Black Bear UK, the newly established theatrical distribution arm of indie studio Black Bear, has made a collection of hires, solidifying its core distribution crew who will work out of the UK.
Led by President John Friedberg and Managing Director Llewellyn Radley, the Black Bear UK hires embody Eugene O’Connor, who joins as VP of Publicity; Nick Smith, who takes on the position of VP Digital; and Bosco Tench, who steps into the position of Advertising and marketing Director.
The corporate additionally confirmed as we speak that Craig Gillespie’s newest pic Dumb Money, starring Paul Dano, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson, and Seth Rogen, will probably be its first launch. The pic will open broad on September 22.
As we speak’s trio of hires be a part of present senior UK distribution executives, together with Vicky Hine, SVP Advertising and marketing, Scott Sargeant, VP Distribution, and Frank Ayaoge, VP Technical.
O’Connor joins from Premier PR, the place he led the movie crew and labored on the publicity campaigns for titles together with The Banshees of Inisherin, The Favorite, and BBC/Hulu’s Regular Individuals. Along with main all points of UK publicity technique, O’Connor will even work throughout PR for Black Bear’s worldwide gross sales and distribution enterprise.
Smith most not too long ago labored at Apple, the place he managed the UK Video Enterprise. Previous to that, he held senior roles at eOne and Momentum Photos. Tench joins Black Bear from eOne, the place he served as Senior Advertising and marketing Supervisor and labored on titles together with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves and Darkish Waters. Tench beforehand held positions at StudioCanal and the media company, Zenith.
Black Bear UK has mentioned they plan to distribute 10-15 wide-release theatrical movies yearly, together with business, style, and status titles. Current titles arrange on the firm embody Edward Berger’s Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci from Tessa Ross’ Home Productions, and David Mackenzie’s Relay starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington.
“We’re very proud to have constructed a compelling slate of business and high quality movies in such a brief house of time,” mentioned Friedberg and Radley.
“With the addition of unbelievable executives like Eugene, Nick, and Bosco to the Black Bear UK crew, we’re effectively positioned to start delivering a gradual pipeline of outstanding movies to our companions in exhibition, in addition to to digital platforms, Pay TV companions and broadcasters. Our inaugural movie, Dumb Cash, is extraordinarily entertaining, prime quality, with an outstanding crew of creatives, and is the proper title to kick off our theatrical distribution enterprise.”
