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.
Investors · 1
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$3.4M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2016–2022
▶$2.3MraisedApr 2023 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Benjamin ProudfootExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $2.3M
- Amount sold
- $2.3M
- First sale
- Dec 2022
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, California
- Federal exemptions
- 04, 06b
▶$1.1MraisedApr 2016 · 2 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- 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
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Breakwater 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 reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 4
by search overlapCompanies competing with Breakwater Studios for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsThe studio's short documentary "The Last Repair Shop" was named a 2024 Academy Award winner.
Short documentary released and made available to watch via the company's site.
Short documentary released and made available to watch via the company's site.
The studio's short documentary "The Queen of Basketball" was named a 2022 Academy Award winner.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Breakwater Studiosbreakwaterstudios.com · web
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.


