SIXTEEN FILMS LIMITED

What SIXTEEN FILMS LIMITED does

Sixteen Films Limited is a London-based, privately held independent film production company founded in 2002 by director Ken Loach and producer Rebecca O'Brien. The company produces and co-produces feature films, documentaries, and short films for cinema and television distribution, with a body of work defined by socially conscious, politically engaged storytelling and realistic portrayals of working-class lives. Its core output includes 18 feature films made with Ken Loach (including Palme d'Or winners The Wind That Shakes the Barley in 2006 and I, Daniel Blake in 2016), documentaries such as VERSUS: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016) and The Spirit of '45 (2013), a shorts program, and a back catalog spanning more than 50 years of Loach's directorial work that is now undergoing 4K restoration.

Sixteen Films generates revenue primarily through licensing royalties across theatrical distribution, streaming/VOD (BFI Player), and catalog film-rights sales, supplemented by co-production fees and producer services for projects by other directors. The company sells into film distributors and sales agents as its primary customer segment, with additional segments comprising European auteur directors, film festivals and cinemas, and streaming platforms. Its go-to-market relies on tiered international distribution partnerships — Park Circus for back-catalog rights, Goodfellas (worldwide sales), Le Pacte (France), and Curzon (UK/Ireland) — alongside festival circuits at Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and BFI London Film Festival, and earned media through awards and retrospectives.

Following Ken Loach's retirement after The Old Oak (2023), Sixteen Films entered a strategic transition under Rebecca O'Brien's leadership, shifting to co-produce English-language films with European auteur directors. Recent productions include Athina Rachel Tsangari's Harvest (2024), Laura Carreira's On Falling (2024), and an upcoming co-production of Sally Potter's Alma with Adventure Pictures, Les Films d'Antoine, and Komplizen. The company operates with a stable, small team of five people and functions without external investment or a parent organization.

Name

SIXTEEN FILMS LIMITED

Legal name

Sixteen Films Limited

Website

https://sixteenfilms.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sixteen Films Limited is an independent London-based film production company founded in 2002 by Ken Loach and Rebecca O'Brien, producing and co-producing socially conscious feature films, documentaries, and shorts for global cinema, streaming, and festival distribution, and now expanding into European auteur co-productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN), Arts & Culture Documentaries (MPADADAI)

Keywords

• Feature film production
• Documentary film production
• Short film production
• Film distribution licensing
• Co-production services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Revenue from cinema releases through distribution partners in various territories. Films are licensed to theaters for exhibition.
2. Streaming/VOD Rights: Revenue from licensing films to streaming platforms such as BFI Player for viewing online.
3. Film Rights Sales: Revenue from selling or licensing film rights for catalog titles. Park Circus handles rights for classic Loach films including Ae Fond Kiss, Bread and Roses, Kes, Sweet Sixteen, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and others.
4. Co-production Services: Producer Rebecca O'Brien serves as producer or executive producer on projects by other directors, including Sally Potter's Alma and various Sixteen Films productions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sixteen Films produces and co-produces feature-length narrative films, documentaries, and short films primarily directed by Ken Loach (and now European auteur directors) covering social and political themes. The company also licenses its back catalog to international distribution and streaming partners, and provides co-production and producer services on outside director projects including Sally Potter's Alma and Athina Rachel Tsangari's Harvest.

Product overview

Sixteen Films is a London-based film production company founded in 2002 by director Ken Loach and producer Rebecca O'Brien. The company produces feature films, documentaries, and short films. Its core offering consists of Ken Loach's feature films (including Palme d'Or winners The Wind That Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake), documentary productions, and a shorts program. Following Ken Loach's retirement after The Old Oak (2023), the company is expanding to co-produce English-language films with European auteur directors, beginning with Harvest (2024) and On Falling (2024).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Films Feature-length narrative films produced under the Sixteen Films banner, primarily directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty, covering social and political themes (e.g., I, Daniel Blake, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, The Old Oak). Recently expanded to co-produce English-language features with European auteur directors such as Sally Potter's Alma and Athina Rachel Tsangari's Harvest.
• Documentary Films Documentary feature films produced by Sixteen Films, including VERSUS: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016) and THE SPIRIT OF '45 (2013).
• Short Films Short film productions created under the Sixteen Films banner, including Cold Snap, Push, Pylon, Soft Facts, and Staying (Aros Mae), overseen by producer Jack Thomas-O'Brien.
• Other Features at Sixteen Films Feature films produced by Rebecca O'Brien or under the Sixteen Films banner outside the core Ken Loach/Paul Laverty slate, including My Son, You Were Never Really Here, City of Tiny Lights, Warbook, Oranges and Sunshine, and Summer.
• Co-Production and Producer Services Producer-of-record and co-production services supplied by Sixteen Films to outside auteur director projects, including English-language feature co-productions alongside international production partners such as Adventure Pictures, Les Films d'Antoine, and Komplizen.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• GoodfellascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench sales agent appointed as worldwide sales agent for a selection of Ken Loach's back catalog titles including The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Palme d'Or winner) and Land and Freedom. Goodfellas will handle international sales as part of a long-term catalog preservation effort with 4K restorations.
• Le PactecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distribution partner entrusted with distribution of Ken Loach's classic films in France as part of the new catalog partnership.
• CurzoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK and Ireland distribution partner for Ken Loach's classic films including The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Land and Freedom.
• Park CircuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilm rights and screenings agent for Sixteen Films catalog titles including Ae Fond Kiss, Bread and Roses, Carla's Song, Family Life, Hidden Agenda, Kes, Ladybird Ladybird, Looking for Eric, My Name is Joe, Raining Stones, Riff Raff, Sweet Sixteen, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and others.
• Cinémathèque françaiseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Ken Loach retrospective featuring 32 films showcasing the breadth of his work. Opening April 16, 2026 with Ken Loach in attendance and masterclass on April 17. British Council is also a partner.
• British CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Ken Loach retrospective organized by Cinémathèque française, supporting British cinema internationally.
• The Garden CinemaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting Ken Loach: A Retrospective from September 26 to November 27, 2025, featuring screenings of classic films including Kes, Land & Freedom, Sweet Sixteen, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and The Angel's Share with Q&As and special events.
• Adventure Pictures (Sally Potter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRebecca O'Brien co-producing Sally Potter's Alma alongside Adventure Pictures. Project described as family ensemble piece, 'sequel to The Party'. Currently in casting and location scouting phase.
• Les Films d'AntoinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench co-producer on Sally Potter's Alma film, led by Antoine Simkine.
• KomplizencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman co-production partner on Sally Potter's Alma, led by producers Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski and Maren Ade.
• Athina Rachel TsangaricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek auteur director whose film Harvest (2024) is the first post-Loach production from Sixteen Films. Tsangari is known for Attenberg and Chevalier. Harvest is set for UK/Ireland cinema release July 18, 2025.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wildgaze Films: UK independent production company focused on character-driven, literary adaptations such as On Chesil Beach and Testament of Youth. Comparable to Sixteen Films in its arthouse, festival-leaning output from a small UK team.
• Mubi: Global arthouse streaming platform and production company (notably of Ammonite and The Zone of Interest). Comparable to Sixteen Films as a curator and financier of arthouse cinema with overlapping distribution partners and audience overlap.
• See-Saw Films: UK/Australian independent production company behind auteur and awards-driven films such as Lion and The Power of the Dog. Closely comparable to Sixteen Films in its focus on festival-grade, director-led cinema with international co-production reach.
• House Productions: London-based independent producer of prestige films such as The Death of Stalin and The Personal History of David Copperfield. Comparable to Sixteen Films as a UK auteur-driven production house with festival and awards pedigree.
• Curzon: UK arthouse cinema chain and distribution company that also distributes Sixteen Films titles in UK/Ireland. Comparable as a vertically integrated arthouse specialist combining exhibition, distribution and selective production.
• Blueprint Pictures: UK production company behind titles such as Atonement and The Danish Girl. Comparable to Sixteen Films as a similarly sized British producer operating in the prestige drama space with international partners.

Broad incumbents

• Film4: Channel 4's film arm and a long-standing UK producer of critically acclaimed films including 12 Years a Slave and Slumdog Millionaire. Comparable to Sixteen Films in its focus on UK social-realist and auteur cinema but at significantly greater scale.
• BBC Films: BBC's feature film division, a major UK producer/co-producer of British cinema including titles supported through public funding. Comparable to Sixteen Films as a UK backer of festival-grade British films but operating at much larger scale.
• A24: US independent studio behind Moonlight, Lady Bird and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Comparable to Sixteen Films in its championing of auteur-led, festival-circuit cinema, though at far greater scale and with full distribution capabilities.
• Working Title Films: Major UK production company behind Love Actually, Notting Hill and the Bridget Jones series. Comparable to Sixteen Films as a UK film production entity but vastly larger and focused on mainstream commercial releases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KenLoachSixteen
• Instagraminstagram.com/kenloachandsixteenfilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sixteen-films

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SIXTEEN FILMS LIMITED