TOTEM FILMS
TOTEM FILMS is a Paris-based international film sales and production company, founded in 2019, that acquires and distributes feature films and documentaries to international buyers and develops early-stage projects through its production arm, Totem Atelier.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TOTEM FILMS does
TOTEM FILMS is a Paris-based international film sales and production company founded in 2019. It operates two integrated divisions: TOTEM Films, which acquires feature films and documentaries and sells them to international distributors on a territory-by-territory basis, and TOTEM Atelier, which develops and co-produces early-stage projects with international potential. The company earns revenue primarily through commissions on international rights sales and licensing royalties, with deal terms negotiated on a quote-based per-territory basis.
The firm represents a catalog of over 50 titles spanning dramas, comedies, documentaries, and animated features sourced from filmmakers across Europe, the Caucasus, and beyond. Distribution and visibility are driven by physical presence at Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Toronto, the European Film Market, and other industry events, with catalog exposure via press kits, social media, and the company website. Its competitive differentiation rests on a curated content library that includes Cannes Grand Prix winner Compartment N°6, Sundance Directing Award winner Slow, and Berlinale Competition selection My Favourite Cake, together with the Totem Tribe network of 50+ affiliated filmmakers and ongoing co-production partnerships with European producers.
The business is privately held and founder-controlled under CEO Bérénice Vincent, with a lean core team of approximately four to six people supplemented by external providers for servicing, legal, and marketing. There is no disclosed external venture or private equity investment, registered capital is only 45,000 euros, and revenue figures are not publicly reported. Operational scale remains boutique, with strategic emphasis on festival-validated auteur content rather than volume-driven distribution.
TOTEM FILMS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TOTEM FILMS
- Legal name
- Totem Films
- Website
- https://totem-films.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- TOTEM FILMS is a Paris-based international film sales and production company, founded in 2019, that acquires and distributes feature films and documentaries to international buyers and develops early-stage projects through its production arm, Totem Atelier.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TOTEM FILMS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Film Sales & Distribution
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production (MPADABAG)
Keywords
Where TOTEM FILMS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
TOTEM FILMS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- International Film Sales: Sells Totem Atelier productions worldwide and acquires handpicked feature films and documentaries for international distribution, earning commissions on sales to international distributors
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
TOTEM FILMS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Totem Films is an international film sales and production company that sells feature films and documentaries to territorial distributors worldwide and develops early-stage projects with strong international potential. The company operates through two divisions: TOTEM Films (international sales and acquisitions of handpicked titles) and TOTEM Atelier (development and production of original projects), representing a catalog of 50+ films from international filmmakers.
Product overview
TOTEM Films is a Paris-based international film sales and production company launched in 2019. The company operates two core divisions: TOTEM Films handles international sales and distribution, selling Totem Atelier productions worldwide and acquiring handpicked feature films and documentaries; TOTEM Atelier develops and produces early-stage film projects with strong international potential. The company represents a diverse catalog of over 50 films including dramas, comedies, documentaries, and animated features from filmmakers worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TOTEM Films - International Film Sales & Distribution International film sales and distribution division that sells Totem Atelier productions worldwide and acquires handpicked feature films and documentaries for international distribution to territorial buyers and distributors.
- TOTEM Atelier - Film Development & Production Development and production division that develops and produces early-stage film projects with strong international potential, co-producing with international production partners for worldwide distribution through Totem Films.
Companies that use TOTEM FILMS
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
TOTEM FILMS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TOTEM FILMS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Totem AteliercoreTotem Atelier develops and produces early stage projects with strong international potential. It is an integrated production arm of Totem Films that creates content for international sales distribution.
- Zeitgeist FilmproduktionminorProduction company co-producer of OASIS
- Third PictureminorProduction company co-producer of OASIS
- Wega FilmminorProduction company co-producer of OASIS
- Tamtam FilmsminorProduction company co-producer of Short Summer
- Aamu Film CompanyminorFinnish production company, co-producer of Silent Trilogy and The Woodcutter Story
- Wrong MenminorBelgian production company, co-producer of Kika
- KidamminorFrench production company, co-producer of Kika
- Kazak ProductionsminorFrench-Belgian production company, co-producer of Queen Mom and The Village Next to Paradise
- Frakas ProductionsminorBelgian production company, co-producer of Queen Mom
- Caractères ProductionsminorFrench production company, co-producer of My Favourite Cake and Ballad of a White Cow
- French Quarter FilmminorSwedish-French production company, co-producer of Crossing and And Then We Danced
- Vivo FilmminorItalian production company, co-producer of Quasi a Casa
- Sacher FilmminorItalian production company, co-producer of Quasi a Casa
- KalekoneminorGerman production company, co-producer of Dead Girls Dancing
- Garagefilm InternationalminorSwedish production company, co-producer of The Hypnosis and The Visitor
- Les Films PelléasminorFrench production company, producer of The Super 8 Years
- M-FilmsminorLithuanian production company, producer of Slow and The Visitor
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TOTEM FILMS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coproduction Office: Pan-European sales, distribution and production company representing award-winning arthouse films. A larger, established player with overlapping festival-circuit focus and integrated production-sales model.
- Wild Bunch: Major European international sales and distribution company with a broad catalog across arthouse and commercial films. A larger, more established incumbent competing with Totem for international distribution rights to high-profile European titles.
- The Match Factory: German-based international sales company representing arthouse films to global distributors, with strong festival presence. A larger incumbent selling comparable auteur-driven content into the same international buyer base.
- Gaumont: Historic French film production and distribution company with global operations and a substantial arthouse catalog. A large incumbent with overlapping international sales and production functions covering parts of Totem's market.
Direct peers
- Playtime: Paris-headquartered international film sales, production and financing company. Directly comparable as a French sales agent combining development/production with worldwide distribution of arthouse titles.
- Films Boutique: Berlin-based international sales company focusing on arthouse and festival-driven cinema. Directly comparable in size, business model, and buyer base to Totem Films.
- Celluloid Dreams: Paris-based international sales and distribution company focused on arthouse cinema. Comparable French sales agent competing for similar European auteur projects and buyers.
- Memento Films International: Paris-based international sales company specializing in arthouse and festival-driven cinema. Directly comparable to Totem in business model, target buyers (international distributors), and festival-driven deal flow.
- mk2 Films: Paris-based international film sales and distribution company handling arthouse and auteur cinema worldwide. Direct competitor to Totem Films in the French/European international sales-agent segment with comparable festival-circuit focus.
- Shellac: French independent film distribution and sales company with strong arthouse and documentary focus. Comparable boutique French distributor working with similar auteur and documentary filmmakers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TOTEM FILMS social profiles
Digital presenceTOTEM FILMS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TOTEM FILMS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
TOTEM FILMS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
TOTEM FILMS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TOTEM FILMS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TOTEM FILMS
What does TOTEM FILMS do?
Totem Films is an international film sales and production company that sells feature films and documentaries to territorial distributors worldwide and develops early-stage projects with strong international potential. The company operates through two divisions: TOTEM Films (international sales and acquisitions of handpicked titles) and TOTEM Atelier (development and production of original projects), representing a catalog of 50+ films from international filmmakers.
Is TOTEM FILMS a public or private company?
TOTEM FILMS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TOTEM FILMS founded?
TOTEM FILMS was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TOTEM FILMS based?
TOTEM FILMS is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does TOTEM FILMS make money?
One revenue line is on record: international Film Sales.
Who are TOTEM FILMS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coproduction Office, Wild Bunch, The Match Factory and Gaumont. Direct peers are Playtime, Films Boutique, Celluloid Dreams, Memento Films International, mk2 Films and Shellac.
Does TOTEM FILMS have an API?
No public API is recorded for TOTEM FILMS.
What industry is TOTEM FILMS in?
TOTEM FILMS's product category is International Film Sales & Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAG, Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7822.