LES FILMS 13

What LES FILMS 13 does

Les Films 13 is a privately-held French film production company founded by Claude Lelouch in 1960 and headquartered at 15 avenue Hoche, Paris 8th arrondissement. Structured as a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS), the company operates a small team of approximately 21 employees and functions as the exclusive production vehicle for Claude Lelouch's auteur cinema, having produced approximately 50 feature films over six decades (from Le propre de l'homme in 1960 to Finalement in 2024). Its catalog includes landmark titles such as Un homme et une femme (1966), which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, two Academy Awards, and approximately 40 international awards, as well as the Golden Globe-winning Les Misérables (1995).

The company's core product is a catalog of full-length feature films produced and directed by Claude Lelouch, supplemented by a smaller secondary catalog of productions and co-productions with other directors (including works by Ariane Mnouchkine and Abel Gance). Core technology is traditional cinematography and post-production, with restoration and digitization of heritage films supported by the CNC (Centre national du cinéma). Revenue is generated through two streams: one-time licensing tied to new feature productions, and recurring catalog licensing royalties from Studiocanal (TV sales in France and international distribution) and Metropolitan Filmexport (exclusive French theatrical distribution). A private screening venue, Le Club 13, supports a small direct-to-event channel. The company does not operate consumer-facing pricing; its commercial model is project-funded production supplemented by catalog annuities.

Distribution is fully outsourced to specialized partners: Studiocanal handles TV and international sales, Metropolitan Filmexport handles French theatrical release, and Le Club 13 handles private screenings. The company is led by Claude Lelouch as President, with Karine Dornic responsible for financial and administrative direction, Tia Sackda managing catalog and contracts, and Carol Oriot-Couraye coordinating production. No external investment, private equity ownership, or parent company is reported.

Name

LES FILMS 13

Legal name

Les Films 13

Website

https://lesfilms13.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Films 13 is a privately-held French film production company founded by Claude Lelouch in 1960, producing and licensing a six-decade catalog of approximately 50 auteur feature films. Its commercial revenues flow through two exclusive distribution partners — Studiocanal (TV and international) and Metropolitan Filmexport (French theatrical).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Budgeting, Scheduling & Line Producing (MPADAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC), Archival Research, Rights & Provenance Services (Clearance, Chain-of-Custody) (MPADAMAI), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Film production
• Feature films
• Film distribution
• Catalog licensing
• Auteur cinema

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Feature Film Production: Production of feature films directed by Claude Lelouch and co-productions with other filmmakers. The company has produced approximately 50 films over 60+ years.
2. Catalog Licensing and Distribution: Licensing of the film catalog to Studiocanal for TV sales and international sales, and to Metropolitan Filmexport for theatrical distribution in France.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Les Films 13 is a French film production and distribution company founded by Claude Lelouch in 1960. It produces and owns approximately 50 feature films directed by Claude Lelouch spanning more than six decades, together with a smaller catalog of co-productions and distributed titles by other filmmakers. The company monetizes its catalog through licensing to specialized distributors (Metropolitan Filmexport for French theatrical, Studiocanal for TV and international), complemented by Le Club 13 for private screenings and event privatizations.

Product overview

Les Films 13 is a French film production and distribution company founded by Claude Lelouch in 1960. The company operates two main product lines: (1) films directed by Claude Lelouch himself, constituting the core of the catalog with approximately 50 feature films spanning six decades from 'Le propre de l'homme' (1960) to 'Finalement' (2024), including celebrated works like 'Un homme et une femme' (1966), 'Les uns et les autres' (1981), and 'Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté' (1988); and (2) productions and distributions of films by other directors that Les Films 13 has supported or acquired, including notable titles such as 'Molière' (1978) by Ariane Mnouchkine and 'Bonaparte et la Révolution' (1971) by Abel Gance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Club 13: A projection room/theater space operated by Les Films 13 for screenings and private events.

Products and services

• Films directed by Claude Lelouch Feature films directed by Claude Lelouch, constituting the core of the Les Films 13 catalog with approximately 50 titles spanning six decades. Distributed via Metropolitan Filmexport (theatrical) and Studiocanal (TV and international).
• Productions and Distributions by Les Films 13 Films produced or distributed by Les Films 13 beyond Claude Lelouch's own directing work, including co-productions and distributed titles by other filmmakers.
• Le Club 13 (private screening room) Private screening room and event venue operated by Les Films 13 for film screenings and private event privatizations in Paris.

Quantifiable outcome

• Palme d'Or at Cannes, two Oscars, and approximately 40 international awards for 'Un homme et une femme' (1966)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• StudiocanalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudiocanal is responsible for the commercialization of the film catalog, handling TV sales in France and international sales. For film extracts, contact [email protected]. TV sales: [email protected]. International sales: [email protected].
• Metropolitan FilmexportcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partner for theatrical distribution in France. Handles programming of films in theaters. Contact: [email protected].
• Le Club 13minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFor projection room bookings or space privatization, contact Le Club 13 directly at club13paris.fr.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Gaumont: Gaumont is one of the oldest film companies in the world and a major French producer-distributor with a deep heritage catalog. It overlaps with Les Films 13 in French auteur cinema production and theatrical distribution, but operates at vastly larger scale as a publicly listed incumbent.
• Pathé Films: Pathé is a historic French film production and distribution company with a global catalog and exhibition arm. Like Les Films 13, it produces and commercializes French cinema, but at much larger scale with its own distribution infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Les Films du Losange: Les Films du Losange is a long-standing French independent production company founded by Éric Rohmer and Barbet Schroeder, focused on auteur cinema with a deep heritage catalog. Closely comparable to Les Films 13 as a small, author-driven French production house with festival pedigree.
• Wild Bunch: Wild Bunch is a major French independent sales and distribution company working with auteur and arthouse cinema. While larger than Les Films 13, it operates in the same ecosystem of French auteur production and international sales.
• Why Not Productions: Why Not Productions is a Paris-based independent French film production company known for auteur-driven slates including work with Jacques Audiard. Comparable to Les Films 13 in size, scope, and focus on festival-targeted French cinema.
• EuropaCorp: Founded by Luc Besson, EuropaCorp is a French independent film production and distribution company that, like Les Films 13, is built around a single auteur-producer and a heritage catalog. Both are private French production houses with auteur-driven slates and third-party distribution dependencies.
• Agat Films & Cie: Agat Films is a Paris-based independent French production company producing auteur and arthouse cinema. It is a like-sized peer to Les Films 13 in the French independent auteur production space.
• MK2 Productions: MK2 is a French independent production, distribution, and exhibition company with a heritage catalog spanning directors like Claude Chabrol and Krzysztof Kieślowski. Comparable to Les Films 13 in combining auteur production with a distribution/catalog exploitation role.

Others

• Studiocanal: Studiocanal is Les Films 13's core distribution partner for TV and international sales, and one of Europe's leading film/TV studios. While it operates as a distributor rather than direct competitor, its strategy around catalog IP and French heritage cinema directly shapes Les Films 13's monetization.
• Metropolitan Filmexport: Metropolitan Filmexport is Les Films 13's exclusive French theatrical distribution partner. It is a French independent distributor specializing in arthouse and heritage cinema, comparable in its focus on French auteur films but acting as a channel partner rather than direct production competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCh9U6oVIocuV1hVctEqNDYg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/claudelelouch.officiel
• Instagraminstagram.com/claudelelouch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-films-13

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 LES FILMS 13