Cantilever Media secures investment from Creative Growth Finance to strengthen their distribution strategy
Creative UK has announced that Cantilever Media has secured investment from Creative Growth Finance (CGF) to accelerate its next phase of expansion.
The funding will enable Cantilever to expand its distribution arm, Kazoo Films, which was launched in 2024 and specialises in animated features for kids and families. Kazoo is a key pillar in Cantilever’s integrated studio model, taking on UK and Ireland distribution for the company’s growing slate of independent animated features.
Cantilever Media first came to wide recognition with the success of its debut animated theatrical feature, The Amazing Maurice (2022), starring Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, Gemma Arterton, and David Tennant. Building on that momentum, Cantilever has since become one of the UK’s most ambitious independent animation producers, with a growing slate including Bollywoof, Wed Wabit and the sequel to The Amazing Maurice.
Kazoo aims to help build on the success of The Amazing Maurice and will support the rollout of upcoming Cantilever titles, notably Unstable, currently in production for release 2027, and Bird Brain, a $15M family film directed by multi‑BAFTA‑winner Dana Dorian which made its debut at EFM.
Bird Brain is also the first animated feature to be sold through Cantilever’s joint venture sales agency with Architect Global and will be the first co-production with Redefine, part of DNEG, through the Cantilever/Redefine slate partnership announced last year.
As well as securing third party features and releasing Cantilever’s own slate of feature films, Kazoo will also support a recently announced three-film co-production deal between Cantilever, L.A.-based Viva Pictures Distribution and HarperCollins Productions to adapt HarperCollins IP into comedy-oriented animation features.
Cantilever has also previously received financial grant support from the BFI’s UK Global Screen Fund Business Development Fund for the launch of Kazoo and has now raised commercial financing from CGF at point of scale.
“Kazoo Films is an essential element in building an integrated studio model for independent animated features in the UK and allows Cantilever to develop and finance animated features with the benefit of UK and Ireland distribution as well as international sales via our JV with Architect Global. The funding from Creative UK allows Kazoo to scale its operations and support more feature releases in cinemas demonstrating that there is audience demand for independent feature animation in the UK and Ireland. At a time where funding for creative businesses is difficult to secure, Creative UK was able to look at the overall business structure and plans for Cantilever and Kazoo and support our vision for a thriving UK-based independent animation studio.”
Andrew Baker, Director at Cantilever Media
“This is a truly exciting investment for Creative Growth Finance. The UK independent animation sector has had its challenges in recent years with the funding and broadcasting landscape changing rapidly. Andrew and team at Cantilever have shown the adaptability and gumption to strike the right partnerships and co-production deals and greenlight a critical mass of productions, while integrating Kazoo on the distribution side, so that there is a funnel of projects and longer tail of revenue share. Creative Growth Finance and Creative UK are proud to be part of the financing solution for high-quality UK-led IP, and we look forward to the journey ahead with Cantilever and Kazoo.”
Rahul Misra, Investment Principal at Creative UK
