JoyBear Moves to Pulse for North American Distribution

CHATSWORTH, Calif.London-based JoyBear Pictures brings its high-end content to distributor Pulse Distribution for DVD release in North America.

The deal kicks off with a new feature title shipping October 16 and a new line of all-sex titles—the Joy Collection—culled from the best output of the studio's 15-year history. New releases will street monthly, alternating between features and compilations, and 24 best-selling library titles are available immediately.

“We are honored to represent so many high-quality studios at Pulse, in such a wide variety of different genres,” Pulse vice president of sales Hyland C. said. “Adding Joybear was an easy decision—the product is absolutely top-notch, and the studio already enjoys a healthy fanbase in Europe. The films are sexy, fun, and beautifully shot. It’s our pleasure to make their films available here.”

“We are thrilled to have Pulse handling our North American DVD distribution,” JoyBear founder and CEO Justin Santos added. “We have been busy increasing production and focusing on new audiences. To celebrate our 15th birthday this year, we created the ‘Joy Collection’—definitive moments from our award-winning catalogue. I’m super excited about releasing titles such as Dominate Me and Fuck Me on the Desk to the U.S. market. We are pumped about working with Pulse to grow the JoyBear brand in North America.”

A British film school graduate, Santos created JoyBear Pictures in 2003 because he was tired of seeing adult movies with people having pleasureless sex—especially women. A series of focus groups with women and couples confirmed he wasn’t alone, so Santos applied to take part in the U.K. competition Head to Head—a one-off reality TV show by Playboy, created to find the next biggest erotic moviemaker. He won the show and shortly after set up JoyBear Pictures. His goal was simple: keep adult entertainment fun.

JoyBear Pictures has already enjoyed a significant amount of acclaim in Europe; in addition to the high-profile origin story, the studio’s releases have received nominations for Feminist Porn Awards (now the Toronto International Porn Festival Awards), winning in 2013 for The Pleasure Professionals. Winner of both 2014 and 2016 Dusk Porna Awards and the InStyle “Best Female-Friendly Site” Award in 2016, JoyBear is often mentioned in feminist and sex-positive circles globally as a destination for female-friendly adult entertainment. To read an interview with Santos, click here

The sex-positive studio has also received numerous AVN Award nominations, including yearly nominations in the Best Foreign Director and Best Foreign Feature categories.

“In our films, we use a bit of common sense,” Santos noted. “Loads of build-up and everyone having a bloody good time. I see a world where sex is positive, and not taboo. JoyBear is working to create that world, not just for my two daughters, but for everyone.”

JoyBear was previously distributed domestically by Wicked Pictures. The studio may be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/joybearpictures and on Instagram at instagram.com/joybearpictures/.

Retailers interested in stocking JoyBear Pictures releases are encouraged to contact Hyland C. at [email protected] or (818) 435-1615, or inquire with their IVD sales representative.