Arrow Films
Arrow Films is a British independent film distributor and restorer specialising in world cinema, arthouse, horror and classic films. As Arrow Video, it sells Ultra HD Blu-rays, Blu-rays and DVDs online; it also operates its own subscription video on-demand service, Arrow Player.[1] Since 2017, Arrow have had a dedicated podcast[2] hosted by film-makers Sam Ashurst and Dan Martin. Arrow Video is considered a boutique Blu-ray label.[3][4]
For the silent American company, see Arrow Film Corporation.Industry
1991 in Hertfordshire, England
Arrow Player (subscription service)
History[edit]
Arrow Films was established in 1991 as a family firm in Shenley, Hertfordshire.[5] Whilst Arrow Films was the company's primary brand for theatrical releases, the Arrow Video label was created in 2009 specialising in cult and horror home video.[6] In September 2011, the ArrowDrome brand was created for budget DVDs.[7] The Arrow Academy and Arrow TV labels specialised in the world cinema and Nordic noir genres respectively, but since 2021, each has been merged into Arrow Video.[6][8] In the same year, the company launched Arrow Player, a subscription video on-demand service in the UK, US and Canada.[1]
Arrow began releasing films in the North American market in 2015.[9] As of 2022, it operated in the UK, Ireland, US and Canada.[10]
In 2021, Arrow Films was sold to THG plc for £18.5 million.[11]
Reception[edit]
Arrow has been listed by The Guardian twice as their home video distributor of the year.[12][13] In 2011, they listed Arrow as the Label of the Year noting their release of Bicycle Thieves, Rififi and Les Diaboliques and specifically praising their releases of horror films, where they "truly excel".[12] The second time was in 2013 when they awarded Arrow Films "Label of the Year", noting their releases of Lifeforce and releases of television shows such as Borgen and The Killing as highlights.[13]
Camera Obscura: The Walerian Borowczyk Collection was voted the best home video release of 2014 by several publications, including Sight and Sound[14] and Little White Lies,[15] and won the Focal International Award for Best Archival Restoration Project[16] and the Cinema Ritrovato Award for Best DVD Series/Best Box.[17]