Overview
Distrib Films is a Paris-based film distribution company founded in 2010 and registered as a SAS (societe par actions simplifiee) with 15,000 EUR in capital. The company operates from 38 Rue de Berri, 75008 Paris. Its primary business is acquiring and releasing French and European independent films theatrically in France, and through its US arm, Distrib Films US (based at 32 Court Street, Suite 2107, Brooklyn, NY), releasing those same films to American audiences. President and CEO Francois Scippa-Kohn runs acquisitions, development, and overall strategy for both operations.
Distrib Films US has released more than 100 films in the American market as of 2025. The UniFrance directory lists 39 films in the company's filmography, split between French domestic distribution (10 titles) and international distribution (30 titles). The company occupies a specific niche: bringing French-language independent cinema to theatrical audiences in both France and the US, with a focus on first and second features by emerging directors.
Acquisition Behavior and Deal Structures
Distrib Films acquires finished films from international sales agents rather than pre-buying or developing projects. Recent acquisitions include Block Pass (La Pampa), Antoine Chevrollier's debut feature that premiered at Cannes Critics' Week, acquired from Pulsar Content. The film had sold approximately 154,000 tickets (grossing roughly 1.1 million EUR) in France through local distributor Tandem before the US acquisition. Distrib Films also acquired US rights to Spare Keys and Amore Mio, both first features, from Paris-based sales agent Urban Sales in January 2024.
Scippa-Kohn described both Spare Keys and Amore Mio as showing "French indie cinema at its best" with "strong stories, bold directing and amazing acting." The company typically acquires films in the low five-figure to mid six-figure range for US rights, depending on festival profile and cast. Deals are negotiated directly with sales agents at markets including the Marche du Film (Cannes), the European Film Market (Berlinale), and TIFF industry events.
Release Strategy
Distrib Films US plans theatrical releases for acquired titles through partnerships with independent theatrical bookers in major US markets. For Block Pass, the company announced a strategy of launching at springtime international and LGBTQ+ festivals in the US before "securing venues in main US markets keen for foreign language movies." This festival-to-theatrical pipeline is standard for foreign-language arthouse distribution in the US, where platform releases begin in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to secondary markets.
The company works with VOD aggregators to place films on streaming platforms after the theatrical window. Scippa-Kohn has built relationships with producers, sales agents, theatrical bookers, and VOD aggregators across both the French and American markets, allowing each release to be handled with what he describes as a "tailored and passionate approach."
Catalog and Notable Releases
The Distrib Films US catalog spans French arthouse cinema across multiple genres. Recent and notable titles include:
- The Most Precious of Cargoes (2024, Michel Hazanavicius) - animated feature; Cannes 2024 Competition (Palme d'Or contender); first animated film in Cannes Competition since 2008; 81 min; released in France November 20, 2024 by Studiocanal
- The Mohican (drama) - French arthouse release
- Niki (biographical drama about artist Niki de Saint Phalle) - biographical feature
- No Chains No Masters / Sans Lui - French drama
- Marguerite's Theorem (mathematics-themed drama) - French arthouse
- Block Pass / La Pampa (2024, Antoine Chevrollier) - Cannes Critics' Week; debut feature; 104 min; sold approximately 154,000 tickets (grossing roughly 1.1 million EUR) in France through Tandem before US acquisition
- Spare Keys (first feature, acquired from Urban Sales, January 2024)
- Amore Mio (first feature, acquired from Urban Sales, January 2024)
- Papicha (2019, Mounia Meddour) - Algerian drama; Cannes 2019 Un Certain Regard; distributed in the US by Distrib Films
- Josep (2020, Aurel) - animated biographical film; Cannes 2020; 80 min; about Spanish illustrator Josep Bartoli
The catalog also includes Lourdes, Perfumes, The Girl with a Bracelet, In Safe Hands, and The Freshmen. The company has distributed films from directors including Francois Ozon, Arnaud Desplechin, and emerging filmmakers making their debut or second features.
Example Titles They've Released
Distrib Films US has released more than 100 films in the American market as of 2025. Key releases with known performance data:
- Block Pass / La Pampa (2024) - acquired from Pulsar Content; sold 154,000 tickets (1.1 million EUR) in France through Tandem before US acquisition; US release planned through springtime international and LGBTQ+ festivals before theatrical expansion
- The Most Precious of Cargoes (2024) - Cannes 2024 Competition; animated feature by Oscar winner Michel Hazanavicius; score by Oscar winner Alexandre Desplat; released in France by Studiocanal (November 20, 2024)
- Papicha (2019) - Cannes 2019 Un Certain Regard; Algerian Civil War drama by Mounia Meddour
- Josep (2020) - Cannes 2020; animated biographical film about Spanish republican illustrator Josep Bartoli; French release September 30, 2020
- Spare Keys and Amore Mio (2024) - both first features acquired from Urban Sales in January 2024
The UniFrance directory lists 39 films in the company's filmography, split between French domestic distribution (10 titles) and international distribution (30 titles).
Deal Structure Reputation
Distrib Films acquires finished films from international sales agents rather than pre-buying or developing projects. The company typically acquires films in the low five-figure to mid six-figure range for US rights, depending on festival profile and cast. Deals are negotiated directly with sales agents at markets including the Marche du Film (Cannes), the European Film Market (Berlinale), and TIFF industry events.
The company operates an MG-based acquisition model for US rights. For Block Pass, the film had already grossed approximately 1.1 million EUR in France through local distributor Tandem before the US acquisition, which informed the US deal value. Scippa-Kohn described both Spare Keys and Amore Mio as showing "French indie cinema at its best" with "strong stories, bold directing and amazing acting."
Distrib Films does not operate a service-deal model. The company invests in its own theatrical booking, festival strategy, and VOD aggregation. Revenue splits with filmmakers follow standard US distributor terms, with the distributor recouping P&A and marketing costs before paying overages to the sales agent or producer.
Typical Acquisition Profile
Distrib Films acquires films that fit the following profile:
- Genre: French and European arthouse cinema, with a focus on first and second features by emerging directors. Drama, LGBTQ+ cinema, animated features, and biographical films are well-represented in the catalog.
- Festival premiere status: Films premiering at Cannes (Competition, Un Certain Regard, Critics' Week), Berlin, Venice, or Toronto are primary acquisition targets. A significant festival premiere is effectively a prerequisite for acquisition.
- Director track record: First and second features from emerging directors are the company's sweet spot. The company also acquires films from established directors (Francois Ozon, Arnaud Desplechin, Michel Hazanavicius) when those films fit the arthouse festival circuit profile.
- Budget tier: Low to mid-budget French and European independent films. The company does not acquire large-budget commercial films.
- Submission process: Distrib Films acquires from sales agents, not directly from filmmakers. A filmmaker seeking Distrib Films as a US distributor needs their film to be represented by an international sales agent who can pitch the title to Scippa-Kohn at a market. The company does not operate an open submission portal.
Recent Slate / Acquisition Activity
Distrib Films' 2024-2025 acquisition activity focused on Cannes-premiered titles and first features from emerging directors:
2024-2025 acquisitions:
- The Most Precious of Cargoes (Cannes 2024 Competition) - animated feature by Michel Hazanavicius; US distribution through Distrib Films US
- Block Pass / La Pampa (Cannes 2024 Critics' Week) - Antoine Chevrollier's debut feature; acquired from Pulsar Content; US release strategy: springtime international and LGBTQ+ festivals before theatrical expansion to main US markets
- Spare Keys (January 2024) - first feature acquired from Urban Sales
- Amore Mio (January 2024) - first feature acquired from Urban Sales
Earlier catalog highlights:
- Papicha (Cannes 2019 Un Certain Regard) - Algerian drama
- Josep (Cannes 2020) - animated biographical film
US rights acquisition costs for 2024-2025 titles have not been publicly reported in trade publications. The company's acquisition range of low five-figure to mid six-figure US rights deals, as described by Scippa-Kohn, provides a benchmark for filmmakers and sales agents approaching Distrib Films.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Distrib Films is a realistic distribution target for French and European filmmakers whose work fits the arthouse festival circuit. The company's interest in first and second features makes it accessible to emerging directors who have secured a significant festival premiere (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, or their parallel sections) but may not yet have the track record to attract larger sales companies or US distributors.
For French filmmakers, Distrib Films provides domestic French theatrical distribution. For European filmmakers more broadly, the company's US arm provides a pathway to American theatrical release that many European arthouse films lack. The company's Paris base and relationships with European sales agents mean it is most relevant for filmmakers whose work has natural appeal in French, German, Scandinavian, and Benelux arthouse markets.
Filmmakers should understand that Distrib Films acquires from sales agents, not directly from filmmakers. A filmmaker seeking Distrib Films as a US distributor needs their film to be represented by an international sales agent who can pitch the title to Scippa-Kohn at a market. The company does not operate an open submission portal.
Market Presence
Distrib Films attends the Marche du Film at Cannes (the world's largest film market), the European Film Market at Berlinale, and TIFF industry events. The company does not typically attend AFM (the American Film Market), as its acquisition model is oriented toward European festival premieres rather than the AFM market calendar.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
See Also
For how international sales agent representation works in practice, see Distribution Deals Explained. For how emerging directors can position their films to attract distributor attention, see Film Festival Strategy for Distributors. To model the revenue from a US theatrical release of a foreign-language arthouse film, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
