The Forest Of Black

What The Forest Of Black does

Forest of Black is an award-winning independent production company headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, that produces music videos, commercials, campaign films, documentaries, and feature film/TV content. The company serves a horizontally diversified client base including musicians (Biffy Clyro, Liam Gallagher, Royal Blood, The Snuts, Placebo, Arab Strap, Idlewild, Belle & Sebastian), public sector bodies (Police Scotland, Scottish Government, Visit Scotland, DFI Road Safety), brands and advertising agencies (Bruichladdich Whisky, Jura Whisky, Hayu, Fibrus Broadband, CalMac), broadcasters (BBC Scotland), and arts organizations (Scottish Ballet). Its 'creative first' ethos applies music-video-derived visual storytelling discipline across commercials, documentary, and theatrical work.

The company's production capability spans Super 8, 16mm film, and digital cinematography, with technical specialization in complex action cinematography (e.g., cinema cameras mounted on rollercoasters) and remote or director-proxy production methods developed during pandemic lockdowns. The directing roster includes Oscar Sansom, Michael Sherrington, Rose Hendry, Ciaran Lyons, AINS, and Siri Rødnes, supported by Senior Producer and Company Director Beth Allan. The studio operates from a single facility at the Grainstore, 60 Tradeston Street, Glasgow, with no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or external funding.

Revenue is generated primarily through commissioned production fees for music videos, brand commercials, campaign films, and documentary projects, with secondary income from co-production arrangements and international distribution via sales agents including Autlook Filmsales and Abramorama. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed; the go-to-market is sales-led, built on direct relationships with agencies, brands, musicians, and broadcasters, and reinforced by film festival participation and industry award recognition. No revenue, funding, or transaction-value figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

The Forest Of Black

Legal name

Forest of Black

Website

https://forestofblack.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forest of Black is a Glasgow-based independent production company producing music videos, commercials, campaign films, documentaries, and feature film/TV content for musicians, brands, advertising agencies, broadcasters, public sector bodies, and arts organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Film Production: Production company creating commissioned content for brands, agencies, musicians, and broadcasters. Revenue generated through production fees for music videos, TV commercials, documentary films, and branded content.
2. Co-productions and Distribution: Co-production arrangements with other production companies and distributors for documentary and feature film projects, with international sales handled by distribution partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forest of Black is an award-winning, independent production company that develops and produces film content across music videos, commercials, documentaries, and long-form film/TV. The company offers end-to-end services from concept development through production to post-production, working with brands, agencies, musicians, broadcasters, cultural organizations, and government clients. Productions span Super 8, 16mm, and digital cinematography formats.

Product overview

Forest of Black is an award-winning, independent production company developing and producing innovative film content across multiple platforms. The company operates across four core service areas: Music Videos (producing promotional visual content for musicians), Commercials (creating brand campaigns for agencies and direct clients), Documentaries (feature-length and short-form documentary content), and Film/TV Content (concert films, dance films, and theatrical adaptations). Notable productions include the Super Nature documentary, the Placebo 'This Search For Meaning' feature documentary, the Scottish Ballet dance films DIVE and Starstruck, the Since Yesterday documentary about Scotland's girl bands, and the award-winning 'That Guy' public health campaign for Police Scotland. The company has collaborated extensively with Scottish Ballet, produced content for major artists including Biffy Clyro, Liam Gallagher, and Royal Blood, and works with advertising agencies on brand campaigns for clients including Visit Scotland, Jura Whisky, and various government bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Video Production

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning productions with BAFTA, Grierson, and multiple industry award wins
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AbramoramacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 November 2024Worldwide distribution for Placebo 'This Search For Meaning' feature documentary, handling cinema releases across UK and US.
• Ed SayerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2023Co-production partnership with Director Ed Sayers (founder of Straight 8 filmmaking competition) for 'Super Nature' documentary filmed entirely on Super 8 by filmmakers across the globe.
• Rebecca WolffcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2023Co-producer Rebecca Wolff (known for Grand Theft Hamlet, The Severed Sun) partnered on 'Super Nature' documentary project.
• Autlook FilmsalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 June 2023International sales agent handling worldwide distribution for 'Super Nature' documentary, securing deals in Australia/NZ, Italy, Sweden, Poland.
• Scottish BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing co-production partnership producing multiple award-winning dance films including 'Starstruck', 'Dive', 'The Secret Theatre', 'Odyssey', and 'Coppelia'.
• BBC ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration for BBC Tune sessions, broadcast content, and various documentary and performance film projects.
• GenesiscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative agency partnership for multiple commercial campaigns including Fibrus Broadband 'Broadband Done Right' trilogy and PHA vaccination campaigns.
• Stand AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with creative agency for award-winning public sector campaigns including Police Scotland 'That Guy', SAMH 'Ask Them', and Victim Support Scotland.
• The Leith AgencycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Scottish Government campaigns including vaccination, organ donation, and Brand Scotland 'Scotland Is Open'.
• PUNK Creative AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Jura Whisky campaign 'Say Hello To Jura' which won multiple industry awards.
• Thirst AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Bruichladdich Whisky campaign 'We Also Make Whisky'.
• D8 AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Hayu campaigns and ScotRail advertising.
• The Union AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Adult Social Care campaigns and Visit Scotland campaigns.
• The Gate AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Scottish Government 'Let's Do Net Zero' campaign.
• Bridging the GapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partnership for emerging filmmaker Lipa Hussain's documentary short 'Roll Down The Window'.
• SDI/Edinburgh PitchminorGTM or Marketing Partner'Super Nature' selected as one of 12 projects for Edinburgh Pitch 2023, presenting to industry panel.
• Too Happy StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for Rachel Maclean's 'Duck' film.
• Straight 8minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetition participation producing 'Hard Coffee' which joined BFI National Archive.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Object & Animal: London independent production company producing commercials, music videos and short-form content for global agencies and brands; same agency-led production model with comparable director-roster approach.
• Knucklehead: London-based commercials and music video production company with director-led creative model; competes for the same UK music and agency commissions at a comparable boutique scale.
• Partizan: London-based independent production and entertainment company producing music videos, commercials, documentaries, and feature films; directly competes for the same UK/European advertising and music commissioning work.
• Academy Films: Long-established London commercials and music video production company with a multi-award-winning director roster; competes for the same advertising agency and music label commissions at a similar boutique scale.
• Stink Studios: Globally networked production company producing commercials, music videos, branded content and digital-first campaigns; directly comparable in services and music/commercial client mix, with broader geographic reach.
• Pulse Films: London-headquartered independent production company producing music videos, commercials, branded content, feature documentaries and scripted work — nearly identical service mix and client base (major music artists, global brands) to Forest of Black.
• Riff Raff Films: London-based creative production company producing commercials, music videos, branded content and feature films through a director-led model — directly comparable creative structure and project types.
• Somesuch: UK-based independent production company producing commercials, music videos, shorts and feature documentaries for global brands and artists; identical boutique-style structure and creative-first positioning.

Broad incumbents

• RSA Films: Ridley Scott-founded London production powerhouse operating globally across commercials, music videos, longform film and branded content; competes with Forest of Black for the same advertising and music commissions from a much larger talent roster and network of offices.
• Anonymous Content: US/global production company producing commercials, music content, feature documentaries and scripted film/TV; a larger-scale incumbent that competes in many of the same arenas (commercials + documentaries + branded music content) as Forest of Black.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/forestofblack
• Facebookfacebook.com/theforestofblack
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestofblack
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-forest-of-black-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Forest Of Black