Screen Language

What Screen Language does

Screen Language Ltd is a privately held, Edinburgh-based professional services company founded in 2010 by Elena Zini, specializing in audiovisual translation and media accessibility for the film, broadcast, and corporate communications sectors. Its core offerings include Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), audio description following ADA standards, multilingual subtitles in 32+ languages, live closed captioning, British Sign Language (BSL) translation, and corporate event subtitling. Technical capabilities span cinema-ready subtitle formats (DCP, VOD, DVD) in both text- and image-based formats, with compliance against BFI, Screen Scotland, Ofcom, and ITI Code of Conduct standards. Live closed captioning uses speech recognition technology with dialogue list matching for post-event subtitle rendering.

The company operates a project-based, quote-driven professional services model, acquiring customers through industry reputation, professional networks, association memberships (ADAS, ESIST), and direct project inquiries. Customer segments span four verticals: film and media production (Lansdowne Productions, Dogwoof, Coproduction Office, Scottish Documentary Institute), corporate clients (Chubb, Siemens, LivaNova), museums and cultural institutions (Glasgow Museums' Burrell Collection), and academic/research organizations (University of Edinburgh, AHRC-funded projects). Pricing is bespoke per project and is not publicly disclosed. Screen Language has no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, and no institutional investors; it is founder-owned and operates with a lean team led by Elena Zini and Project Manager Mark Bradshaw. Beyond core services, the company has pursued strategic R&D partnerships — including the UKCA Tech Challenge (2019) with Fraunhofer and Lumakia, and the My Sound Cinema Project (2022) with RNIB, Sight Scotland, and Innovate UK — signaling ambitions to move from pure service delivery toward platform and technology-enabled accessibility products.

Name

Screen Language

Legal name

Screen Language Ltd

Website

https://screenlanguage.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Screen Language is an Edinburgh-based audiovisual translation and media accessibility firm founded in 2010, providing subtitling, audio description, BSL, and live captioning in 32+ languages for film producers, distributors, corporates, and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiovisual Translation and Media Accessibility Services

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAHAFAA

Subtitling & Captioning Services (Timed Text, SDH/CC)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Localization & Versioning (Subtitling, Dubbing, QC)

SECONDARYMPAHAFAB

Dubbing & Voiceover Production (Casting, Recording, Lip-Sync)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Localization & Versioning (Subtitling, Dubbing, QC)

SECONDARYMPAHAFAD

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Localization & Versioning (Subtitling, Dubbing, QC)

SECONDARYMPAHAFAH

Localization Technology & Automation (TMS, Subtitle Tools, MT/AI, Speech-to-Text)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Localization & Versioning (Subtitling, Dubbing, QC)

SECONDARYEDALAGAC

Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Disability Services & Accessibility

Keywords

• Audiovisual translation services
• Media accessibility services
• Film subtitling
• Audio description production
• Closed captioning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Subtitling services: Professional subtitling services for film and video production, including SDH (Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing), multilingual subtitles, and various formats (DCP, VOD, DVD).
2. Audio Description services: Audio description production for visually impaired audiences, including recording, mixing, and delivery in multiple formats.
3. Translation services: Translation of film content, pressbooks, festival catalogues, dialogue lists, and websites into multiple languages.
4. Live Closed Captioning: Real-time captioning services for conferences, presentations, and online events.
5. BSL Translation: British Sign Language translation and video production services.
6. Corporate Services: Subtitling and translation services for corporate events, conferences, and presentations for major corporations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Screen Language is a professional film subtitling, translation and audio description production company that delivers media accessibility and audiovisual translation services to the film, video and corporate sectors. Its offerings include Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), Audio Description, multilingual subtitling in 32+ languages, Live Closed Captioning, BSL Translation, and corporate subtitling services, produced using state-of-the-art subtitling technology in formats compliant with BFI, Screen Scotland and Ofcom requirements.

Product overview

Screen Language provides a suite of media accessibility and translation services for the film and video production industry. The core offerings include Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH), Audio Description, Translation, Multilingual Subtitles, Live Closed Captioning, and BSL Translation services. These are complemented by Corporate Services for business clients. The company uses state-of-the-art subtitling technology to produce cinema-ready, VOD, and DVD-ready outputs, working with over 32 languages and supporting multiple formats including DCP, .srt, .stl (EBU), .vtt, ttml, .smil, and .xml.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Subtitles for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH)

Quantifiable outcome

• Films screened internationally from Cannes to China
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Audio Description Association ScotlandminorOthersIndustry membership organization for audio description professionals in Scotland. Screen Language is associated with ADAS as part of the accessibility services community.
• European Association for Studies in Screen Translation (ESIST)minorOthersEuropean professional association for screen translation studies and practice. Screen Language maintains membership as part of professional network.
• Fraunhofer Centre for Applied PhotonicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on UKCA Tech Challenge funded by UK Cinema Association to develop new cinema caption screening technology. Screen Language coordinated research and collaborated with Lumakia and Fraunhofer to develop innovative concepts based on light physics presented at UKCA Tech conference.
• LumakiacoreTechnology or IntegrationScience and technology research company collaborating with Screen Language on UKCA Tech Challenge to find new ways to screen captions in cinemas to replace current smart glasses technology.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My Sound Cinema Project creating first online cinema platform designed for visually impaired people. RNIB collaborated on platform development alongside Sight Scotland, Creative Informatics, Innovate UK, and Film Hub Scotland.
• Sight ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My Sound Cinema Project creating accessible online cinema platform for visually impaired community. Collaboration to bring audio described cinema to home viewing.
• University of EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including work with Dr. Charlotte Bosseaux on AHRC-funded 'Ethical Demands of Translating Gender-Based Violence' project. Also collaborated on Indigenous Cinematics project and consulted on Colours of the Alphabet film.
• SaheliyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish-based charity specializing in wellbeing support for minority groups. Partner in AHRC-funded project creating best practices for AV translation dealing with trauma and gender-based violence.
• The Burrell CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlasgow museum for which Screen Language provided translation and voiceover of interactive video content into 10 languages including BSL and Scottish Gaelic for exhibition reopening.
• Latin American Coordinating Council for Indigenous Film and Media (CLACPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AHRC-funded Indigenous Cinematics project run by University of Edinburgh to attract wider audiences to indigenous Latin American film and filmmakers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CaptionMax: US-based provider of closed captioning, subtitling and audio description for broadcast, streaming and theatrical clients. Directly comparable on SDH/AD accessibility offerings for film and TV.
• 3Play Media: US-based provider of closed captioning, transcription, subtitling, audio description and translation services with a strong accessibility-compliance focus. Comparable on captioning/AD specialization and enterprise content workflows.
• VSI (Voice & Script International): London-based media localization company providing dubbing, voiceover, subtitling, captioning and audio description for film, TV and streaming. Closely comparable on European heritage and full-service AV translation offering.
• Zoo Digital Group: UK-listed (AIM) provider of subtitling, dubbing, localization and distribution services to Hollywood studios and streaming platforms. Direct peer in cloud-based subtitle production and global language coverage.
• Iyuno (formerly SDI Media): Global market leader in media localization offering subtitling, dubbing, captioning and accessibility services to studios, broadcasters and streamers. Directly comparable on services, customer base and global delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Deluxe (Localization & post-production): Long-established global post-production and media services company whose localization arm (now consolidated with Iyuno) offered subtitling, dubbing and distribution services. Comparable as a much larger incumbent serving major studios.
• Keywords Studios: Global video games and entertainment services group offering localization, dubbing, subtitling and accessibility services. Comparable as a larger incumbent in media localization with broader portfolio.
• TransPerfect (Media & Entertainment division): World's largest language services provider offering translation, subtitling, dubbing and accessibility for media clients. Comparable as a broad incumbent in AV translation with global enterprise reach.
• RWS Group (RWS Moravia): Global language, content and localization services group with strong media and entertainment practice. Adjacent incumbent offering subtitling and translation alongside broader localization.

Emerging players

• AppTek (Applied Language Solutions): AI-driven automatic speech recognition, machine translation and dubbing technology provider focused on media and entertainment. Comparable as a technology-led emerging player in automated AV localization.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScreenLang
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/screen-language

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Screen Language