Submarine Entertainment
Amsterdam and New York-based international sales agent and production company specializing in documentary and independent narrative films. Behind Blackfish, The Act of Killing, and dozens of acclaimed nonfiction productions.
Overview
Submarine Entertainment is an international sales agent and production company with offices in Amsterdam and New York, specializing in documentary features and independent narrative cinema. Founded in 2007 by Josh Braun and Dan Braun, the company has become one of the leading sales agents for documentary and arthouse film on the international market, representing titles at all major film markets and festivals.
Submarine's dual-office structure reflects its position between the European and American independent film markets, allowing it to work with filmmakers and buyers on both sides of the Atlantic with equal fluency.
History
Josh Braun and Dan Braun launched Submarine Entertainment in 2007, building on backgrounds in independent film development and distribution. The company established itself quickly as a significant player in documentary sales, representing films that achieved exceptional festival profiles and commercial results.
Key titles in Submarine's sales catalog include Blackfish (2013), Gabriela Cowperthwaite's documentary about captive orca whales that generated worldwide controversy and contributed directly to SeaWorld's policy changes; The Act of Killing (2012), Joshua Oppenheimer's extraordinary documentary about Indonesian death squad leaders; Stories We Tell (2012), Sarah Polley's personal documentary; The Wolfpack (2015); Tickled (2016); I Am Not Your Negro (2016); One Child Nation (2019); Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021); and many others.
Submarine also represents narrative independent films and has expanded into production, co-producing select projects alongside its sales activities.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Submarine evaluates documentary and independent narrative films for international sales representation. The company is particularly active at Sundance (where it represents many world premiere acquisitions), IDFA, Hot Docs, and other major documentary festivals. For documentary filmmakers, Submarine offers international sales expertise combined with a genuine understanding of nonfiction storytelling.
The company's New York office provides access to the US market while Amsterdam operations connect filmmakers to European buyers and the Dutch production ecosystem.
See Also
For understanding how international documentary sales work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue projections for documentary releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
