U.K.-based entertainment financier Goldfinch has inked a strategic partnership with The Squad, the Web3-native production studio founded by filmmaker Jordan Bayne.
The deal positions The Squad as the first Web3-native studio to be embedded within a major independent film finance and production group. The alliance aims to create a pipeline of film, TV and immersive experiences by combining Goldfinch’s decade-long industry presence with The Squad’s expertise in Web3, generative AI and audience engagement technology.
The Squad, which will continue to operate as an independent brand under the Goldfinch umbrella, originated the “Film3” concept — a creator-led framework where ownership, funding and distribution center around artists rather than traditional studio structures. It represents a significant departure from conventional film financing models by leveraging community-powered funding, AI-enhanced production workflows and direct-to-audience distribution channels.
“This partnership marks a tectonic shift in how stories are made, owned, and experienced,” said Bayne, who now also assumes the role of head of Web3 and GenAI at Goldfinch. “The Squad has been building the creative and technical blueprint for a new era of creator-led IP since 2021 — one that leverages community-powered financing, GenAI-enhanced production workflows, and direct-to-audience distribution. This is the Film3 business model in action.”
Goldfinch, founded in 2014, brings considerable financial muscle to the partnership, having financed over 300 productions and deployed more than $250 million in funding. The company’s portfolio includes production labels Dreamtown Entertainment, the Oscar and BAFTA-winning First Flights, and its recently launched Goldfinch International, which is expanding into Asia and the Middle East.
Kirsty Bell, CEO and founder of Goldfinch, said: “At Goldfinch, we have always looked at what’s next, and now more than ever, the industry needs to embrace innovation to navigate the fast-evolving entertainment landscape. What Jordan has built in just a few years and on zero budget is remarkable.”
Under the deal, Goldfinch executives Bell and Phil McKenzie will take advisory roles at The Squad to support Bayne in scaling operations and integrating traditional production systems with emerging Film3 and AI-powered models.
Bayne, whose short film “The Sea Is All I Know” starring Melissa Leo was an Academy Award contender, has been an early adopter of Web3 technologies in filmmaking. She made history by minting her NFT short film “Red Flags” on Zora, which was subsequently collected by AI artist Claire Silver. Her first AI-generated short film, “ᏌᎪᏂᎨ,” has earned her a nomination for Escape AI’s Master of the Craft Award.
According to the companies, productions are already in development with “major announcements forthcoming” – including a multi-year slate of original projects developed in collaboration with Hollywood talent and leading generative AI innovators.
