Cohen Media Group

Overview

Cohen Media Group is an independent film distribution and production company founded by Charles S. Cohen in 2008. The company focuses on distributing French and international films in the United States, alongside restorations of classic cinema and acquisitions from major festivals. Cohen Media Group releases approximately 10 to 15 films per year across theatrical and home entertainment platforms.

The company operates from Los Angeles and New York. Its catalog includes both contemporary acquisitions and a growing library of restored classic films. In addition to theatrical distribution, Cohen Media Group runs the Cohen Media Channel, a streaming service offering classic worldwide cinema and new titles for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

Cohen Media Group is a subsidiary of Cohen Brothers Realty, the real estate firm headed by Charles Cohen. The parent company's financial troubles (detailed below) have created uncertainty around the distribution arm's long-term stability, though Cohen Media Group continues to acquire and release films actively through 2025 and 2026.

History

Charles S. Cohen founded Cohen Media Group in 2008, drawing on his background as a real estate developer and film enthusiast. The company built credibility in the French cinema space through consistent acquisition of notable French-language titles and relationships with French producers and sales agents.

Key releases include The Intouchables (2011), which earned $13 million domestically for a French-language film, an exceptional result by specialty market standards. Other significant releases include Abbas Kiarostami's Certified Copy (2010), Venus in Fur (2013), My Golden Days (2015), Things to Come (2016), The House That Jack Built (2018), Synonyms (2019), and Two of Us (2020).

Cohen Media Group also invests in film restoration and re-release, working with major archives to bring classic films back to theatrical circulation in newly scanned and digitally restored presentations. The company has restored and released films from the catalogs of Claude Lelouch, Marcel Carne, and other major French filmmakers.

In 2018, Cohen acquired Landmark Theatres from Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner, adding a chain of arthouse cinemas to his portfolio. The acquisition timing proved difficult, as the exhibition industry was hit by COVID-19 closures in 2020 and the Hollywood strikes in 2023.

Notable Productions

Cohen Media Group's catalog centers on French and international arthouse cinema distributed in the US:

House Style / Genre Focus

Cohen Media Group focuses on French and international arthouse cinema, contemporary festival acquisitions, and restored classic films. The company built credibility through consistent acquisition of French-language titles and relationships with French producers and sales agents.

Cohen Media Group does not distribute mainstream commercial films, franchise content, superhero films, or broad comedies. The company avoids films without arthouse audience potential or critical pedigree. English-language independent films without festival recognition also fall outside its typical acquisition scope.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

Cohen Media Group acquires finished films rather than pre-buying or developing projects. The company does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects reach the company through:

1. Sales agent pitches at European markets: Particularly the Marche du Film at Cannes and the European Film Market at Berlin
2. Festival acquisitions: The acquisitions team monitors Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Toronto for titles lacking US distribution
3. Direct producer relationships: French and European producers with prior Cohen Media Group deals bring projects forward

EVP Robert Aaronson negotiates acquisition deals at major markets. Filmmakers should ensure their sales agent has relationships with Cohen Media Group before approaching.

Recent Acquisitions and Releases (2025-2026)

Cohen Media Group continues to acquire films at major festivals:

• Eagles of the Republic (2026): Directed by Tarik Saleh, acquired ahead of its 2026 release
• Think Good (Si Tu Penses Bien) (2026): Acquired at Cannes 2026 from French director Geraldine Nakache, starring Monia Chokri. The deal was negotiated by Robert Aaronson, EVP of Cohen Media Group, with Nicolas Brigaud-Robert of Playtime.
• Everybody Digs Bill Evans (2026): Jazz biopic that won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, directed by Grant Gee, starring Anders Danielsen Lie. Acquired at the Marche du Film in Cannes.
• Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe (2025): Directed by Martin Provost
• Our War (2025): Documentary by Bernard-Henri Levy and Marc Roussel, filmed in Ukraine February-April 2025. Theatrical release June 11, 2025 at Quad Cinemas (New York), Landmark Westwood (Los Angeles), Landmark Century Centre (Chicago), and Landmark Midtown Art Cinemas (Atlanta).
• Trifole (2025): Theatrical release November 14, 2025

Parent Company Financial Situation

Charles Cohen's real estate empire, Cohen Brothers Realty, has been in severe financial distress since 2023. The troubles directly affect Cohen Media Group and Landmark Theatres:

• $534 million loan default: Cohen defaulted on a Fortress Investment Group loan backed by seven properties including Landmark Theatres, a Florida design center, a New York office tower, and a Fort Lauderdale hotel.
• $187 million personal guarantee: A New York State Supreme Court judge ruled Cohen owed $187.25 million on a personal guarantee. Cohen lost his appeal in February 2025, and the Appellate Division denied his last-ditch defense.
• Largest UCC foreclosure ever: Fortress took back the collateral properties in November 2024 via a $148 million credit bid, the largest UCC foreclosure in history.
• Total troubled debt: At least $966 million across multiple loans, including $635 million in separate loans backed by New York City office properties.
• Net worth decline: Forbes estimated Cohen's net worth peaked at $3.7 billion in 2022. As of January 2025, Forbes estimates his worth has dropped significantly.
• Asset transfers alleged: Fortress claimed Cohen transferred $70 million in assets to shield them, including a $20 million Greenwich mansion to his wife's name and four luxury boats valued at $50 million to Cayman Islands entities. Courts in France have seized assets from Cohen's "chateau."

Despite the parent company's financial crisis, Cohen Media Group has continued operating and acquiring films. The distribution arm's EVP Robert Aaronson continues to negotiate deals at Cannes and Berlin. However, filmmakers considering distribution deals should be aware of the financial uncertainty surrounding the parent company and its potential impact on P&A spend, marketing commitments, and long-term catalog management.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Cohen Media Group evaluates international films, particularly French and other European titles, for US theatrical and home entertainment distribution. The company's deep knowledge of the French film market and its relationships with French producers and sales agents give it a strong pipeline for French-language content. Festival acquisitions from Cannes, Berlinale, and Cesar-awarded films are particularly likely to attract Cohen's attention.

The company typically acquires finished films rather than pre-buying or developing projects in-house. Filmmakers should approach Cohen Media Group through sales agents at major European markets, particularly the Marche du Film at Cannes and the European Film Market at Berlin.

Due diligence considerations: Given the parent company's financial distress, filmmakers should:

1. Verify P&A commitments in writing: Ensure any agreed marketing spend is contractually guaranteed and not subject to the parent company's cash flow constraints.
2. Confirm catalog and rights management: Understand how your film's rights would be handled if the parent company restructures or if assets change hands.
3. Assess the Cohen Media Channel: The streaming service at $4.99/month offers a direct-to-consumer channel, but its subscriber base and revenue sharing model should be evaluated against alternatives like MUBI or the Criterion Channel.
4. Consider Landmark Theatres exposure: Cohen's theatre chain (acquired 2018) provides theatrical booking leverage in major arthouse markets, but several Landmark locations have closed in recent years.

For Cohen Media Group's current releases and acquisitions, visit cohenmedia.net.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

To model revenue projections for specialty and arthouse releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator and the Streaming Payout Simulator. For understanding how US distribution deals for international films are structured, read Film Distribution Deals Explained and Minimum Guarantees in Film Distribution. To compare distribution offer terms, use the Distributor Comparison Tool and the MG Calculator.