Cohen Media Group
US specialty distributor and production company specializing in French and international cinema. Behind Certified Copy, The Intouchables, and dozens of acclaimed European acquisitions.
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 prestige acquisitions from major festivals. Cohen Media Group has become one of the most active US distributors of French-language and European arthouse cinema, filling a niche between larger specialty labels and smaller boutique distributors.
The company operates from Los Angeles and New York and releases approximately 10 to 15 films per year across theatrical and home entertainment platforms. Its catalog includes both contemporary acquisitions and a growing library of restored classic films.
History
Charles S. Cohen founded Cohen Media Group in 2008, drawing on his background as a businessman and passionate film enthusiast. The company quickly built credibility in the French cinema space through consistent acquisition of notable French-language titles and through its relationships with French producers and sales agents.
Key releases include The Intouchables (2011), which Cohen distributed in the US, earning $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 significantly 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.
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, Cesar-awarded films, and titles with strong French critical reception are particularly likely to attract Cohen's attention.
See Also
For understanding how French cinema reaches US audiences, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue projections for specialty releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
