Established in 1997 by Douglas Cummins and Rocio Freire-Bernat, AX1 Entertainment (formerly known as Axiom Films) is a leading independent label that brings together a range of film activities, including the production of feature films and a flourishing distribution division with a library of over 120 acclaimed and award-winning films under direct ownership. 

Over the past two decades, the company has built a reputation for taking creative risks, working to develop new talent and original ideas and producing an artistically diverse body of work in collaboration with filmmakers from all parts of the world. Completed films include the award-winning Australian cult classic THE BOYS by Rowan Woods, starring Toni Collette and David Wenham (In Competition Berlin Film Festival); Benoît Jacquot's TOSCA starring Angela Gheorghiu (Venice Film Festival); Ivan Sen’s BENEATH CLOUDS (Winner First Film Award Berlin Film Festival); Pascal Bonitzer’s SMALL CUTS with Kristin Scott Thomas and Daniel Auteuil (In Competition Berlin Film Festival); acclaimed Argentinan filmmaker Pablo Trapero’s FAMILIA RODANTE (Official Selection Toronto Film Festival) and BORN & BRED; British film BROKEN LINES starring Paul Bettany and Olivia Williams (which was the UK’s sole entry at the 2008 Venice Film Festival); David Riker’s US / Mexico co-production THE GIRL starring Abbie Cornish (Tribeca Film Festival) and Polly Steele’s LET ME GO starring Juliet Stevenson and Lucy Boynton (Official Selection Edinburgh Film Festival).

As a distributor, AX1 directly exploits all rights in films acquired and is widely respected for its innovative and bespoke marketing that includes distinctive campaigns for films such as the Oscar-winning IN A BETTER WORLD by Susanne Bier (Best Foreign Language Film), the Oscar-nominated US independents HALF NELSON (Best Actor, Ryan Gosling) and FROZEN RIVER (Best Actress, Melissa Leo and Best Original Screenplay, Courtney Hunt), the Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Georgian/Estonian film TANGERINES (Best Foreign Language Film) and Jun Ichikawa’s adaptation of TONY TAKITANI by Haruki Murakami. Consistently adding to what is an already significant collection that includes major films from American writer/directors John Sayles, David O. Russell, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, Josh and Benny Safdie, Ramin Bahrani, Todd Solondz and Courtney Hunt as well as established auteur filmmakers such as Peter Greenaway, Asghar Farhadi, Tsai Ming-Liang, José Luis Guerin and Pablo Trapero, the company also distributed a major part of the acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders’ body of work, including all the director’s defining early films such as THE GOALIE'S ANXIETY AT THE PENALTY KICK, ALICE IN THE CITIES and KINGS OF THE ROAD as well as enduring classics PARIS, TEXAS, WINGS OF DESIRE, THE AMERICAN FRIEND and BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB.

AX1 is a company consistently associated with quality rather than sheer quantity and strives to develop its business by fostering close working relationships with some of the most creatively outstanding filmmakers from all parts of the world. The fact that AX1 also acquires films for distribution as well as producing them provides a leading edge in terms of the demands of the international market.