The Cannes Film Festival is known for red carpets and celebrity glamour. But behind the scenes, a new type of power player is quietly shaping the future of global storytelling: family offices. As private wealth increasingly flows into media and entertainment, these families are not just investing; they are influencing which stories get told and why.
From financing films to backing production companies, family offices are using strategic capital, whether for investment or impact, to diversify portfolios, support the arts, and create lasting cultural influence. Their involvement in entertainment is no longer niche. It is becoming a meaningful way for families to preserve identity, express priorities, and engage the next generation.
How Family Offices Are Investing in Media
Several families are actively engaging in media, using funding models that reflect their priorities. Some focus on financial returns, others on social or cultural impact, and many combine both. For family offices, investment can mean return-driven capital, philanthropic support, or a hybrid that balances profit with purpose.
IPR.VC (Equity Investment Focused)
Based in Finland, IPR.VC specializes in commercial film and TV projects. Backed by family offices and private investors, they fund international releases such as Bordertown and Causeway starring Jennifer Lawrence. Their equity-based model targets returns through ownership and revenue participation. This gives families a non-correlated asset to traditional markets.
Similarly, some of the world’s most prominent family offices have backed major studios outright. Reliance Entertainment, a global media conglomerate behind films like War and The Black Prince, is part of the broader Reliance Group, which is controlled by the Ambani family, one of the wealthiest families in the world. Their investment isn’t just about cultural visibility; it’s a financial strategy rooted in scale, global reach, and content ownership.
Hot Docs Collaborators (Philanthropy and Influence Driven)
Some families supporting Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary film festival, contribute primarily for cultural impact. Their involvement often comes through grants or donations. One example is a documentary on single-use plastics that reached more than 30,000 students in Canada. “Families were more excited about that result than the festival awards,” says Elizabeth Radshaw, Industry Programs Director at Hot Docs. These contributions reflect a desire to make a meaningful impact and influence audiences.
Lumina (Hybrid Approach)
Lumina, founded by Thomas Benski, is backed by family offices, including the Rausing and Dorfman families. The studio helps talent like Omar Sy gain greater ownership and control of their creative work. This model blends cultural relevance with potential financial return.
“We are seeing hybrid models more often,” adds Radshaw. “Families might provide a grant to reduce project risk, then also invest as equity partners. This combination supports the creative while preserving the opportunity for return.”
Themes That Resonate
Families often back projects that reflect their values and long-term vision. Common themes include environmental sustainability, education, mental health, youth engagement, women’s rights, and civic participation. These topics often resonate across generations, allowing families to invest in narratives that feel relevant and lasting.
“It is often a parent and adult child sitting together, assessing projects, aligning values, and making decisions as a family,” says Elizabeth Radshaw. “It becomes a moment for legacy planning and value-based investing.”
Cannes: Where Deals Happen
Each year, the Cannes Film Festival hosts the Marché du Film, one of the world’s largest film markets. More than 12,500 industry professionals gather to buy, sell, and fund projects. It is also a key destination for private investors, including family offices. They come not just to watch premieres, but to meet producers, network, and identify the next story to support.
Looking Ahead
As the media landscape continues to evolve, interest from private capital is accelerating. Family offices are entering with clarity, purpose, and a growing desire to shape culture through storytelling.
At festivals like Cannes, their presence is strategic. These families are not just funding entertainment. They are making long-term investments that are financial, cultural, and philanthropic, reflecting their vision and purpose. Their capital helps determine which stories are told, whose voices are elevated, and what narratives endure over time.
