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Breakwater Studios

Los Angeles, US · Founded 2012 · California LLC · 39 employees on LinkedIn · 1 known investors

Breakwater Studios is a Los Angeles filmmaking company producing humanist short-form documentaries.

Also known as Breakwater Studios

Founders & leadership

Breakwater Studios was founded in 2012 by Benjamin Proudfoot.

BP
Benjamin ProudfootFounder

Investors · 1

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$3.4M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2016–2022

$2.3MraisedApr 2023 · 3 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Benjamin ProudfootExecutive Officer
Offering amount
$2.3M
Amount sold
$2.3M
First sale
Dec 2022
Incorporated
Limited Liability Company, California
Federal exemptions
04, 06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
$1.1MraisedApr 2016 · 2 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Benjamin ProudfootExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$1.1M
Amount sold
$1.1M
First sale
Apr 2016
Incorporated
Limited Liability Company, California, 2013
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Company profile

researched Aug 2026

Breakwater Studios is a filmmaking company based in Los Angeles that produces short-form documentary films centered on human stories. The studio describes itself as a two-time Academy Award-winning company and a world leader in humanist short-form documentaries.

Its publicly featured slate includes "The Last Repair Shop" (2024 Academy Award winner), "The Queen of Basketball" (2022 Academy Award winner), "Motorcycle Mary" (2024) and "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht" (2024). Films are surfaced directly on the company's site with links to watch them. The company has also marked a tenth anniversary with a "Breakwater Turns 10" release.

Business model

The company develops and produces short-form documentary films that are distributed for viewing online, with titles promoted and made accessible through its own website.

Traction

Two Academy Award-winning short documentaries, "The Queen of Basketball" (2022) and "The Last Repair Shop" (2024), plus additional 2024 releases including "Motorcycle Mary" and "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht". The studio marked its tenth year of operation.

Full profile — market position, geography, history

Market position

Positions itself as a two-time Academy Award-winning studio and a leader in humanist short-form documentary filmmaking.

Geography

Headquartered in Los Angeles, United States.

History

The studio has been operating for roughly a decade, as reflected in its "Breakwater Turns 10" milestone release, and won Academy Awards for short documentaries in 2022 and 2024.

Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.

Key figures

latest reported
Academy Awards wonJan 20242 awards

Company-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.

Competitors · 4

by search overlap

Companies competing with Breakwater Studios for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.

Timeline · 4

launches, deals, and filings
Jan 2024
"The Last Repair Shop" wins Academy Award

The studio's short documentary "The Last Repair Shop" was named a 2024 Academy Award winner.

source ↗

Jan 2024
Release of "Motorcycle Mary"

Short documentary released and made available to watch via the company's site.

source ↗

Jan 2024
Release of "The Final Copy of Ilon Specht"

Short documentary released and made available to watch via the company's site.

source ↗

Jan 2022
"The Queen of Basketball" wins Academy Award

The studio's short documentary "The Queen of Basketball" was named a 2022 Academy Award winner.

source ↗

Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Breakwater StudiosCalifornia

Research sources · 1

primary sources listed

1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.

Frequently asked questions

What does Breakwater Studios do?
Breakwater Studios is a Los Angeles filmmaking company producing humanist short-form documentaries.
Who founded Breakwater Studios?
Breakwater Studios was founded by Benjamin Proudfoot in 2012.
Who are Breakwater Studios's investors?
Breakwater Studios's investors include Dns Capital.
How much funding has Breakwater Studios raised?
Breakwater Studios has disclosed $3.4M raised across 2 rounds.
Where is Breakwater Studios headquartered?
Breakwater Studios is headquartered in Los Angeles, US.