrink and Koji Nelissen, both graduates of the Netherlands Film Academy. The company's core offering is film production services spanning short films, feature films, local Dutch productions, and international co-productions, with a stated focus on developing and nurturing talent to tell "deeply human" stories. Supporting the production slate are two supplementary programs: the Kepler Residency, an intensive three-week writers' retreat rotating between Switzerland and Brittany, and the Tipping Point script development competition, launched in 2023 in partnership with insurance broker No Risk to award €60,000 annually for climate-themed feature screenplays.

The business generates revenue through one-time licensing of distribution rights, pre-sales, and co-production financing arrangements on a project-by-project basis, rather than through recurring enterprise contracts. Notable productions include BULADÓ (Dutch Oscar entry), PINK MOON (Tribeca Special Mention), TALKING HEADS (Rose d'Or winning TV series), I AM ZLATAN, CAPTAIN NOVA, and co-productions ARMAND (Cannes Caméra d'Or 2022) and FEATHERS (Semaine de la Critique Grand Prize 2022). The founders' networks through EAVE, ACE Producers Network, and Binger Filmlab underpin deal flow, festival access, and co-production partnerships across the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland.

Keplerfilm operates with a headcount of approximately 19, including co-founders, a Head of Business, a Head of Productions, and a Story Editor. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, no parent company, no M&A activity, and no proprietary technology platform. Distribution of finished films is handled through festival premieres (Tribeca, Cannes, Rotterdam), international co-production partners sharing territorial rights, and post-theatrical licensing to broadcasters and streaming platforms.

Name

Keplerfilm

Legal name

Keplerfilm

Website

https://keplerfilm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Keplerfilm is an Amsterdam-based independent film production company producing shorts, features, and international co-productions, founded in 2016 by Derk-Jan Warrink and Koji Nelissen, with supporting Kepler Residency and Tipping Point talent development programs serving emerging and established filmmakers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Live-Action TV Movies, Miniseries & Specials Production (MPADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)

Keywords

• Film production services
• International co-production
• Talent development programs
• Script development competitions
• Independent film producing

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

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. Feature Film Production: Production of feature-length films for theatrical release, international co-productions, and potential streaming/broadcast deals. Revenue derived from distribution rights, pre-sales, and co-production financing.
2. Short Film Production: Production of short films that serve as talent development vehicles and festival entries, building director profiles and industry reputation.
3. International Co-productions: Co-production arrangements with international partners generating revenue through territorial rights allocation and financing partnerships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Keplerfilm is an Amsterdam-based independent film production company that develops, finances, and produces short films, feature films, local Dutch productions, and international co-productions. Its business centers on identifying and nurturing writing and directing talent through structured development programs (Kepler Residency writers' retreat, Tipping Point script competition) and bringing projects from concept to completion with revenue derived from distribution rights sales, pre-sales, and co-production financing.

Product overview

Keplerfilm is a Dutch film production company founded in 2016 by Derk-Jan Warrink and Koji Nelissen. The company operates as a single unified production services offering rather than a platform architecture. Its core product is film production services, encompassing shorts, feature films, local productions, and international co-productions. Supporting this core are two supplementary programs: the Kepler Residency (an intensive writers' retreat for Dutch filmmakers) and the Tipping Point Competition (a script development competition focused on climate-related themes). The company has produced notable films including BULADÓ (Dutch Oscar entry), PINK MOON (Tribeca Special Mention winner), TALKING HEADS (Rose d'Or winning TV series), and has co-produced award-winning films such as ARMAND (Cannes Caméra d'Or winner) and FEATHERS (Semaine de la Critique Grand Prize winner). Keplerfilm was selected as one of THE EURO 75 by Screen International in 2022, highlighting Europe's leading independent producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kepler Residency: Intensive writers' retreat for Dutch filmmakers working with Keplerfilm on their feature films, held in remote inspiring environments with guidance from internationally renowned professionals.

Products and services

• Film Production Services
• Kepler Residency
• Tipping Point Competition

Quantifiable outcome

• Dutch Oscar submission (BULADÓ)
• +4 more outcomes

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

One partnership is on record.

• No RiskcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Insurance broker for the film and events industry, No Risk partnered with Keplerfilm in 2023 to launch TIPPING POINT, a script development competition awarding €60,000 (€20,000 each to 3 winners) for climate-themed feature screenplay development. Both companies jointly initiated, funded, and organized the competition to stimulate innovative ideas for feature films focusing on climate issues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lemming Film: Dutch independent film production company where Keplerfilm co-founder Derk-Jan Warrink worked before founding Keplerfilm. Produces a comparable slate of arthouse features and international co-productions from Amsterdam with a similar boutique scale and festival-circuit orientation.
• Viking Film: Amsterdam-based Dutch production company producing arthouse features and series for international audiences, including projects with Cannes and other festival pedigree. Comparable in scale, Dutch-base, and emphasis on auteur-driven content and co-productions.
• Topkapi Films: Larger Dutch independent producer of quality film and TV content, including the Academy Award-nominated title 'Bankier van het Kasteel'. Operates from the same Amsterdam production community, targets similar festival distribution channels, and competes for the same Dutch public financing pools.
• Zentropa: Danish independent film production company founded by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, producing arthouse features and international co-productions across Europe. Comparable as a festival-circuit boutique producer with strong auteur-development infrastructure and multi-territory co-production experience.
• NL Film & TV (NPO): Largest Dutch public-broadcaster-affiliated production outfit producing drama, films, and series for the Dutch public system. Represents the institutional counterpart to Keplerfilm's independent model, competing for the same talent pool and Dutch Film Fund allocations but at significantly greater scale.
• A Private View: Boutique Dutch production company established by director Rolf de Heer, producing internationally distributed auteur films. Comparable in boutique scale, festival-first distribution approach, and reliance on personal-auteur-driven project pipelines.

Broad incumbents

• Studio Hamburg Production: Major German film and series production company with a broad portfolio across commercial and arthouse titles. Operates at significantly larger scale than Keplerfilm but competes for the same international co-production financing and slots in European festival line-ups.
• Pathé Films (Netherlands/France): European film production and distribution giant with significant Dutch operations, producing major commercial and prestige titles with global distribution reach. Competes with Keplerfilm for theatrical distribution slots, premium talent access, and Dutch public financing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/keplerfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kepler-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Keplerfilm