What Left Behind does

Left Behind is an independent documentary film project structured as a non-profit, founded in 2021 and based in West New York, New York. The film tells the story of a group of mothers who founded the Literacy Academy Collective — the first public school network in New York City dedicated to students with dyslexia — and serves educational institutions, community groups, non-profit organizations, parents, and families seeking to raise awareness of dyslexia and advocate for literacy equity. The core product is the documentary itself, accompanied by a downloadable Discussion Guide designed to facilitate post-screening conversations across audiences with varying familiarity with dyslexia.

The film is distributed through two distinct channels: Kinema handles direct-to-consumer rentals and on-demand licensing for non-profits and community groups, while Roco Films manages institutional licensing for schools, libraries, colleges, and universities. Pricing is quote-based for institutional and organizational screenings, with consumer rentals available on a pay-as-you-go basis. Revenue mechanics are entirely transactional — one-time licenses and per-screening fees — with no subscription or recurring component.

The project operates with a small team of 1-10 people, led by director Anna Toomey (Sandy Dog Productions) with executive producers including ABC News anchor Juju Chang and co-CEOs of Green Hummingbird Entertainment (David Beal and Sian Edwards-Beal), and producer Larry Mullen Jr. of U2, who contributed original songs and whose son has dyslexia. Marketing relies heavily on earned media (ABC News Nightline and GMA, Rolling Stone, Billboard, CBS News NY, ABC 7 NY, IndieWire), celebrity endorsements (notably Anderson Cooper), grassroots institutional screenings, and a website-based newsletter funnel. An ecosystem of eight advocacy partner organizations — including the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Learning Ally, Understood, and the subject's Literacy Academy Collective — extends reach into their respective constituencies.

Name

Left Behind

Website

https://leftbehindthefilm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Left Behind is an independent documentary film non-profit that follows mothers who founded NYC's first public school network for dyslexic students, distributed via Kinema (consumer/non-profit) and Roco Films (institutional licensing) to schools, community groups, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Documentary Film

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Live-Action Kids & Family Production (MPADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA), Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Educational film licensing
• Dyslexia advocacy media
• Nonprofit content production
• Literacy equity resources

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Rental - Kinema: The film is available for rent on Kinema's digital platform for individual viewing at home, providing direct-to-consumer revenue.
2. Institutional Licensing - Roco Films: Schools, libraries, colleges, and universities can obtain institutional licenses through Roco Films for non-theatrical and educational screenings.
3. On-Demand/Non-Profit Licensing - Kinema: Community groups and non-profit organizations can license the film for screenings through Kinema's digital distribution platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Left Behind is an independent nonprofit documentary film project that produces and distributes a feature documentary about a group of mothers who founded the first public school network in New York City for students with dyslexia. The film is offered for direct-to-consumer rental via Kinema and for institutional licensing via Roco Films, accompanied by a downloadable Discussion Guide and partner organization resources to support literacy advocacy.

Product overview

Left Behind is a documentary film focused on dyslexia advocacy and education, centered on the story of mothers who founded the Literacy Academy Collective—the first public school network in New York City for students with dyslexia. The primary offering is the documentary film itself, available for streaming/rental through Kinema and for institutional licensing through Roco Films. A supporting product is the Discussion Guide, a downloadable resource for facilitating conversations about dyslexia and disability rights after screenings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Left Behind Documentary Film A feature-length documentary that follows a group of determined mothers who advocate to establish the first public school network in New York City for students with dyslexia. Distributed to consumers via Kinema on-demand rental and to institutions via Roco Films licensing, with celebrity involvement from U2's Larry Mullen Jr. and endorsement from Anderson Cooper.
• Left Behind Discussion Guide A downloadable PDF discussion guide designed to inspire conversation and action after watching the Left Behind documentary. Adaptable to various knowledge levels on dyslexia, disability rights, supporting children with learning disabilities, and the civil rights of students with disabilities; intended for institutional and community screening facilitators.

Quantifiable outcome

• High audience engagement reported: 'This film really engaged my students and helped them understand their own disability or those of their classmates.'
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Literacy Academy CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe central subject of the documentary, the Literacy Academy Collective is the first public school network in New York City for students with dyslexia. The film follows the moms who founded this network, which opened its first school (South Bronx Literacy Academy) in 2023 and second school (Central Brooklyn Literacy Academy) in 2025.
• Black Literacy MattersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization fighting to ensure students with dyslexia can succeed and thrive in school.
• Clever NoodleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the dyslexia advocacy movement featured on the film's partner page.
• Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting learners with disabilities, collaborating with the film's advocacy mission.
• FULCRUMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiteracy-focused partner organization supporting the film's mission to help students with dyslexia.
• Learning AllyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing audio textbooks and literature for dyslexic students; aligned with the film's educational mission.
• National Center for Learning DisabilitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor advocacy organization for children with learning disabilities; partnered to advance the film's mission.
• UnderstoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization focused on supporting people with learning and thinking differences; provides resources linked on the film's website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Participant Media: Impact-driven film and media company producing documentaries and narrative features focused on social issues. Comparable because both operate as mission-driven film entities producing issue-focused content with advocacy and educational distribution as a core goal.
• Abramorama: Impact-driven film distribution and marketing company specializing in documentary and event-based cinema releases. Comparable because both handle impact documentary distribution with attention to advocacy, educational, and institutional audiences.
• New Day Films: Filmmaker-run distribution cooperative selling social-issue documentaries to educational and community audiences. Comparable because both distribute issue-focused documentaries to schools, libraries, and grassroots organizations as the primary revenue model.
• Good Docs Collective: Cooperative of independent documentary filmmakers focused on impact distribution and educational licensing. Comparable because both sell documentaries directly to educational institutions, libraries, and community groups through licensing arrangements.
• Kartemquin Films: Independent documentary production nonprofit producing social-issue films for over 50 years. Comparable because both are nonprofit documentary producers leveraging institutional licensing, community screenings, and impact campaigns to advance social missions.
• Bullfrog Films: Distributor of environmental and social-issue documentaries to schools, libraries, and community groups for over 40 years. Comparable because both license social-issue documentaries into the educational and institutional market with similar buyer profiles.

Emerging players

• Roco Films: Educational film distributor handling institutional and non-theatrical licensing for documentaries. Comparable because Roco is Left Behind's actual distribution partner, and both companies operate in the educational documentary licensing space serving schools, libraries, and universities.
• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): Advocacy nonprofit for children and adults with learning disabilities including dyslexia. Comparable because NCLD is a Left Behind partner and serves overlapping audiences in the dyslexia advocacy and education reform space.
• Learning Ally: Nonprofit providing audiobooks and literacy resources for students with dyslexia and other reading deficits. Comparable because Learning Ally is a Left Behind partner and operates in the same dyslexia support and structured literacy ecosystem.
• Understood: Nonprofit organization supporting people with learning and thinking differences including dyslexia. Comparable because Understood is a Left Behind partner organization and operates in the same dyslexia advocacy and resource ecosystem, addressing overlapping audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/left-behind-the-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Left Behind