Thoughtfully told stories.

Beneath the canopy, the leafcutter ant moves with purpose, foraging and transforming raw material into nourishment for the community. For us, they perfectly capture the essence of our creative process: gathering inspiration and shaping it into stories that resonate.

Leafcutter Films is a London-based production company collaborating with brands and businesses to tell stories through short documentaries. With roots in documentary filmmaking and anthropology, we create films that build trust and brand equity. 

The problem isn't that audiences are tired of content, it's that most content isn't built to earn their trust. This is where we come in. Instead of chasing the attention economy, we work in the emotion economy, where real connection lives. 

We’re champions of the short doc format, not just because it’s what we’re experts in, but because it leads with authenticity.

We spotlight the stories you care about, the issues you stand for, your purpose beyond profit. When you share why you do what you do, something shifts: your audience stops being sold to, and starts learning about the world through you.

If you’d like to know more, get in touch.

Why us?

Short doc specialists

Short documentaries are one of the most underused tools in brand storytelling. Short-form is our craft. We’re experts in telling powerful, nuanced stories in 25 minutes or less.

A strategic bridge

We bridge the documentary and brand worlds, making us storytellers who understand business goals. With our background in anthropology, we’re trained to dig beneath the surface, to understand not just what stories to tell, but why they matter.

Committed to new voices

At the current pace, gender equity in UK screen industries won't be reached until 2085. We're not waiting. We commit to 60% female and non-binary crew per production.

Lean by design

Leafcutter expands and contracts with each project. We draw on a network of incredible creatives in the film industry, building bespoke teams without the overhead of a traditional production company. You get flexibility, we stay independent.

Our story

Leafcutter Films was founded by me, Steph Beeston. After a decade as a self-shooting director and editor, I’ve seen how powerful short docs can be, for both business impact and creative storytelling. 

When I’m not making films you’ll find me on captain duties for my football team, or being dragged along the road by my spirited lurcher.