What Dark Star Picture does

Dark Star Pictures is a privately held North American film distribution company founded in November 2017 by Michael Repsch and headquartered in Los Angeles. The company acquires and releases auteur-driven independent films across theatrical, digital, and home video windows, with a curated focus on LGBTQ+, horror, and international cinema, and has built a catalog of more than 100 titles since its first commercial release in February 2018. Its distribution infrastructure routes films to all major U.S. and Canadian VOD storefronts (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, Fandango at Home, Google Play), supplemented by selective theatrical releases, festival submissions, and physical home video (DVD/Blu-ray), and it also provides distribution services to other distributors and producers in the theatrical, digital, and festival space.

The company is led by President Michael Repsch (Wharton graduate, former SVP at Breaking Glass Pictures), Director of Home Video Richard Ross (three decades across Triboro, A-PIX/Unapix, Spartan, Republic Pictures, TLA Releasing, and co-founder of Breaking Glass), Director of Operations Madison Hoff, and Director of Festivals & Theatrical Jim Brunzell III (formerly festival director at Sound Unseen and program/artistic director at aGLIFF). Marketing is digital-first, centered on a YouTube trailer channel, a Linktree aggregation hub, and organic social. Revenue is generated primarily through licensing royalties from VOD platforms and participation in theatrical and home video receipts, with no publicly disclosed pricing or financial details. The company operates with a lean team (1-10 employees), is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, and is beginning to extend from pure distribution into original content via the Baseball Furies documentary series and branded horror production under the Antídoto Horror Factory initiative.

Name

Dark Star Picture

Legal name

Dark Star Pictures

Website

https://darkstarpics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dark Star Pictures is a Los Angeles-based independent film distributor founded in 2017 that acquires and releases auteur-driven LGBTQ+, horror, and international films across North American VOD platforms, theatrical, and home video. The 1-10 employee company serves niche film audiences and also provides distribution services to other producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film Distribution Services: Distribution company that services other distribution companies and producers in theatrical, digital, and festival space. Generates revenue through distribution fees, licensing deals with digital platforms, and theatrical release revenues.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dark Star Pictures is a North American film distribution company that acquires and releases auteur-driven, original independent cinema across theatrical, digital (VOD), and home video channels. The company creates original, audience-targeted marketing campaigns for niche content (LGBTQ+, horror, international cinema) and provides distribution services to other distribution companies and producers, supporting their films across theatrical, digital, and festival releases. The catalog spans 100+ titles made available via platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, Fandango at Home, and Google Play, plus limited theatrical and home video runs.

Product overview

Dark Star Pictures is a North American film distribution company focused on releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in theatrical, digital, and home video space. The company distributes a diverse catalog of films across multiple genres including horror, comedy, drama, thriller, documentary, and LGBTQ+ cinema. Their portfolio includes standalone titles such as Carnage for Christmas, Turtles, Perfect Endings, and Stay Online, as well as sequels like Mascarpone: The Rainbow Cake. The company also produces documentary series like Baseball Furies. Films are distributed through digital platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, Google Play, and Fandango at Home, with additional services in theatrical releases and festival submissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mascarpone Comedy/romance/LGBTQ+/drama film about Antonio, a family man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he is suddenly dumped by his husband and must find a new place to stay, a job, and a new purpose in life. Distributed in North America by Dark Star Pictures on theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Mascarpone: The Rainbow Cake Sequel to Mascarpone. Three years later, Antonio and Luca are reunited when Antonio, now a successful pastry chef, discovers Luca is engaged to Tancredi. Distributed on digital, theatrical, and home video channels.
• Carnage for Christmas Horror/thriller/LGBTQ+ film about true-crime podcaster and sleuth transwoman Lola, who visits her hometown at Christmas and encounters a vengeful ghost of a historical murderer. Distributed across North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Turtles Drama/LGBTQ+/romance/foreign-language film about Thom and Henri, whose 35-year relationship is in a rut when Henri's feelings begin to fade. Distributed in North America on digital, theatrical, and home video channels.
• Polarized Drama/independent film about Lisa, an aspiring songwriter from a farming family who meets Dalia at an urban farm. Distributed across North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Riley LGBTQ+/drama/coming-of-age film about Dakota, a high school football star hiding his sexuality who is forced to confront his denial after being exposed. Distributed on theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Kidnapping Inc Action/suspense/drama/foreign-language film about two hapless criminals caught in a political conspiracy during a routine kidnapping in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Distributed across North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Astronaut Lovers LGBTQ+/rom-com/drama film about two childhood friends reunited in summer vacation, where one devises a scheme to pretend-date to make an ex-girlfriend jealous. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Bearded Mermaid LGBTQ+/drama film about Erwan, a fisherman who discovers a cabaret where drag queens perform and opens himself up to a new world of laughter, glitter, and love. Distributed across North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Stay Online Drama/war/foreign-language film set during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, about a volunteer worker who receives a mysterious video call from a boy searching for his parents. Distributed in North America on theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Born For You Drama/LGBTQ/family/foreign-language film based on a true story about Luca, a single Catholic and homosexual man who adopted a Down syndrome child in 2017. Distributed across North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Blue Lights Drama/LGBTQ/romance/friendship film about a group of close friends gathering to celebrate a seventieth birthday where each guest has conflicts to deal with. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Cidade; Campo Drama/foreign/fantasy film with two stories of migration, memories, and ghosts. Joana flees to São Paulo after a flood, while Flavia moves to her father's farm with her wife Mara. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Demons at Dawn LGBTQ/romance/drama film about Orlando and Marco, two young men in Mexico City who meet by chance and fall in love while pursuing their dreams. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Jimmy In Saigon Documentary/war/family film about Peter McDowell investigating the life and mysterious death of his brother Jimmy, a 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died in Saigon in 1972. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Vanilla LGBTQ+/romance/drama film about Bastien and Matt, a gay couple celebrating their third anniversary in Barcelona when events test their relationship. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• On The Go Drama/LGBTQ/adventure film featuring Milagros enjoying her carefree youth, and Jonathan seeking solace in Grindr to overcome abandonment issues. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Black Heat Drama/action/thriller film about two parents infiltrating a high-level drug dealer's apartment complex to save their 15-year-old daughter. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Perfect Endings LGBTQ+/romance/comedy film about João and Hugo, who end their 10-year relationship but stay best friends and start dating again. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• White With Fear Documentary/politics film revealing how America's conservative power brokers built influence by exploiting racial divisions and promoting white victimhood narratives. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Daydreamers Horror/drama/thriller film about a young vampire raised in a secluded river community who is drawn into a dangerous world. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Zenithal Comedy/action/foreign martial arts film about Ti-Kong, a famous Kung-fu master found dead, and a scheme involving a doctor called Sweeper to establish male domination over the globe. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Gnome Sick Comedy/horror film about Pete returning home to discover his family missing, possibly murdered by the Santa Slasher and turned into Evil Gnomes. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Eternal Sci-fi/drama film about a climate change scientist who chooses career over love and later experiences a vision of what his life could have been like. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• OUT LGBTQ+/drama/coming-of-age film about Tom and Ajani, who move to Amsterdam to escape their conservative small village and discover themselves. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Baby LGBTQ+/drama/romance film about Wellington, newly released from a juvenile centre, who meets Ronaldo at a porn theatre in São Paulo and their bond evolves into a turbulent affair. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Sayara Thriller/action film about Sayara, a gym cleaner from Turkmenistan who seeks revenge after her sister is murdered by politically connected rich kids. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Angel Maker Crime/suspense film about Laura, a detective with postpartum depression, who returns to the field when a serial killer begins murdering women. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Unmoored Crime/thriller Swedish psychological thriller based on Håkan Nesser's novel, about a TV presenter whose life unravels after confronting her husband. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Plastic Guns Comedy/crime film about a man arrested and accused of murdering his wife and three children during a trip to Denmark. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Ruthless Bastards Action/thriller film about two former gangster enforcers who partner to take on one last assignment. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• What Happened to Dorothy Bell? Horror/found-footage film about Ozzie Gray, who investigates her past and attempts to communicate with Dorothy's spirit but awakens something malevolent. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Sandbag Dam LGBTQ/drama film set in a flood-threatened village where Marko's life is turned upside down when Slaven returns for his father's funeral and rekindles their forbidden romance. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Chainsaws Were Singing Horror/comedy/musical film about Maria and Tom, separated by a killer, who must face a psychopath and other impossible characters. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Disinvited Thriller/drama film about Carl, who crashes an unwelcome event and must decide whether to save himself or risk all for those who wronged him. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• No Dogs Allowed Drama/foreign film about 15-year-old Gabo, who struggles to control pedophilic urges and encounters a manipulative older man in online forums. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Best Friend Drama/romance/musical Brazilian film about two friends reunited after five years, whose connection awakens an old feeling. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Wilderness Drama/suspense film about troubled teens forced into a brutal wilderness therapy program in the Utah desert. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Streets of Gloria LGBTQ+/drama film about Gabriel, a closeted gay anthropologist who travels to Rio and becomes seduced by sex workers. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Night Stage LGBTQ+/thriller film about an actor and a politician who start a secret affair and discover their fetish for sex in public places. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Skinny Love LGBTQ+/drama film about Emilý, who must face her anxieties when her long-distance girlfriend wants to move to Iceland. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Perro Perro LGBTQ+/drama/comedy film about Juan, who finds a man in the wilderness who behaves like a dog. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Other People's Bodies LGBTQ+/drama film, a queer reimagining of 'La Piscine,' about four former friends reuniting on a summer weekend. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• The Serpent's Skin Horror/LGBTQ+ film about Anna, who meets goth tattoo artist Gen after escaping her transphobic hometown, only to have a demon accidentally conjured. Distributed on North American theatrical, digital, and home video channels.
• Baseball Furies Original documentary series exploring the complex relationship between baseball and music, featuring interviews from baseball legends and musicians. Produced and distributed by Dark Star Pictures.
• Queerpanorama Film in the Dark Star Pictures catalog, available for rent or purchase on digital platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home.
• Buzzheart Film in the Dark Star Pictures catalog, available on demand through Apple, Amazon, Google, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home.
• Red Light Film in the Dark Star Pictures catalog, available on demand through Apple, Amazon, Google, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home.
• BLOWIE Film in the Dark Star Pictures catalog, available on demand through Google and YouTube Movies.
• $POSITIONS Film in the Dark Star Pictures catalog, available on demand through Apple, Amazon, Google, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home.
• Film Distribution Services (Theatrical, Digital, and Festival) Service offering for filmmakers, producers, and other distribution companies in which Dark Star Pictures handles theatrical releases, digital (VOD) placement, and festival submissions on their behalf. Includes original, audience-targeted marketing campaigns. Service contracts are negotiated on a per-title basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong catalog of 100+ diverse independent films

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Oscilloscope Laboratories: Independent film distribution label focused on auteur-driven and documentary cinema with theatrical and digital release strategies. Overlapping target audience (film enthusiasts, niche verticals) and acquisition-driven indie model.
• Samuel Goldwyn Films: Independent distributor of specialty and art-house titles across theatrical and digital platforms. Comparable mix of theatrical + VOD releases and focus on auteur/indie content.
• Gravitas Ventures: Independent distributor with a large-volume digital-first acquisition model across VOD platforms. Comparable breadth of VOD marketplace distribution and indie film focus, though broader and less auteur-curated.
• Brainstorm Media: Independent film sales and distribution company handling theatrical and VOD releases. Comparable indie auteur focus and multi-channel release model.
• Breaking Glass Pictures: Independent film distributor co-founded by Richard Ross (now Dark Star's Director of Home Video) and where Michael Repsch previously served as SVP of Distribution & Sales. Directly comparable in target genres, distribution channels, and operational model; effectively Dark Star's predecessor and closest comp.
• Vertical Entertainment: Independent distributor of specialty films with strong VOD presence across major platforms. Comparable release strategy combining limited theatrical with broad digital distribution.
• Kino Lorber: Independent distributor and home video label focused on art-house, foreign, and classic cinema. Comparable multi-channel distribution (theatrical, VOD, physical) and auteur-focused acquisition strategy.
• Abramorama: Specialty distributor focused on documentaries and event-based cinema with theatrical and digital release capabilities. Comparable niche auteur/documentary focus and targeted audience marketing.
• Strand Releasing: Long-standing North American independent distributor specializing in art-house, LGBTQ+, and foreign-language cinema. Closely comparable niche positioning, audience overlap, and theatrical-plus-VOD release model.

Broad incumbents

• Utopia (distribution arm): Independent film distributor with a broader specialty slate and stronger platform relationships than Dark Star. Comparable end-market but operates at larger scale with more mainstream crossover titles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@darkstarpicturestrailers5766/videos
• Xx.com/DarkStarPics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/darkstarpictures

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 Dark Star Picture