Madhouse Films

What Madhouse Films does

Madhouse Films is a Brooklyn-based, femme-led independent production house founded in 2022 by Katherine Romans and Charlie Traisman. The company produces narrative feature films and short films across genres including horror-thriller ('Forbidden Fruits'), documentary ('Manhood'), social commentary ('Long Pork,' 'Copy Save'), and relationship drama ('Julian,' 'Too Romantic'), as well as branded commercial content. Its core capability is end-to-end production execution — creative ideation, talent acquisition, live-action production with female-led and diverse crews, and post-production services — anchored in a network of recurring directors and a festival-first go-to-market motion.

The company operates two distinct revenue streams. The first is narrative content production licensed to third-party distributors; 'Forbidden Fruits' was jointly acquired by IFC Films and Shudder in March 2025 for theatrical and streaming release, establishing a distribution pathway. The second is branded content production under a dedicated division led by Sofia Aguilar as Head of Branded Content, serving clients including NowThis Media (long-form pilot 'Are You Okay?'), Cora (first commercial), and JFK Terminal 1, structured as professional services with custom project-based pricing.

Distribution and visibility are driven primarily through the film festival circuit — including Tier-1 festivals SXSW (multiple 2026 selections), TIFF, Slamdance, Fantasia, Palm Springs, Manchester, Newfest, Woodstock, Cleveland, Austin, and HollyShorts — supplemented by press coverage in Variety, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, and IndieWire, an Instagram presence, and the Madculture Substack newsletter. The team is lean (1–10 employees) and the company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding or external investors.

Name

Madhouse Films

Legal name

Madhouse Films

Website

https://madhouse-films.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Madhouse Films is a Brooklyn-based, femme-led independent production house founded in 2022 that produces narrative feature films, shorts, and branded commercial content, distributing through festivals and partners like IFC Films and Shudder.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Narrative film production
• Branded content production
• Short film production
• Commercial production house

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film Production and Distribution: Madhouse Films produces narrative films and secures distribution deals with major distributors. Their feature film 'Forbidden Fruits' was acquired by IFC Films and Shudder, indicating a model of producing content and licensing distribution rights.
2. Branded Content Production: The company produces branded commercial content for brands including creative ideation, live action production, and post-production services. Clients include NowThis Media for the 'Are You Okay?' series and Cora.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Madhouse Films is a femme-led production house that produces narrative feature films and short films, partnering with visionary directors and building female-led, diverse crews. The company also offers branded content production services for brands, including creative ideation, live action production, and end-to-end post-production services. Films are produced for festival premiere and international distribution via deals with distributors such as IFC Films and Shudder.

Product overview

Madhouse Films is a femme-led production house producing both narrative feature films and short films, as well as branded commercial content. The portfolio includes feature films (Forbidden Fruits, The Plan, Manhood, Julian), short films (Too Romantic, Achiever, Copy Save, Long Pork, Blood Boys, Fawn, Uncle Johnny), and branded content projects (Are You Okay?). The company also offers production services including creative ideation, live action production, and post-production. Madculture serves as a Substack-based extension for more immediate content. Founded in 2022 by Katherine Romans and Charlie Traisman, the company has played at festivals including SXSW, TIFF, Fantasia, Slamdance, and distributed internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forbidden Fruits A 2026 feature film directed by Meredith Alloway about a free Eden employee named Apple who secretly runs a witchy femme cult in a mall store basement with fellow employees Cherry and Fig. Starring Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Lola Tung, and Emma Chamberlain. Acquired by IFC Films and Shudder.
• The Plan A 2026 feature film directed by Jessica Barr, shot as an unbroken single take, following a group of disillusioned young adults preparing for an irreversible act. Cast includes Ryan Simpkins, Eve Lindley, Percy Hynes White, and Frank Mosley.
• Manhood A 2026 documentary feature film directed by Daniel Lombroso following Dallas entrepreneur Bill Moore as he attempts to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox.
• Julian A 2025 feature film directed by Cato Kusters about two women, Fleur and Julian, who fall in love and decide to get married in all countries where they are legally allowed to do so, before their journey halts after only four marriages.
• Too Romantic A 2026 short film/indie TV pilot directed by Talia Light Rake about a collaboration between two influencers that unexpectedly turns romantic, forcing the protagonist to choose between love and social media engagement. Starring Rivkah Reyes, Sam Vartholomeos, and Ashley Ganger.
• Achiever A 2026 short film directed by Charlie Traisman about a woman named Alexa who can no longer orgasm due to antidepressants and embarks on a desperate journey to resolve the issue.
• Copy, Save A 2026 short film directed by Alyssa Loh about two Asian-American teen sisters who discover each other's secret internet cash-schemes and confront the ethics of their digital lives.
• Long Pork A 2026 short film directed by Iris Dukatt set in a Post-Roe America where a renowned butcher meets the political predator responsible for her daughter's death and exacts bloody revenge. Starring Lena Headey.
• Blood Boys A 2025 short film directed by Jordan Hahn about a cutthroat competition for a billionaire's Blood Boy position. Cast includes Booboo Stewart, Damian Joseph Quinn, and Jamie Clayton.
• Fawn A 2026 short film directed by Emily Everhard about Kate's assault and Emma stepping in to help in the aftermath, but as the night unfolds and Emma's well-being is jeopardized, Kate finds herself in harm's way once more.
• Uncle Johnny A 2025 short film directed by Margaux Susi about Rose spending the day bowling with her neurodivergent Uncle who is dying of cancer, while she grapples with keeping the secret. Cast includes Angela Giarratana and Marc Pulver.
• Are You Okay? A long-form digital pilot produced for NowThis Media, bringing the viral magic of the short-form series hosted by Bri Morales to YouTube. Madhouse Films provided creative development and production support, collaborating with director Lara Everly.
• Branded Production Services Production company offering branded commercial content for brands, including creative ideation (script development, talent acquisition), live action production with female-led, diverse crews, and end-to-end post-production services leveraging an artist network.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• IFC FilmsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025IFC Films acquired distribution rights for 'Forbidden Fruits' feature film. This distribution deal represents a major milestone for Madhouse Films, securing theatrical and streaming release for their feature debut through a recognized independent film distributor.
• ShudderflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025Shudder acquired distribution rights for 'Forbidden Fruits' alongside IFC Films, targeting the horror/thriller streaming audience. The dual acquisition by both IFC Films and Shudder ensures wide distribution across theatrical and streaming platforms.
• NowThis MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMadhouse Films partnered with NowThis Media to produce a long-form pilot for their 'Are You Okay?' series hosted by Bri Morales. Madhouse provided creative development and production support, collaborating with director Lara Everly to translate short-form content energy into compelling long-form episodes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Secret Engine: Independent production company producing elevated genre and auteur features with festival traction. Comparable slate strategy and reliance on festival premieres to launch distribution negotiations.
• Bleecker Street: Independent film distribution and production company focused on distinctive, character-driven theatrical releases. Comparable in pursuing theatrical and streaming windows for indie features emerging from the festival circuit.
• The Exchange: International sales and production-finance company representing independent films at markets and festivals. Operates the same festival-to-buyer monetization flywheel that Madhouse depends on for distribution of its slate.
• Plan B Entertainment: Brad Pitt's independent production company developing narrative film and television with mission-driven and culturally relevant projects. Mirrors Madhouse's hybrid of artistic credibility and deal-making at major buyers and platforms.
• Killer Films: Independent production company founded by Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, producing auteur-driven narrative features and limited series—closely comparable to Madhouse's model of curating distinctive directors and packaging films for festival and distribution pathways.
• XYZ Films: Independent production, financing, and international sales company focused on genre and festival films. Its festival-to-distribution pipeline and international sales arm closely resemble the model Madhouse used to land IFC Films and Shudder for Forbidden Fruits.
• Oscilloscope Laboratories: Independent film distributor and production company built on auteur-driven and socially engaged titles. Closely aligned with Madhouse's editorial and thematic positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mubi: Global streaming platform and production company dedicated to curated independent cinema. Competes for similar festival-premiere acquisitions and now finances select originals, overlapping with Madhouse's distribution pathway.
• Neon: Larger indie distributor that has moved into original production, often acquiring festival premieres (Parasite, Anatomy of a Fall). Operates a similar festival-driven acquisition strategy but at meaningfully greater scale and capital base.
• A24: Major independent film and television company with a portfolio spanning production, distribution, and branded content. Shares Madhouse's auteur-driven, mission-curated identity but operates at a vastly larger scale with established distribution infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/its_madhousefilms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itsmadhouse-films

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Madhouse Films