Gaumont

Overview

Gaumont is the oldest film company in the world, founded in 1895 by Leon Gaumont, the same year the Lumiere brothers held their first public film screening. The company has operated continuously for over 125 years, spanning the entire history of cinema from the silent era through the digital age. Gaumont produces and distributes films, operates a major European cinema chain, and manages one of the largest film libraries in the world.

Headquartered in Paris, Gaumont operates across production, distribution, exhibition, and international sales. The company produces approximately 10 to 15 films per year for the French market and increasingly engages in international co-productions and English-language content.

History

Leon Gaumont founded the Comptoir General de Photographie in 1895, initially manufacturing photographic equipment before pivoting to filmmaking. Gaumont hired Alice Guy-Blache, widely recognized as one of the first female film directors, who directed hundreds of films for the company between 1896 and 1906.

Gaumont built a global distribution network in the early 1900s and constructed the Gaumont Palace in Paris, which was the largest cinema in the world when it opened in 1911. The company has survived two World Wars, multiple ownership changes, and every major technological transition in cinema history.

In the modern era, Gaumont has produced commercially successful French films including the Intouchables (2011, which became the highest-grossing non-English-language film at the time), Lucy (2014), directed by Luc Besson, and the Asterix animated franchise. The company has also expanded into international television production, producing series for Netflix and other global platforms.

Operations

• Gaumont Film Company -- produces and distributes theatrical features for the French market
• Gaumont International Television -- produces scripted series for global platforms
• Gaumont Pathe Cinemas -- joint venture operating approximately 1,100 screens across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland
• Gaumont Libraries -- manages a film catalog spanning over 1,000 titles from the company's 125-year history

What Filmmakers Should Know

Gaumont actively develops and co-produces French-language and international projects. The company's production arm works with both established and emerging French filmmakers, and its international television division develops English-language series for global streaming platforms. Gaumont's distribution infrastructure covers the French theatrical market comprehensively.

For international filmmakers seeking French co-production partners, Gaumont offers production financing, distribution in France, and access to one of Europe's most significant exhibition networks. The company's relationships with French film funding bodies (CNC, regional funds) are well established.

See Also

For understanding how European co-production and distribution work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across European territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.