We are a documentary and non-fiction media production company and research agency specializing in unearthing captivating stories from the past through extensive research and working with archival materials. We collaborate with filmmakers and producers internationally, and we strive to provide the projects we embark on with rich, authentic narratives that creatively bring relevant pieces of history to life.
We've teamed up with renowned companies in the entertainment industry, including BBC, TIME Studios, Amazon Studios, Imagine Entertainment, and Exile Content Studio.
Films we have worked on have been released on Netflix, Paramount+, AppleTV, PBS, POV, and ITVS, and have screened at festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, Tribeca, SXSW, LALIFF, Ambulante, DOC NYC, and HotDocs, among others. Through our work, we have explored a wide range of stories and archival materials from the US, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Cyprus, Cuba, India, South Africa, the UK, Costa Rica, and many other countries in Latin America and Europe.
In 2022, we also started our own film archive, which is currently being restored and digitized.
Starting projects from scratch with creative partners and collaborators around the globe is one of the most rewarding experiences. We strive to create meaningful work in the documentary industry and non-fiction media wherever the stories take us. Collaborating with partners in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, we become part of the process of a documentary film, series, or investigative podcast early on, helping the project start with a solid footing. We begin with research, writing, finding the form and structure, deck writing, production planning, budgeting, and rights clearance research, making the licensing of archival materials easier in the final stretch.
A keen eye for detail and an unwavering dedication to uncovering rare and compelling audiovisual materials, as well as unique and lesser-known details about a character or story, can really make a film stand out. By meticulously digging through archives, we aim to find hidden gems that form the backbone of captivating documentary narratives, as we understand the power of written records and their ability to illuminate the past. Through meticulous research and analysis, we explore documents, letters, historical records, magazines, photographs, news clips, and archival footage to construct a comprehensive picture of the story we are telling.
Crafting an exceptional documentary requires the effective management and distribution of archival materials, information, and metadata. Our agency offers specialized expertise in developing archival workflows, ensuring seamless integration of materials into the production, editing, and post-production process. We specialize in organizing, cataloging, digitizing, and preserving archival assets, enabling smooth collaboration between researchers, writers, producers, editors, and post-production facilities.
We offer comprehensive budget management and licensing negotiation services, enabling our clients to acquire the necessary rights to incorporate third-party materials into their projects. Our team also provides advisory services on fair use practices, ensuring our clients adhere to legal standards.
Our passion for stories emerging from the archives has led us to build our own film archive with over 2,000 film reels (and growing) from all over the world. Orphan films, home videos, newsreels, silent movies and forgotten official productions have a new home and are taken care of by us.
Our efforts to catalogue, restore and digitize these 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm, and 16mm film reels have led us to discover amazing stories and unique footage. Our goal is for the archive to be open to the public via our website soon. Feel free to reach out if you have any specific needs.
Adrián is a documentary filmmaker, producer, and archival producer with over 15 years of experience. In 2023, he was part of DOCNYC’s 40 Under 40 Class. The films he’s worked on have premiered in festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, SXSW, and BAM Cinemafest.
Manuel is a passionate researcher and film and record collector from Monterrey, Mexico. In 2022, he joined Past Tense as the Lead Archival Researcher for our non-fiction media projects.
With a background in science, science education and tech, Miranda is a skilled researcher who has been working in documentary films and series as well as educational videos since 2017.
