Maneki Films
Maneki Films is a privately held Paris-based boutique film production company founded in 2009 that produces and co-produces French and international auteur feature films. It serves festival circuits (Cannes, Venice, Locarno), French theatrical distributors, international sales agents, and institutional film financiers across Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Maneki Films does
Maneki Films is a privately held French film production company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Paris, operating with a boutique team of 1–10 employees. The company produces and co-produces French and international auteur feature films, working with established and emerging directors from France, Latin America (Argentina, Brazil), the Middle East and North Africa (Tunisia, Palestine), Sub-Saharan Africa (Sudan), and Europe (Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Switzerland). Its business model is project-based: each film is assembled via a coalition financing structure drawing on French theatrical distributors (Pathé, Wild Bunch Distribution, Ad Vitam, Rezo Films, Jour2fête, Diaphana Distribution, Studio Canal, KMBO, Haut et Court, Memento Films Distribution), international sales agents (Wild Bunch, Playtime, Film Factory, Versatile, Luxbox, Celluloid Dreams, New Europe Film Sales, Memento Films International), French broadcasters (Canal+, Ciné+, OCS), public film institutions (CNC, Eurimages, Creative Europe MEDIA, Nordic and Belgian film funds), and tax-shelter financing (taxshelter.be, Inver Tax Shelter). Distribution flows through three primary channels: French theatrical release, international territory sales via specialist agents, and selected digital platform releases including Netflix.
The company's catalog spans roughly 25 titles from 2012 to 2026, with concentrated activity from 2022 onward (4 releases that year, plus Une Nuit in 2023, Motel Destino and Moi Aussi in 2024, and 4–6 additional titles across 2025–2026). Films are positioned for prestige festival premieres — Cannes Competition (Girls of the Sun 2018, Moi Aussi 2024, Motel Destino 2024), Cannes Un Certain Regard (Godland 2022, Une Nuit 2023, Promis le Ciel 2025), Venice (Return to Ithaca 2014, Sous les figues 2022, Cotton Queen 2025), and Locarno (God Will Not Help 2025). Notable awards include the Cannes 2015 Grand Prix and FIPRESCI Prize for Paulina, the Venice Days Award for Return to Ithaca, and multiple regional festival prizes across Europe, North Africa, and Latin America. The company's competitive positioning rests on repeat collaborations with a small roster of auteur directors (Eva Husson, Pablo Trapero, Laurent Cantet, Santiago Mitre, Karim Aïnouz, Erige Sehiri, Hlynur Pálmason), cross-border co-production expertise, and a deep network of repeat distributor and institutional financier relationships that compound with each successive greenlight.
The business carries the standard risk profile of a sub-ten-person independent production company: revenue is lumpy and project-driven, no equity funding rounds have been disclosed, ownership structure beyond the implicit founder-producer role of Didar Domehri is not public, and there is no technology, AI, or platform infrastructure that would alter the underlying economics of auteur film production. Growth in 2022–2026 is visible in output cadence and festival tier, but unit economics, capitalization, and forward visibility remain opaque to external observers.
Maneki Films firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maneki Films
- Legal name
- Maneki Films
- Website
- https://manekifilms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Maneki Films is a privately held Paris-based boutique film production company founded in 2009 that produces and co-produces French and international auteur feature films. It serves festival circuits (Cannes, Venice, Locarno), French theatrical distributors, international sales agents, and institutional film financiers across Europe, Latin America, and Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maneki Films industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production (MPADABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC), Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC), Tax Incentives & Rebate Monetization (MPADAAAD)
Keywords
Where Maneki Films is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Maneki Films business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Maneki Films product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maneki Films produces and co-produces French and international feature films and shorts, working with established and emerging auteur directors across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The company raises financing through public funds, broadcasters, tax shelters, and international co-producers, then delivers finished films to French theatrical distributors, international sales agents, and digital platforms such as Netflix.
Product overview
Maneki Films is an independent French film production and international sales company that produces and distributes auteur-driven feature films and shorts from emerging and established international directors. The company's portfolio consists of a diverse catalog of narrative feature films across multiple genres including drama, thriller, and social commentary, representing filmmakers from France, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Productions span from Cannes and Venice premieres to Netflix releases, with films distributed theatrically in France and internationally through sales agents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- A Girl Unknown / La Deuxième Fille
Companies that use Maneki Films
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Maneki Films technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Maneki Films partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
55 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Borsalino ProductionscoreFrench co-production partner with extensive involvement in multiple Maneki Films productions including 11 Fleurs, 7 Jours à la Havane, White Elephant, Return to Ithaca, and others. Key strategic co-production partner for French cinema projects.
- Arte France CinémacoreFrench broadcaster and co-producer providing funding and support for international film productions. Co-producer of 11 Fleurs.
- Morena FilmscoreSpanish co-production partner for international projects including 7 Jours à la Havane and White Elephant.
- Matanza CinemajorArgentine co-production company involved in White Elephant production.
- PatagonikmajorArgentine film production company, co-producer of White Elephant.
- Henia ProductioncoreTunisian production company, co-producer of Under the fig trees (Sous les figues) and A Girl Unknown / La Deuxième Fille.
- Arches FilmscoreFrench production company, co-producer of Girls of the Sun, Under the stars of Paris, and Promis le Ciel.
- SnowglobecoreDanish production company, co-producer of Godland.
- Join MotioncoreIcelandic production company, co-producer of Godland.
- Akka FilmsmajorSwiss co-production partner for Under the fig trees.
- In Good CompanymajorGerman co-production partner for Under the fig trees.
- Film I VästmajorSwedish film institute and co-producer of Godland.
- Garagefilm InternationalmajorSwedish co-production company for Godland.
- BeBossacoreBrazilian production company, co-producer of Memory House.
- Versus ProductionmajorBelgian production company involved in Une Nuit.
- K&ScoreArgentine production company, producer of El Presidente / La Cordillera.
- La Unión de los RíoscoreArgentine production company, co-producer of El Presidente and Paulina.
- MOD ProduccionescoreSpanish production company, co-producer of El Presidente / La Cordillera.
- VideofilmesmajorBrazilian production company, co-producer of Paulina.
- La Unión de Los RíoscoreArgentine co-producer of Petite Fleur.
- Panache ProductionsmajorBelgian co-producer of Petite Fleur.
- Setembro CinemajorSpanish co-producer of Petite Fleur.
- Logical PicturesmajorFrench co-producer of Petite Fleur.
- Studio CanalcoreFrench distributor and international sales agent for Une Nuit.
- PathécoreMajor French distributor handling theatrical distribution and international sales for King.
- Jour2fêtecoreFrench theatrical distributor for Godland and Under the fig trees.
- Wild BunchcoreFrench international sales agent and distributor, handling multiple Maneki Films titles including Girls of the Sun and co-productions.
- Wild BunchcoreInternational sales for 7 Jours à la Havane.
- Ad VitacoreFrench distributor for White Elephant.
- Ad VitamcoreFrench theatrical distributor for Paulina, Bang Gang, and A l'Ombre des filles.
- Rezo FilmscoreFrench distributor for 7 Jours à la Havane and La Confrérie des Larmes.
- Haut et Court DistributioncoreFrench distributor for Return to Ithaca and 11 Fleurs.
- Diaphana DistributioncoreFrench theatrical distributor for Under the stars of Paris.
- PlaytimecoreInternational sales agent and French distributor for multiple films including Une Nuit, A l'Ombre des filles, and Petite Fleur.
- Celluloid DreamscoreInternational sales agent for Memory House.
- Tamasa DistributioncoreFrench distributor for Memory House.
- Memento Films DistributioncoreFrench distributor for El Presidente / La Cordillera.
- Film FactorycoreInternational sales agent for El Presidente / La Cordillera.
- NetflixmajorDigital streaming platform distribution partner for Pickpockets, released April 12, 2018.
- LuxboxcoreInternational sales agent for Under the fig trees and Cotton Queen.
- New Europe Film SalescoreInternational sales agent for Godland.
- KMBOmajorFrench distributor for Petite Fleur.
- VersatilecoreInternational sales agent for Paulina.
- Films DistributioncoreInternational sales agent for 11 Fleurs and La Confrérie des Larmes.
- Lights OnmajorInternational sales agent for C'était bien.
- Memento Films InternationalcoreInternational sales for Under the stars of Paris.
- Five 7 MediamajorProduction company involved in Pickpockets.
- 64-A FilmsmajorProduction company involved in Pickpockets.
- 4DireccionesmajorColombian production company involved in Pickpockets.
- Angry DogmajorUK production company involved in Pickpockets.
- Full HousemajorFrench production company (Borsalino Productions division) producing King.
- GapbustersmajorBelgian co-production company involved in Girls of the Sun, Under the stars of Paris, and Promis le Ciel.
- 20 Steps ProductionsmajorGeorgian production company involved in Girls of the Sun.
- Bord Cadre filmsmajorSwiss production company involved in Girls of the Sun.
- Elle DrivercoreInternational sales agent for Girls of the Sun.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Maneki Films competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Maneki Films social profiles
Digital presenceManeki Films financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maneki Films leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Maneki Films funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maneki 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 Maneki Films
What does Maneki Films do?
Maneki Films produces and co-produces French and international feature films and shorts, working with established and emerging auteur directors across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The company raises financing through public funds, broadcasters, tax shelters, and international co-producers, then delivers finished films to French theatrical distributors, international sales agents, and digital platforms such as Netflix.
Is Maneki Films a public or private company?
Maneki Films is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Maneki Films founded?
Maneki Films was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Maneki Films based?
Maneki Films is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
Does Maneki Films have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maneki Films.
What industry is Maneki Films in?
Maneki Films's product category is Independent Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAG, Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production, with a secondary code of MPADAJAC, International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales). Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.