Mad Ones Films
Mad Ones Films is an Australian independent film and television production company based in Sydney that produces award-winning short films, TV series, and feature films focused on female-led, LGBTQI+, and disability narratives, serving public broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mad Ones Films does
Mad Ones Films is an Australian independent film and television production company founded in Sydney by producers Cyna Strachan and Liam Heyen, who met studying at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). The company operates a dual-track production slate spanning short-form content (a catalogue of 9+ award-winning short films screening at Sundance, TIFF, SXSW, Tribeca, MIFF, and Sydney Film Festival) and long-form productions including the feature film JIMPA (directed by Sophie Hyde, starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, premiered at Sundance 2025), the SBS Digital Original series LATECOMERS (AACTA Award winner) and HOMEBODIES (premiered at Series Mania 2026), with a second feature IT'S ALL GOING VERY WELL in post-production alongside Dev Patel's Minor Realm. The company's creative focus centers on female-led narratives, LGBTQI+ stories, and authentic disability representation, which aligns with public broadcaster diversity mandates and government funding priorities.
The business model is a professional services production operation. Revenue is generated through production fees, co-production arrangements, and backend participation, with budgets underwritten by a combination of government screen funding bodies (Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Netherlands Film Fund, South Australian Film Corporation, Finnish Impact Film Fund, Aurora Studios), broadcaster pre-sales and commissions (SBS, CBC Gem, ARTE), and international sales representation (Protagonist Pictures, CAA, Cinéart, Kismet, The Unquiet Collective). The go-to-market motion combines event-driven festival premieres and award recognition (AACTA, ADG, SPA, SDIN, AWGIE) with sales-led distribution to broadcasters and streaming platforms domestically and internationally. Core technology is traditional film and television production with no disclosed AI, digital platform, or proprietary technology components.
Mad Ones operates as a privately held, founder-owned entity with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or external shareholders. The organization is lean, with the two co-founders as the named leadership team, supported by project-based creative and production collaborators. Geographic operations span Australia as the headquarters base, with production and distribution activities extending across North America, Europe (Netherlands, Finland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland), and New Zealand through co-production partnerships and international sales channels.
Mad Ones Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mad Ones Films
- Legal name
- Mad Ones Films
- Website
- https://madonesfilms.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mad Ones Films is an Australian independent film and television production company based in Sydney that produces award-winning short films, TV series, and feature films focused on female-led, LGBTQI+, and disability narratives, serving public broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mad Ones Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)
Keywords
Where Mad Ones Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mad Ones Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Film and Television Production Services: Mad Ones Films produces short films, series, and feature films as the primary production company, generating revenue through production fees, co-production arrangements, and backend participation. Revenue is earned through upfront production costs covered by funding partners and broadcasters, with potential upside from distribution deals and festival recognition.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels3 records
Mad Ones Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mad Ones Films is an independent production company that develops and produces short films, television series, and feature films, primarily for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distributors. The company specializes in female-led stories and content focused on LGBTQI+ and disability experiences, generating revenue through production fees, co-production financing, and broadcaster commissions. Its output has screened at top international festivals and earned awards including AACTA, ADG, and SPA recognition.
Product overview
Mad Ones Films is an Australian independent film production company founded by producers Cyna Strachan and Liam Heyen. The company operates a dual-track production slate combining short-form content (short films) with long-form productions (feature films and TV series). Their short film portfolio includes award-winning works like Voice Activated, You and Me Before and After, and Strangers, which have screened at top-tier festivals including TIFF, SXSW, Tribeca, and MIFF. Their long-form productions include the feature film Jimpa (starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow), the SBS digital series Latecomers (AACTA Award winner), and the recent series Homebodies. The company focuses on female-led stories and those with LGBTQI+ and disability themes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jimpa Feature film directed by Sophie Hyde starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow. An international co-production exploring themes of family, identity, and parenting through the story of a mother taking her trans non-binary teenager to visit their gay grandfather in Amsterdam.
- It's All Going Very Well Feature film debut by director Tilda Cobham-Hervey, produced in collaboration with Dev Patel's Minor Realm. A story about a young woman working in a care home who forms a bond with a dying pensioner.
- Homebodies
Quantifiable outcome
- AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mad Ones Films
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mad Ones Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mad Ones Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Protagonist PicturescoreInternational sales agent for JIMPA feature film, handling global distribution sales alongside CAA for North America.
- CAA (Creative Artists Agency)coreNorth American sales and distribution representation for JIMPA feature film in partnership with Protagonist Pictures.
- CinéartcoreBenelux region theatrical distributor for JIMPA feature film.
- KismetcoreANZ (Australia and New Zealand) theatrical distribution partner for JIMPA.
- The Unquiet CollectivecoreANZ theatrical distribution partner for JIMPA alongside Kismet.
- Viking FilmscoreCo-production partner for JIMPA international feature film production alongside Closer Films and Mad Ones Films.
- Minor RealmcoreDev Patel's production company co-producing IT'S ALL GOING VERY WELL feature film with Mad Ones Films. Tilda Cobham-Hervey directing with Jonathan Pryce starring.
- Closer FilmscoreCo-production partner for JIMPA feature film - international co-production with Sophie Hyde directing and starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow. JIMPA premiered at Sundance 2025.
- Lazy SusancoreProduction partner for LATECOMERS series, produced with Mad Ones Films for SBS Digital Originals initiative. Series won AACTA Award 2024.
- SpaceboyminorProduction company partner for VOICE ACTIVATED short film, co-produced with Mad Ones Films. Film screened at Tribeca 2023.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Mad Ones Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Porchlight Films: Australian independent production company producing film and television with international co-production partnerships, festival positioning, and broadcaster sales comparable to Mad Ones Films.
- Sweetshop & Green: Australian independent production company producing feature films and series with international co-production and festival strategies comparable to Mad Ones Films' model.
- Closer Films: Australian independent production company and direct co-production partner on JIMPA. Operates in the same festival-circuit, broadcaster-sales production niche with comparable slate size and thematic ambitions.
- Causeway Films: Australian indie production company behind award-winning features including LION. Operates comparable festival-to-broadcaster production pipeline with similar government funding reliance.
- Highwire Films: Australian independent production company producing feature films with international co-production partners, comparable in scale and festival-circuit positioning to Mad Ones Films.
- Kindred Spirit: Australian independent producer developing and producing film and TV content with a focus on distinctive voices and international co-productions, operating in the same indie production tier as Mad Ones.
Broad incumbents
- Goalpost Pictures: Australian production company where co-founder Liam Heyen previously worked on projects including I AM WOMAN and TOP END WEDDING. Larger established indie producer operating in the same festival/broadcaster ecosystem.
- Matchbox Pictures: Established Australian production company (part of NBCUniversal) producing premium drama and comedy series. Operates in the same Australian production ecosystem and competes for similar Screen Australia funding and broadcaster commissions.
- See-Saw Films: Larger Australia/UK-based production company producing premium film and television including LION and TOP OF THE LAKE. Operates in the same indie production space but at materially greater scale and with a deeper executive bench.
- Aquarius Films: Established Australian production company where co-founder Cyna Strachan previously worked as Production Executive. Produces premium film and TV content with similar broadcaster and international co-production orientation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mad Ones Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mad Ones Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Mad Ones Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mad Ones 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 Mad Ones Films
What does Mad Ones Films do?
Mad Ones Films is an independent production company that develops and produces short films, television series, and feature films, primarily for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and international distributors. The company specializes in female-led stories and content focused on LGBTQI+ and disability experiences, generating revenue through production fees, co-production financing, and broadcaster commissions. Its output has screened at top international festivals and earned awards including AACTA, ADG, and SPA recognition.
Is Mad Ones Films a public or private company?
Mad Ones Films is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mad Ones Films founded?
Mad Ones Films was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mad Ones Films based?
Mad Ones Films is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Mad Ones Films make money?
One revenue line is on record: film and Television Production Services.
Who are Mad Ones Films's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Porchlight Films, Sweetshop & Green, Closer Films, Causeway Films, Highwire Films and Kindred Spirit. Broad incumbents are Goalpost Pictures, Matchbox Pictures, See-Saw Films and Aquarius Films.
Does Mad Ones Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mad Ones Films.
What industry is Mad Ones Films in?
Mad Ones Films's product category is Independent Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAA, Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.