Kino Lorber

Overview

Kino Lorber is a US independent film distribution company with a curated library of over 4,000 titles spanning over a century of world cinema. The company releases 30 films theatrically per year and more than 350 titles annually to the home entertainment market. It has garnered 16 Academy Award nominations since 2000, including one Oscar win in 2026 for Best Documentary Feature for Mr. Nobody Against Putin. Based in New York, Kino Lorber operates theatrical distribution, home video labels, and three streaming services.

The company acquires new international and independent films for US distribution at major festivals and markets. Its 2026 acquisitions include Filipiñana (Sundance 2026 Special Jury Award winner), Soul Patrol (Sundance 2026 Directing Award winner), Atonement (Cannes 2026 Quinzaine selection, starring Hiam Abbass and Kenneth Branagh), and Mark Cousins' 16-hour documentary series. Kino Lorber also distributes classic and restored films through its Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Kino Lorber Repertory labels.

For international filmmakers seeking US distribution, Kino Lorber is one of the most knowledgeable partners for films outside mainstream commercial categories. Its strength in home video and streaming means that even films with limited theatrical potential can find substantial audiences through Kino Lorber's digital and physical release infrastructure. Visit kinolorber.com for current releases and acquisition inquiries.

History

Kino Lorber traces its origins to Kino International, founded in 1977 by Donald Krim. Krim had previously founded United Artists Classics and acquired rights to distribute films from the Janus Films library, which became the foundation for Kino International's catalog of international and classic cinema. Under Krim's leadership, Kino International became the primary US distributor for European and Asian film catalogs, introducing American audiences to films by Wong Kar-wai, Michelangelo Antonioni, Andrei Tarkovsky, Aki Kaurismaki, and others.

Richard Lorber separately built Lorber Films and its successor companies (Fox Lorber, Koch Lorber, Lorber HT Digital), distributing international and specialty titles through home video and digital platforms. Lorber and Krim had known each other since their freshman year at Columbia University and discussed merging their companies for approximately 15 years before the merger occurred.

In December 2009, Lorber HT Digital acquired and merged with Kino International to form Kino Lorber, with Richard Lorber as President and CEO. At the time of the merger, the combined company had approximately 12 employees and a library of 300 titles. Fifteen years later, Kino Lorber has grown to nearly 30 employees (as of 2024) and a library of over 4,000 titles. The company is now organized as the Kino Lorber Media Group.

Key milestones in the company's expansion:

• 2014 - Launched Kino Lorber Studio Classics label for premium home video releases of Hollywood studio films
• September 2019 - Launched Kino Now, a transactional VOD platform with over 600 titles
• 2020 - Launched Kino Marquee, a virtual cinema platform during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed shuttered arthouse theaters to generate revenue through digital screenings. Kino Lorber received a Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle for this initiative.
• October 2021 - Launched Kino Cult, an ad-supported streaming service for horror and cult films
• 2022 - Acquired MHz Choice, a subscription streaming service specializing in international TV series
• 2023 - Launched Kino Film Collection, a subscription streaming service ($5.99/month) showcasing new releases, curated international films, indie titles, and restored classics
• 2024 - Merged MHz Choice with First Look Media's Topic streaming platform, creating the leading North American streaming service dedicated to international series

Labels and Divisions

Kino Lorber operates through multiple labels and divisions, each targeting a specific segment of the arthouse and classic cinema market:

• Kino Lorber - Main label for new theatrical acquisitions of international and independent films
• Kino Lorber Studio Classics - Premium home video releases of Hollywood studio films with scholarly supplements, new essays, and audio commentaries. This label releases more than 350 titles annually to the home entertainment market.
• Kino Lorber Repertory - Theatrical re-releases of classic and restored films
• Kino Cult - Genre and cult film releases, including the ad-supported Kino Cult streaming service
• Alive Mind Cinema - Documentary and specialty label
• Zeitgeist Films - Arthouse and documentary label (acquired)
• Milestone Films - Classic and restored cinema label

Streaming Services

Kino Lorber operates three streaming services, making it one of the few independent distributors with owned digital platforms:

• Kino Film Collection - Subscription streaming service ($5.99/month) featuring new releases direct from theaters, curated international and indie films, and restored classics from the Kino Lorber library. Available in the US and Canada with a seven-day free trial.
• MHz Choice - Subscription streaming service ($7.99/month) specializing in international TV series, including European dramas and mysteries. Merged with First Look Media's Topic platform in 2024. Available in the US and Canada.
• Kino Cult - Free, ad-supported streaming service (AVOD) for horror and cult film fans. Operated in partnership with Giant Pictures.

The company also operates Kino Now, a transactional VOD platform for digital rental and purchase of new releases and catalog titles.

Recent Acquisitions and Awards

Kino Lorber has been an active buyer at Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and other major festivals. Recent notable acquisitions and releases include:

• Four Daughters (2023) - Kaouther Ben Hania; won Best Documentary at Cannes; Academy Award nominee
• Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (2023) - Pham Thien An; won Caméra d'Or at Cannes; a three-hour Vietnamese film that became a surprise theatrical hit
• Scrapper (2023) - Charlotte Regan; won Grand Jury Prize at Sundance
• Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat (2024) - Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature
• Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2025) - Won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2026; the company's first Oscar win
• Filipiñana (2026) - Rafael Manuel; won Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at Sundance 2026; executive produced by Jia Zhangke
• Soul Patrol (2026) - J.M. Harper; won Directing Award at Sundance 2026; also won top documentary prize at Sarasota Film Festival
• Atonement (2026) - Reed Van Dyk; debuted in Quinzaine at Cannes 2026; starring Hiam Abbass, Boyd Holbrook, and Kenneth Branagh; planned for fall theatrical release
• Mark Cousins' 16-hour documentary follow-up to The Story of Film: An Odyssey; acquired in all 16 hours for multi-platform release

The company's VP of Acquisitions is Karoliina Dwyer, who has negotiated many of the recent Sundance and Cannes deals. Lisa Schwartz serves as Chief Distribution and Revenue Officer.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Kino Lorber acquires new international and independent films for US theatrical and home entertainment distribution. The company evaluates projects based on critical quality, festival reception, and appeal to arthouse audiences. Key considerations for filmmakers:

• Festival premieres are the primary acquisition pathway - The majority of Kino Lorber's acquisitions come from Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and True/False. A major festival premiere is nearly essential.
• Documentary strength - Kino Lorber has built a particularly strong track record with documentaries, including an Oscar win in 2026 and a nomination in 2025. Documentary filmmakers with festival-acclaimed films should consider Kino Lorber a priority target.
• Home video and streaming infrastructure - Unlike many independent distributors that rely on third-party digital platforms, Kino Lorber owns three streaming services and a robust home video operation. This means films acquired by Kino Lorber have direct pathways to audiences through owned platforms, not just licensed deals with external services.
• Theatrical scale - Kino Lorber typically opens films in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to 20 to 50 screens nationwide. The theatrical run is designed for press coverage and awards qualification rather than wide commercial release.
• Long-tail revenue - The company's 4,000-title library and home video expertise mean that acquired films continue generating revenue through Blu-ray/DVD sales, streaming, and educational licensing for years after their initial release. Kino Lorber Blu-ray releases are particularly well regarded among collectors and film scholars.
• Deal structure - Kino Lorber typically acquires North American all-rights (theatrical, home video, digital, educational). MGs vary widely based on the title, festival profile, and competitive interest. For documentary features, the company has demonstrated willingness to mount awards season campaigns.

House Style / Genre Focus

Kino Lorber distributes international arthouse cinema, classic and restored films, and documentary features. The company gravitates toward formally adventurous work, auteur-driven narratives, and films with strong festival pedigrees. Its home video labels specialize in premium Blu-ray releases with scholarly supplements and audio commentaries.

Kino Lorber does not distribute mainstream commercial films, broad comedies, or wide-release genre films. The Kino Cult label handles horror and cult titles, but even those selections skew toward arthouse and repertory cult cinema rather than mainstream genre fare.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

Kino Lorber acquires finished films, not projects in development. The company does not accept unsolicited submissions. All acquisitions flow through sales agents and talent representatives at major festivals and markets.

The primary acquisition venues are Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and True/False. VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer negotiates deals with sales agents including CAA Media Finance, UTA Independent Film Group, Cinetic Media, and WME Independent. Lisa Schwartz serves as Chief Distribution and Revenue Officer.

Documentary filmmakers with festival-acclaimed films should consider Kino Lorber a priority target. The company has demonstrated willingness to mount awards season campaigns for documentary features.

Recent Output / Slate Year

2026 acquisitions: Filipiñana (Sundance 2026 Special Jury Award), Soul Patrol (Sundance 2026 Directing Award), Atonement (Cannes 2026 Quinzaine, starring Hiam Abbass and Kenneth Branagh), and Mark Cousins' 16-hour documentary series.

2025 releases: Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat (Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature), Mr. Nobody Against Putin (won Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2026, the company's first Oscar win).

2023 releases: Four Daughters (Cannes Best Documentary, Oscar nominee), Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Camerea d'Or at Cannes), Scrapper (Sundance Grand Jury Prize).

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how US arthouse distribution works, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue projections for specialty releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For understanding streaming revenue models, read Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue. For understanding what distributors keep from gross receipts, see What Does a Distributor Keep.