Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated

Kino Lorber

Kino Lorber is New York's most prolific arthouse distributor, channeling prestige international cinema and documentary into North American theatrical, streaming, and home video windows.

Current mandate

Kino Lorber occupies a distinctive position at the intersection of arthouse theatrical and digital distribution in North America. The company's recent acquisition of MHz Networks, parent of the MHz Choice streaming service, signals a deliberate expansion beyond its traditional theatrical and home video lanes. Veteran AMC Networks executives Ed Carroll and Lisa Schwartz have joined leadership to help shape content and distribution strategies, with Carroll citing the challenge of bringing prestige content to wide audiences as the defining work of his career. The company's latest theatrical pickup, Reed Van Dyk's Iraq War drama "Atonement" starring Hiam Abbass, Boyd Holbrook, and Kenneth Branagh, premiered in Directors Fortnight at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and is slated for a fall awards-season theatrical release followed by digital, educational, and home video windows.

Across the past 12 months, Kino Lorber's acquisition pattern has remained consistent with its arthouse identity while stretching into politically urgent documentary and festival-decorated international drama. Recent pickups include "Filipiñana," winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Creative Vision with a European premiere at Berlinale; "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," an Oscar-shortlisted documentary released theatrically and on the company's Kino Film Collection streaming platform; "The Currents," Milagros Mumenthaler's psychological drama that world-premiered at TIFF; and Fatih Akin's coming-of-age drama "Amrum." The company also acquired "The Story of Documentary Film," a 16-chapter series that reflects its stated commitment to celebrating and elevating documentary filmmakers. Budget disclosures are not standard practice for Kino Lorber deals; financial terms across all recent acquisitions were not disclosed.

Material reaches Kino Lorber primarily through the international festival circuit, with Cannes, Sundance, Berlinale, and TIFF all documented as sourcing points for recent acquisitions. Sales agents representing completed films at those markets are the most consistently observed pathway. The company's expansion into streaming via MHz Choice also creates a parallel channel for prestige international television content. No open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented in tracked activity; every deal in the recent record traces back to a festival premiere or a sales agent relationship.

Signature peaks

  • MHz Networks Acquired MHz Choice Expansion — Kino Lorber purchased MHz Networks, parent of streamer MHz Choice, to push further into digital distribution of prestige international content.
  • Oscar-Shortlisted Doc Documentary Commitment — "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," an Oscar-shortlisted documentary, was acquired for both theatrical release and streaming on Kino Film Collection.
  • 4 Major Festivals Festival Sourcing Depth — Recent acquisitions trace to world premieres at Cannes, Sundance, Berlinale, and TIFF, reflecting the company's broad festival-circuit reach.

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
documentary, drama, horror
Territory focus
North America (U.S.)
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Every tracked Kino Lorber acquisition in the recent record originates from a major international festival premiere, with Cannes, Sundance, Berlinale, and TIFF all documented as sourcing points; sales agents representing completed films at those markets are the consistently observed route. The company's acquisition of MHz Networks and its MHz Choice streaming service has opened a parallel channel for prestige international television content, though no open submission portal or named program is documented.
Deal structure
Kino Lorber acquires North American distribution rights to completed films, typically structuring releases across a theatrical window followed by digital, educational, and home video windows; the company also distributes content via its Kino Film Collection streaming platform and, following the MHz Networks acquisition, the MHz Choice streaming service. Financial terms on acquisitions are not publicly disclosed.

Recent acquisitions

  • Amrum

    2025-05-30T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired
    “Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Fatih Akin’s coming-of-age drama ‘Amrum.’”

  • Atonement

    2026-07 · acquired
    Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Reed Van Dyk's Iraq War drama Atonement, starring Hiam Abbass, Boyd Holbrook, and Kenneth Branagh. The film had its world premiere in Directors Fortnight at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival ahead of a fall awards-season theatrical release.

  • Filipiñana

    2026-02-15 · Acquired
    North American rights acquired for Sundance Special Jury Award for Creative Vision winner; European premiere at Berlinale

  • Mr. Nobody Against Putin

    2026-01-22 · Acquired
    Oscar-shortlisted documentary acquired for theatrical and streaming on Kino Film Collection beginning January 22

  • The Currents

    2026-01-01 · Acquired
    North American rights to Milagros Mumenthaler's TIFF world premiere; theatrical release planned for 2026

  • The Story of Documentary Film

    2026-05-17T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

Market context

With the MHz Choice acquisition and a Cannes Directors Fortnight pickup already in hand, Kino Lorber is pushing deeper into digital while doubling down on awards-season theatrical.

Aligns with continued festival-to-theatrical pipeline for prestige international cinema; Cannes-to-TIFF-to-U.S.-release strategy

Common questions about Kino Lorber

Does Kino Lorber accept unsolicited scripts or film submissions?

No unsolicited pathway is documented in Kino Lorber's tracked activity. Every acquisition in the recent record traces to a festival premiere or a sales agent relationship. The company sources heavily from Cannes, Sundance, Berlinale, and TIFF. Filmmakers seeking Kino Lorber's attention are best served by premiering at a major festival or attaching a sales agent active in those markets before approaching the company.

What budget range does Kino Lorber typically work with?

Kino Lorber does not publicly disclose financial terms on its acquisitions; no deal in the recent tracked record includes a stated price or budget tier. The company's arthouse and prestige-documentary focus suggests it operates in the independent and specialty film range rather than studio-level budgets. Films by established international auteurs such as Fatih Akin and festival award-winners such as "Filipiñana" represent the typical profile of projects it pursues.

What film festivals does Kino Lorber source from?

Kino Lorber's recent acquisition record documents sourcing from Cannes (Directors Fortnight, for "Atonement"), Sundance (Special Jury Award winner "Filipiñana"), Berlinale (European premiere of "Filipiñana"), and TIFF (world premiere of "The Currents"). The company is one of the most active North American buyers at these markets, consistently targeting films that have already received critical validation through a major festival premiere.

How do I get my film or script in front of Kino Lorber?

Based on tracked deal activity, the most reliable route to Kino Lorber is through a sales agent representing a completed film at a major international festival. Cannes, Sundance, Berlinale, and TIFF are all documented sourcing points. The company's expansion into streaming via MHz Choice may create additional pathways for prestige international television content. No open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented in current tracking data.

What genres is Kino Lorber currently acquiring?

Kino Lorber's current acquisition pattern spans prestige documentary, international drama, war drama, and psychological drama. Executive Lisa Schwartz has publicly stated that celebrating and elevating documentary filmmakers' work "feels more important than ever," signaling a strong ongoing appetite for non-fiction. Recent fiction pickups include Fatih Akin's coming-of-age drama "Amrum," the Iraq War drama "Atonement," and the TIFF-premiered psychological drama "The Currents." The company's arthouse identity remains consistent across all genres.

Is Kino Lorber currently active in the market?

Yes. Kino Lorber's latest tracked signal is from July 2026, with the acquisition of Reed Van Dyk's "Atonement" from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival's Directors Fortnight section. The company has logged 44 total records in the past 12 months and has brought on former AMC Networks executives Ed Carroll and Lisa Schwartz to expand its digital distribution strategy following the acquisition of MHz Networks and its MHz Choice streaming service.

Adjacent buyers in this lane

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Related reading

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