The Clowder Group

What The Clowder Group does

The Clowder Group, LLC is a privately held documentary film production and distribution company in its 24th year of operation, based in Benicia, California with a 5-person team. The company produces award-winning social impact documentaries and series addressing underserved topics including social isolation during COVID, LGBTQ+ aging, and adult protection. Its core catalog consists of three named titles — 'All The Lonely People', 'Gen Silent', and 'HOAP, Heroes of Adult Protection' — supplemented by additional films in its 'more films' collection.

The company distributes content through a multi-channel model: PBS public television stations handle broadcast distribution, streaming platforms provide digital access, and the company's own platform enables direct licensing and individual viewing purchases. Beyond passive distribution, The Clowder Group runs an active community engagement operation comprising 850+ community events, 85+ agency trainings, and 45+ conference keynotes, with filmmaker presentations (virtual Q&As, in-person panels, moderated discussions) offered as a professional services revenue stream. Companion materials — discussion guides, resource links, and engagement toolkits — are packaged alongside licensed content for educational and advocacy use cases.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: quote-based film and series licensing for community screenings, classroom use, advocacy, and continuing education; filmmaker presentation services for events; and individual viewing purchases on the company platform. The customer base is diversified across four primary segments: PBS stations and public media, educators and institutions, community organizations hosting screenings, and individuals. The company is independently owned with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or venture capital backing, and is structured as an LLC. The company has earned 13 Emmy nominations and 7 wins, and its films have been the subject of 6+ academic studies, supporting its positioning as a credible, impact-driven media producer.

Name

The Clowder Group

Legal name

The Clowder Group, LLC

Website

https://theclowdergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Clowder Group is a 24-year-old, 5-person documentary film production company producing award-winning social impact documentaries distributed via PBS stations, streaming platforms, educational licensing, and community screenings, serving educators, nonprofits, and public media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADADAG

Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Documentary & Nonfiction Production

SECONDARYMPADAKAH

Community & Cultural Screenings (Museums, Cultural Centers)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Social impact media
• Film licensing
• Educational screenings
• Community engagement content

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film Licensing: The company licenses documentary films and series for screenings and educational use through their official platform. Licensing is available for various use cases including community screenings, classroom use, advocacy, public policy, continuing education, and legislative day events.
2. Filmmaker Presentations: Filmmaker presentations for events including virtual Q&As, in-person screenings and discussions, keynotes, moderated panels, and post-broadcast conversations.
3. Platform Viewing and Licensing: Official viewing and licensing through their platform, with individual purchase and watch options available for personal viewing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Clowder Group produces and distributes award-winning documentary films and series focused on social change topics such as social isolation, LGBTQ+ aging, and adult protection. The company licenses these films for community screenings, classroom use, advocacy, and public-policy events, and provides filmmaker presentations (keynotes, Q&As, panels) for events and conferences.

Product overview

The Clowder Group is a documentary film company in its 24th year, producing award-winning documentary films and series focused on social change. The core product portfolio includes three named documentary titles: 'All The Lonely People' (a film about overcoming social isolation), 'Gen Silent' (about LGBTQ+ seniors), and 'HOAP, Heroes of Adult Protection' (about adult protection professionals). The company supplements its film catalog with licensing services for screenings and educational use, and filmmaker presentation services for events. All offerings are distributed through their platform and partner channels including PBS stations and streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOAP, Heroes of Adult Protection: A docuseries revealing the challenges of adult protection professionals helping adult abuse victims become thriving survivors.
• All The Lonely People
• Gen Silent

Products and services

• All The Lonely People Award-winning documentary film exploring how individuals overcame social isolation and loneliness during COVID-19, featuring stories of people who stayed connected. Aimed at PBS stations, educators, community organizations, and individual viewers.
• Gen Silent Award-winning documentary examining LGBTQ+ seniors returning to the closet to survive, addressing aging and queer identity. Distributed via PBS stations and through The Clowder Group's licensing program.
• HOAP, Heroes of Adult Protection Docuseries revealing the rarely seen challenges of adult protection professionals who are helping adult abuse victims become thriving survivors. Targeted at PBS stations, advocacy organizations, and professional training audiences.
• Documentary Film Licensing License agreements for screenings and educational use of The Clowder Group's documentary films, covering use cases such as community screenings, classroom use, advocacy, public policy, continuing education, and legislative-day events. Quote-based pricing provided per use case.
• Filmmaker Presentations Filmmaker-led presentations for events, including virtual Q&As, in-person screenings and discussions, keynotes, moderated panels, and post-broadcast conversations, delivered for conferences, agencies, and community partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16M+ viewers worldwide reached
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Marigold Media GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarigold Media Group handles media relations and outreach for film distribution, with contact person Nimmi Singh managing station relations and promotional activities for All The Lonely People on PBS stations.
• PBS StationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPBS public television stations broadcast documentary content, serve local communities with engagement opportunities, promote films through station networks, and partner on local screenings and events.
• Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organizations partner on local screenings, host events, and connect audiences with film content and resources for social issues including aging, health, mental health, library, faith, civic, and community well-being initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kartemquin Films: Independent, mission-driven documentary production company producing award-winning social-issue films (e.g., Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters) and operating training and engagement programs. Closely comparable to Clowder in mission, scale, and impact-oriented distribution model.
• ITVS (Independent Television Service): Nonprofit that funds, produces, and distributes independent documentaries primarily for public television (PBS). Highly comparable to Clowder given shared PBS-centered distribution, social-issue focus, and community engagement mission.
• Good Docs: Subscription streaming platform curating award-winning impact documentaries for educational and community use, with institutional licensing focus. Directly comparable to Clowder's licensing-oriented offering for educators, libraries, and NGOs.
• POV (American Documentary): Long-running PBS showcase for independent documentaries with strong community engagement and education programs. Comparable to Clowder as a peer in the impact-documentary-for-PBS ecosystem and as a buyer/programmer of social-issue nonfiction.
• Firelight Media: Impact-driven documentary production company and talent incubator producing social-justice nonfiction (e.g., through the LERACE project and the PBS-featured series). Comparable to Clowder for producing and placing social-issue documentaries on public media.
• Bullfrog Films: Long-standing distributor of social-issue and environmental documentaries primarily to educational and community markets. Directly comparable to Clowder in licensing-focused distribution to educators and advocacy organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Participant Media: Larger impact-media company producing and financing narrative and documentary content tied to social issues (e.g., An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc.). Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in the same impact-documentary category with overlap in PBS/community distribution.
• PBS Distribution: Distribution arm of PBS that licenses public-media content to consumers, educators, and platforms. Comparable to Clowder as the dominant incumbent in the institutional documentary distribution channel Clowder relies upon.

Emerging players

• Submarine Entertainment: Independent documentary sales, distribution, and production company handling impact and nonfiction titles for global markets. Comparable as a peer-level documentary distribution and licensing specialist with overlap in PBS/educational deals.
• Doc Society: Global impact documentary organization supporting filmmakers in audience engagement, distribution strategy, and impact campaigns. Comparable to Clowder for its focus on impact-driven documentaries and engagement-driven distribution models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theclowdergroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Clowder Group