The Movie Marketing & Distribution Podcast

In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz is joined by Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood, co-founders of Olyn, a new digital platform aiming to redefine how independent films are released and monetized. Drawing on their backgrounds in technology, entrepreneurship, and film production, Ana and Malcolm discuss how Olyn seeks to provide filmmakers with direct-to-consumer tools — enabling them to maintain ownership, access audience data, and control the viewing experience. The conversation covers core platform functionalities, including custom landing pages, geo-blocking, revenue splits, and scarcity-based release strategies. The episode also explores broader shifts in the film industry: the growing demand for alternative distribution models, the role of audience data in decision-making, and how creators are beginning to apply startup thinking to their release strategies. Ana and Malcolm share examples of early user behavior, evolving filmmaker mindsets, and the rationale behind their  business model. This conversation provides a detailed look at the evolving digital infrastructure for independent film — and how tools like Olyn could help bridge the gap between creation, monetization, and long-term audience engagement. About Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood Ana Maria Jipa is co-founder of Olyn, a media-fintech company transforming how digital content is monetized and distributed. An entrepreneur since the age of 19, Ana built her career across investment funds, public institutions, and global tech platforms—spanning San Francisco to Europe. Renowned for her expertise in product development, fintech infrastructure, and API systems, she has consistently championed equitable value exchange models that allow consumers to earn through participation. Olyn has raised Silicon Valley capital and secured strategic partnerships with global studios, positioning the company at the forefront of creator-led media distribution.  Malcolm Wood is the co-founder of Olyn, a successful entrepreneur, award-winning film  producer, and environmental advocate with a strong track record in market expansion and global media ventures. Recognized as one of Asia's most influential figures by Tatler, Malcolm has led multimillion-dollar projects across Media, Technology, Hospitality, and Sustainability. His film credits include A Plastic Ocean, described by Sir David Attenborough as “the most important film of our time”, The Last Glaciers, an IMAX documentary spotlighting the global climate crisis and his most recent environmental documentary with Oscar winner James Reed from my Octopus Teacher, The White Mountain. Malcolm blends business with a commitment to making a positive impact. At Olyn, Malcolm brings deep industry insight and a relentless focus on impact for global growth—reimagining film distribution to empower filmmakers with ownership, direct monetization, and freedom from gatekeepers. Find out more about Olyn at www.Olyn.com

"Community isn't just the audience—it is the audience. And that shift in thinking is where real change begins." – Shawn Dawes In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz is joined by filmmaker, producer, and platform founder Shawn Dawes, the visionary behind IndieScene—a new SaaS-based platform aiming to transform the independent film ecosystem through transparency, data, and community collaboration. With over 20 years in the creative industries—ranging from directing and development to producing and distribution—Shawn has firsthand experience of the challenges independent filmmakers face. From promising projects that collapsed at the final hurdle, to festival runs that didn't yield industry support, his journey is one many filmmakers will recognize. Now, through IndieScene, Shawn is channeling those experiences into building infrastructure that truly supports independent film. The platform provides global databases of distributors, film festivals, cinemas, and venues—alongside real-world analytics on box office performance. The goal? To give filmmakers and small distributors the insights and access they need to make informed decisions and build sustainable careers. In this episode, Alex and Shawn explore: Why most indie films fail to break through—and the structural barriers that keep it that way How gatekeeping, outdated distribution models, and a lack of localized data stifle great projects Why community-based engagement isn't just a marketing strategy, but a survival strategy The economics of theatrical self-distribution, and how event-based screenings can benefit both cinemas and filmmakers How IndieScene is gathering and aggregating real-time data to build a more accurate picture of the indie landscape Why the future of distribution may lie beyond traditional cinemas—into venues, cafes, community halls, and immersive experiences How predictive AI and blockchain might reshape how we assess market value and report box office returns Shawn also discusses the role of film festivals—both their shortcomings and their potential to become more globally connected, collaborative, and financially sustainable year-round. "We have to move from a transactional industry to an interactual one." — As Shawn puts it, that means not just distributing films, but building relationships, activating communities, and redefining how success is measured.

In this episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Guy Bisson, Executive Director at Ampere Analysis, a leading firm in media and entertainment analytics. Guy brings over two decades of expertise in the global TV, film, and entertainment industries, offering unparalleled insights into the transformations reshaping content creation, distribution, and consumption. Together, they dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing today's entertainment landscape. Guy explores the ongoing impact of streaming, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic boom and the Hollywood strikes. Guy highlights how content investment has leveled off at 75% of its peak, marking a significant shift that Guy argues can be viewed as positive and sustainable. They discuss how traditional media groups are navigating the era of consolidation and what it means for the future of entertainment. Guy also sheds light on the emerging role of social media platforms in content distribution and advertising, noting how platforms like YouTube have become critical players in the global entertainment ecosystem. The conversation moves into the world of film, with Guy offering insights into how the movie business is adjusting to the challenges of streaming, changing audience behavior, and the pullback in content production. As the industry faces the convergence of media and tech, Guy explores the concept of "diagonal integration," an emerging form of collaboration and M&A strategy that breaks traditional geographic and platform-based boundaries. Finally, they discuss the future of AI in entertainment—its rapid development, transformative potential, and the re-skilling required to adapt to this new wave of technological change. About Guy Bisson, Executive Director co-founder, Ampere Analysis Guy Bisson has been a leading entertainment market analyst with a specialisation in the global television business for the past 30 years. He is a regular speaker and moderator at many of the world's leading entertainment business conferences, a frequent media commentator in print and broadcast and author of numerous reports and research articles on the business and strategy of the global television industry. Guy is co-founder of Ampere Analysis, a London-based analyst house focused on the entertainment and content business, which draws on title-level movie and TV analysis, consumer research and market forecasting to create a holistic outlook for the future of the industry. Guy previously led the television research practice at both Screen Digest and IHS.

"Our goal is to make every theatrical release feel like an event." Lynne Schmidt, SVP Operations and Strategic Partnerships Fathom Entertainment  In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz sits down with Shannah Miller, Vice President of Marketing, and Lynne Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Operations and Strategic Partnerships at Fathom Entertainment. Fathom has long been known as a leader in event cinema, bringing live performances, special screenings, and classic films to theaters worldwide. But as the theatrical landscape evolves, so has Fathom. In this conversation, Shannah and Lynne share how the company has expanded beyond event cinema into specialty distribution, creating custom theatrical release strategies tailored to different types of content and audience demand. They discuss the company's rebranding from Fathom Events to Fathom Entertainment and how this shift reflects their broader vision of theatrical engagement. With a diverse slate that includes The Chosen, classic film re-releases, anime, live concerts, and even influencer-driven horror films, Fathom has carved out a unique niche in the industry. Key topics covered in this episode include: Why Fathom transitioned from an event-based distribution model to a more flexible, entertainment-focused strategy The remarkable success of The Chosen in theaters and what it means for the future of serialized content on the big screen How classic re-releases, such as Coraline and The Lord of the Rings, continue to draw audiences and drive strong box office results The growing role of faith-based and inspirational content in theatrical distribution How partnerships with major studios, filmmakers, and exhibitors allow Fathom to bring a wide range of content to theaters The importance of community-driven marketing, influencer partnerships, and data-driven audience engagement The evolving role of theatrical distribution in a crowded entertainment landscape, and how Fathom is positioning itself for the future Shannah and Lynne also share insights into how audience behaviors are shifting, why theatrical experiences remain vital despite the rise of streaming, and how exhibitors can benefit from diversifying their programming. They highlight the importance of offering audiences something they can't get at home, from exclusive content to immersive experiences like large-format screenings and collectible merchandise. With a packed slate of upcoming releases and new strategies to engage audiences, Fathom Entertainment is proving that theatrical distribution is not only viable but thriving. Whether you are a filmmaker, distributor, or industry professional, this episode provides valuable insights into the future of theatrical marketing and the power of fan-driven content. Listen now to discover how Fathom Entertainment is shaping the future of cinema and redefining what it means to bring content to the big screen. Lynne Schmidt, SVP, Operations & Strategic Partnerships Fathom Entertainment Lynne has 18 years of experience in the event cinema industry holding various roles within Fathom Entertainment since 2006. As Senior Vice President of Operations & Strategic Partnerships she is responsible for the management of Fathom's proprietary satellite network which is installed in over 1,100 theatres in the U.S. and heads distribution efforts with all Fathom's theatre partners both domestically and internationally. Lynne also leads programming efforts with Fathom's premiere content partner, The Metropolitan Opera. Shannah Miller, VP of Marketing Fathom Entertainment Shannah is a marketing leader with 15+ years of experience in the entertainment industry. Before joining Fathom Entertainment, she held various positions at Atom Tickets, including Head of Partnerships and Business Development and Head of Marketing and Communications. She began her career in the music business and served as a senior executive at various labels within Sony Music, including RCA, Jive, Arista, and Columbia Records. As the VP of Marketing at Fathom Entertainment, she oversees all marketing and communication efforts with its customers, studios, content partners, exhibitors, and press.

In this episode Alex Stolz sits down with Pierre-Alexandre (Alex) Labelle, co-founder of Under the Milky Way, the global digital distribution company helping studios, filmmakers and rights holders bring their films to VOD platforms worldwide. Alex shares his journey in the film industry, from the early days of digital distribution to working with major platforms like Apple, Google, and Amazon. He dives into the industry's evolving landscape, discussing the rise of SVOD, the ongoing relevance of transactional VOD, and the growing impact of AVOD and FAST channels (although cautioning that this may be less than has been claimed!). The conversation also explores Claudia, Under the Milky Way's latest initiative, designed to streamline the distribution process for independent filmmakers through automation and strategic insights. Alex emphasizes the importance of data in shaping film distribution strategies and how AI could revolutionize industry decision-making. Closing with a fascinating analogy comparing the predicting the future to a game of Tetris, Alex leaves listeners with thought-provoking insights on how filmmakers and distributors can adapt to a constantly shifting digital environment.  

"We want to be a positive force in the ecosystem." Jen Davies In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jen Davis and Graham Fulton, co-founders of Conic, the Glasgow-based film distribution company formed in 2022. They discuss the origins of Conic, their mission to support independent cinema, and the evolving landscape of film distribution. The conversation covers their values, team dynamics, acquisition processes, and the challenges of theatrical releases, all while emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in the film industry. Jen and Graham discuss the journey of a young film distribution company, highlighting their bidding process for films, the importance of community engagement, and the surprising success of securing broadcast deals. They delve into effective marketing strategies to cut through the noise in the industry, share lessons learned from their experiences, and express excitement for their upcoming slate of films, emphasizing the positive outlook for the cinema industry recovery. About Conic Conic is a UK / Ireland distributor releasing bold and ambitious films. Since launching in October 2022, Conic has released several award-winning and BAFTA nominated films, including Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, In Camera, Disco Boy, That They May Face the Rising Sun and many more. In the first half of 2025 Conic will release Palestinian thriller, To a Land Unknown; San Sebastian Best Director-winning On Falling; Cannes Youth Award winner Holy Cow and American indie Good One. Find out more at www.conic.film / @conicfilm  About Jen Davies Jen is co-founder of Conic, and heads up creative and marketing. Prior to starting Conic with business partner Graham Fulton, Jen spent a decade as Creative Director at Park Circus, which represents most of the Hollywood studios and British film libraries, overseeing marketing and international campaigns for many reissues of classic titles and new releases. Before that Jen worked for Glasgow Film as Head of Communications and Marketing and was also part of the team which set up SQIFF, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival. About Graham Fulton Graham is co-founder of Conic, and heads up distribution, sales, and acquisition. Before starting Conic with business partner Jen Davies, Graham was Director of International Sales and Distribution at Park Circus, distributing and selling films directly to cinemas, film festivals and distributors around the world. Representing most of the Hollywood studios, some of the films he helped release internationally include Free Solo, Three Identical Strangers, A Certain Woman, Mandy and American Utopia.

In this episode we welcome world leading film researcher Stephen Follows to the show for a deep dive into the data behind the horror genre. With insights fresh from Stephen's new exhaustive exploration of the space, The Horror Movie Report 2.0, we explore the significant increase in horror film production and the numbers behind its profitability. In a conversation that covers the importance of theatrical releases for horror films (and why they are so important for cinemas!) and the demographics of horror audiences, we also look at global trends in horror film production, including in Indonesia and Malaysia. Stephen shares how horror reflects cultural fears and societal narratives and why it's specific economic and stylistic characteristics make it such a vital genre for the industry. The conversation explores the multifaceted world of the genre, discussing cultural insights, marketing strategies, and the economics behind horror filmmaking including a focus on Blumhouse and the emergence of so-called ‘elevated horror', as well as the future of horror in gaming and VR. In a slight detour, we also catch up on the role of AI in film production and storytelling. Having been an early adopter of generative AI in the space, Stephen highlights both its potential and current limitations and reveals why there aren't, yet at least, many AI-themed horrors.   More About Stephen Follows Stephen Follows is a world-leading film industry analyst whose research has been featured in almost every major newspaper and magazine, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Times. He is a consultant for Guinness World Records and the chairman of the Central Film School. Stephen's expertise is sought by major Hollywood studios, and he has taught producers, filmmakers, and students around the world.

"Data and AI can increase risk taking" Tobias Queisser   In this episode we are joined by Tobias Queisser, co-founder and CEO of Cinelytic, the AI-powered platform designed to optimise decision-making across film production and distribution. As perhaps the most controversial - and misunderstood - topic in film and entertainment at this time, AI is often portrayed as a creative destructor but Tobias shares why he believes the technology will actually unlock greater risk taking in the filmmaking process.   In the conversation, Tobias discusses the genesis of CineLytic, the pain points in film production, the importance of data in decision-making, and how predictive models can enhance the success of films. Tobias and host Alex Stolz also discuss the evolving landscape of film distribution, focusing on the impact of streaming services and consumer preferences. They explore the importance of data analytics in understanding audience behavior and making informed decisions across the whole film lifecycle. Tobias and Alex also touch on the role of AI in the industry as a whole, addressing misunderstandings and its potential to enhance creativity and economic viability. Finally, they look ahead to future innovations in film technology, with Tobias advocating for a more data-driven approach in filmmaking.     About Tobias Queisser Tobias is Co-Founder and CEO of Cinelytic. He has a strong background in finance, the entertainment industry and tech ventures. Prior to Cinelytic, Tobias worked for 10 years in finance as an investment banker, and later co-founded & managed a global investment fund in London. In 2013, he founded Arctic Pictures Limited, an international film production company. Tobias holds an MSc in Accounting & Finance from CASS.  

In this conversation, Leslie Vuchot, CEO and founder of the Festival Agency joins the show to discuss her journey in the film industry, the importance of film festivals, and the evolving landscape of film distribution. She shares insights on festival-driven success stories of independent films, the health of festivals, and the agency's new direction in building community around cinemas. Vuchot emphasizes the critical role festivals play in launching new talent and films, and her vision for enhancing the circulation of films in the industry with festivals. Finally, Leslie shares her passion for developing younger audiences and reveals how TFA is doing that in practice through innovative programming. About Leslie Vuchot Leslie Vuchot is the founder and the CEO of The Festival Agency, where she leads a team of worldwide bookings managers, festivals strategists and distribution consultants specialized in independent features films -fiction, docs, animated. Since its launch in 2010, TFA has managed and advised the career and international bookings for more than 250 films, in support of sales agents, distributors or filmmakers directly. TFA is running operation with offices in LA and Paris, France.

Jim Fredrick is a trailer editor, studio marketing executive and film professor - and author of the OPENING WEEKEND: AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT MARKETING HOLLYWOOD'S HITS AND FLOPS.    In this conversation, we discuss Jim's career which began in editing trailers and spanned both the studio, independent and vendor sectors. We also hear about Jim's experience in helping launch some of the biggest and most loved films in recent history and hear memorable anecdotes about working with Rob Reiner at Castle Rock Entertainment and his singular experience of travelling to the UK shortly after Stanley Kubrick's death to create the marketing campaign for EYES WIDE SHUT and, going back to his professional roots, we learn what Jim's recipe is for a great trailer.    Jim Fredrick was President of Marketing at Castle Rock Entertainment, Senior Vice President of Creative Advertising at Warner Bros and Executive VP at Sony Screen Gems. He's worked on over 200 advertising campaigns including the HARRY POTTER franchise, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, HAPPY FEET and Stanley Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT. He is a Professor of Entertainment Marketing at Chapman University.  

 "The film value chain is very disconnected from today's online reality" Ben Johnson, Founder Gruvi In this episode we are joined by Ben Johson, Founder of the digital media agency, Gruvi. In a wide ranging conversation, Ben describes the lightbulb moment that led him to establish a film-specific model and why he believes the current value chain in the sector is out of sync with how audiences make decisions. We also talk about how and why cinemas have a distinct advantage in the film ecosystem (around their audience data) and how they can leverage this through greater collaboration with distributors. Ben also reveals the markets he is most excited about currently and why the future of independent film distribution is bright.  About Ben Johnson Ben Johnson, the founder and Head of Strategy and Audience Technology at Gruvi, stands at the forefront of the entertainment industry's evolution. His dynamic career, which commenced in 2007 in film marketing, has propelled Gruvi into a cutting-edge media agency specialising in technology-driven solutions for film distributors seeking to connect with and captivate online audiences. Ben has orchestrated over 300 movie campaigns for major players like Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony, as well as independent studios including Wild Bunch, Scanbox, and Dogwoof. Ben's educational background includes an MBA in Technology Management and a foundation in Marine Ecology. Since the early days of online advertising and social media, he has been a pioneer, driven by an unwavering fascination with the potential to reach and engage audiences at scale. Rooted in his scientific background, this passion has become a driving force behind his commitment to understanding and leveraging the dynamics of online populations.

Luis Perez Endara is CEO of Gluon Media and Founder of Panoptico.tv, a new online community and recommendation engine for film and TV across Latin America. In this conversation, Luis explains how the current recommendation solutions, from algorithms to peer to peer services, are failing audiences. Drawing from his extensive experience in sales, marketing, distribution and curation, he reveals how Panoptico uses both 'top down' and 'bottom up' recommendation functionality to create a new type of recommendation engine. He also shares how Panoptico is designed to be home for movie lovers and a way for distributors and content owners to effectively reach audiences across the region. In a discussion that includes the wider state of the industry both in LatAm and globally, we also explore the transition from broadcasting to streaming as Luis breaks down exactly why and how this transition is causing studios, distributors and filmmakers unprecedented new challenges.  For more check out www.panoptico.tv Luis Perez Ignacio Endara holds a BA in Economics and began his career as a Business Consultant for Accenture. He later pursued a postgraduate program in Film, TV, and Digital Media at UCLA in California. Following his studies, he launched his first film distribution company in Argentina and has been deeply involved in the circulation of cinematic works ever since. He established one of the country's most prestigious arthouse theater programs at the MALBA museum and created one of Argentina's pioneering streaming services in 2010. Over the years, Luis expanded his distribution operations across Latin America, distributing hundreds of films seen by millions throughout the region. He currently lives and works between Miami and Buenos Aires.

"It's a changing landscape, but people still want to see movies." Thor Sigurjónsson, Scanbox In this episode we meet the leading - and legendary - Nordic distributor, Scanbox Entertainment with their top executives Merete Christensen (COO and Head of Theatrical) and CEO Thor Sigurjónsson. In the conversation we discuss how the Nordic markets are transforming through shifting audience behaviour and technology - and how Scanbox is adroitly adjusting to this landscape. Topics include changing acquisition and releasing models, what is working well in cinemas right now and the company's move into production. In a wide ranging conversation that covers Thor's journey from Icelandic producer to running a pan-nordic distributor, we also hear about why Scanbox recently joined the Vuelta Group and more about the group's vision for a pan-European distribution network.  More about Merete and Thor Merete Christensen is COO and Head of Theatrical Distribution at Scanbox, where she has been overseeing the theatrical distribution of approximately 25 films annually since 2011. Amongst these, acclaimed films like Past Lives, the French hit The Intouchables (De urørlige), the Taken franchise, and lately Alex Garland's Civil War and Danish box office hit Rome by Niclas Bendixen. In addition to her work at Scanbox, Merete serves on the board of The Danish Cinema Club and is a member of the Danish Media Council. Thor Sigurjonsson is the CEO of Scanbox Entertainment, a prominent Nordic film distribution company. With a background deeply rooted in both film production and distribution, Sigurjonsson has been involved with Scanbox for over 15 years, having served on its board before leading a management buyout (MBO) in 2020. His leadership has guided Scanbox into new ventures, including expanding into content creation, with a focus on both international and Nordic film and TV projects. Sigurjonsson also co-founded Zik Zak Filmworks, an Icelandic production company.

"The current distribution model is broken, and Blue Harbor is here to offer a different approach that benefits both filmmakers and audiences." Mike Messina, co-founder Blue Harbor Entertainment   This episode is an insight into the obstacles and opportunities in the current releasing environment in a conversation with the founders of Blue Harbor Entertainment, the new service distribution company. Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle are industry veterans with decades of experience between them at the cutting edge of sales, acquisitions and distribution having previously come together as part of the senior leadership of Screen Media. Earlier this year they established Blue Harbor to offer filmmakers an alternative in today's challenging distribution environment, providing a comprehensive distribution and marketing solution covering theatrical, home entertainment, digital streaming platforms, and television – all under a service fee structure geared around filmmakers.   In this conversation we explore the signficant changes in the US market in recent years, particularly in the video on demand space. Amanda, Mike and Seth explain how audience habits and release practices have rapidly shifted post-covid - and shifted again more recently - and reveal the signficant knock on effect this is having on acquisitions, distribution and filmmaking. The Founders explain how these witnessing these changes prompted them to design a different type of service distribution company, one that places the filmmaker at the heart of the process. They also explain why it is now essential for filmmakers to include distirbution thinking and budgeting as part of their production process, as in the words of Amanda, "In the evolving landscape of film marketing, understanding your audience and budgeting for distribution early is crucial. It's not just about making a film; it's about making sure it reaches the right eyes."   Amanda Sherwin Amanda has more than two decades of experience working in independent film. She most recently served as SVP of Marketing at Screen Media running the campaigns for 20+ releases annually, including the high-profile hits Willy's Wonderland, Poker Face, and Maggie Moore(s). Prior to Screen Media, Sherwin consulted for PBS Distribution and managed theatrical service provider Paladin, overseeing the releases on an array of films from the comedic hit What We Do in the Shadows to the Oscar® nominated documentary For Sama. Sherwin began her career at CFP, a precursor to Lionsgate, where she later assumed the role of VP of Marketing. She then went on to help start THINKFilm, where she served as SVP of Marketing and Distribution and orchestrated the campaigns on more than 80 films, resulting in eight Academy Award® nominations and two wins. Sherwin is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.   Mike Messina Mike has worked in independent film for more than 25 years. In his recent role as EVP of Distribution at Screen Media, he oversaw the distribution, marketing, and sales of 100+ movies, including the blockbuster hits The Outpost, Till Death, and The Ritual Killer, and was an Executive Producer on the Emmy® award-winning documentary Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street. Previously, Messina spearheaded independent film distribution and acquisitions at Starz and managed global streaming sales of Starz Original Series, including Spartacus and Power. He was also a senior executive at New Amsterdam Entertainment, where his producing credits included Dawn of the Dead which opened #1 at the US box office and was a Cannes Film Festival selection. Messina holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and is a Dartmouth College graduate.   Seth Needle Seth Needle is a leading content acquisition and creative executive, having previously served as EVP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions at Screen Media for the past 12 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for high-profile acquisitions The Outpost, Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Emmy® award-winning Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street, The Lifeguard starring Kristen Bell, and Stephen King's A Good Marriage, which King penned himself. He also established strategic business relationships with Focus Features, Starz, Roadside Attractions, and more. In addition, Needle oversaw all content licensing for the company's streaming platforms that included Crackle, Popcornflix, and Redbox. Needle also served as an executive producer on Willy's Wonderland, Maggie Moore(s), Fast Charlie, Girl, and several others. Prior to Screen Media, Needle worked in the acquisitions department at Lionsgate and in the research department at Marketcast.

"Optimising cinema businesses through better data strategies can transform the entire entertainment landscape." Marina Kosten Why the theatrical experience is so critical for the film and entertainment ecosystem and how it can be revitalised through a bold and innovative data-led strategy are some of the key topics explored here with the brilliant Marina Kosten. In the conversation Marina unpacks what first party data, how it can be harnessed and why it is so critical in today's entertainment economy as well as outlining her vision for regenerating the habit of moviegoing across the sector.  A senior global research and strategy executive with an extensive track record in developing market and consumer insights, Marina is currently working with the NATO Cinema Foundation to identify new strategies for the exhibition sector in a significantly altered entertainment landscape. Marina also serves as Senior Fellow Senior Fellow Center for the Digital Future at USC Annenberg and her previous roles include as Vice President of Consumer Research in the International Theatrical Division of 20th Century Fox, where she oversaw research related to releasing Fox films in the top 20 international markets. Prior to 20th Fox, Kosten oversaw another dimension of the entertainment landscape at Activision-Blizzard, where she focused on Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises, in addition to Activision's portfolio of licensed video games. Kosten began her career as a social researcher; her interest in understanding human behaviour led her through senior roles at several global research suppliers.  

Urszula Piasecka is CEO of leading Polish distributor Kino Świat, part of the Studio Canal group. In this conversation we tap into Urszula's nearly 20 years' experience across film and media business, working in film production and distribution, to look ahead to how the role of the dsitributor can evolve. In addition, we gain insights on the centrality of the theatrical experience, how distributors and producers can work more closely, the current state of the Polish market as well as her thoughts on the upcoming blockbuster, Paddington in Peru!   For 10 year Urszula was overseeing multi-territory deals and strategising volume packages as Director of Acquisition & Sales at Monolith Films. She was also Head of Programming of the International Film Festival Two Riversides and Head of Acquisitions and Co-production in TVP managing acquisition for 11 TV channels. She has gained experience in feature film development and production in Zebra Film Studio led by Juliusz Machulski. As co-author of postgraduate course on Kozminsky Academy “Media Management” she is a lecturer and promotor. She holds diploma of EMBA of Kozminski Business School and she completed Strategies for Leadership program in The Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne. She is a member of the European Film Academy.

David Larkin is Head of Business and Parnerships at Letterboxd, the global social network for grass-roots film discussion and discovery. In this episode we go 'under the hood' of the only film-centric social platform, to understand more about how it has successfully built a loyal community of 14mm+ film fans across the world. This includes how Letterboxd supports targeted film campaigns, understanding different industry-use cases on the site and insight into Letterboxd's big decision about including TV content. In a wide ranging conversation, we also learn more about David's long and varied career as an executive and entrepreneur- including several successful exits - at the intersection of tech and entertainment  as well as how and why he began his working life learning how to open manholes in New York City and his involvement in an outrageous pot-themed alteration of the Hollywood sign!

Serge Zabbal is Busines Director at Empire Entertainment, the 105 year old film production and distribution operation based out of Dubai. Focusing on the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), Serge oversees all of Empire's English language and Arabic releases across the different markets. This includes the output of Sony Pictures Entertainment, as the studio's official partner for the region. Having had diverse experiences across a multitude of industries for more than 15 years in the Middle East, Serge brings a fresh perspectuve and innovative approach to the film and entertainment space. As well as serving as the Sony Pictures Entertainment Theatrical lead for the MENA region, he also manages Empires' growing initiatives in Production and Gaming, with a focus on serving the evolving needs of their consumers. In a wide ranging conversation, we discuss the cultural and economic nuances of the MENA market, including a deeper dive into the current state of the Saudi cinema revolution. We also explore innovation in distribution and how Empire are staying on the front foot with younger audiences as well as their approach to data driven marketing and participation in the wider entertainment landscape of gaming. 

In this special episode of the Market and Distirbution Pdcast, we tap into our Reimagine the Ecosystem series, the series of discussions with leaders on the future of the industry. In this particular session, we addressed the fast evolving field of distribution itself, with Avril Speaks (Distribution Advocates) and Angel Studios' Brandon Purdie. With the distribution landscape having changed so much in recent years, how are studios, creators and labels approaching the market differently? What kind of new mechanisms and strategies are working particularly well and what is now less effective. But beyond tactics and techniques, is there a completely different way to approach distribution now? How can we begin the distribution process earlier, make it less risky and more data-driven? Is it possible to change the way distribution decisions are made – can we reimagine this vital part of the ecosystem? Our panelists; innovators and pioneers from different territories and perspectives, will be sharing their ideas, experiences and perspectives in how they are are approaching distribution in transformative new ways. Avril Speaks Avril Speaks is an award-winning Producer, Director and Showrunner based in Los Angeles. She has produced several award-winning films including Jinn, Dotty & Soul, and the South African film African America, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, four African Movie Academy Awards and streamed on Netflix. Most recently, Avril was the Showrunner for the docu-series Uprooted: The Untold Keith Warren Story, which is available on Discovery+ and was an Executive Producer for Files of the Unexplained, coming soon to Netflix. Currently, Avril is a Creative and Production Executive at Vox Media Studios. Avril was a 2020 Sundance Momentum Fellow, and a 2022 recipient of the Dear Producer Award. She is also a co-founding member of Distribution Advocates and is part of the Executive Committee for the newly formed Producer's Union. Brandon Purdie Since childhood, Brandon Purdie has been obsessed with bringing inspiring films to captive audiences. After moving up from tearing tickets and sweeping floors at his local theater to managing a regional theater chain, Purdie immersed himself in box office numbers, concession margins, team management, and the cinematic experience. This blossomed into a career at the indie distributor Excel Entertainment, moving from Marketing Director to overseeing the marketing and release of dozens of projects a year in theaters and on DVD. Shortly after, he founded Purdie Distribution, advising filmmakers on how to make and sell their films. In 2023, Angel Studios enlisted Purdie to launch their theatrical division, and out of the gate Purdie and his team beat the odds. The first theatrical release, HIS ONLY SON, a film that was made for only $250,000 grossed over $12M in domestic box office. This was followed by the global blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM (Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino) that grossed over $183M domestically since its July 4 release, and continues to launch in new markets internationally and boasts a worldwide gross of over $230M. Upcoming Angel theatrical titles include AFTER DEATH (Oct 27, 2023), THE SHIFT (Dec 1, 2023), and CABRINI (March 8, 2024). Purdie is also a proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Zions Indie Film Festival.

In tis episode we explore alternative ways of distirbution with Benny Haesebrouck who is Head of Distirbution at MOOOV, the Belgian non-profit founded more than ten years ago. MOOOV's goal is to show a diverse world both on the big screen and beyond the cinema walls. Their mission to connect people through stories leads them to search all over the world for films and directors that combine artistic quality with relevant content - and bring them to Belgian audiences.   In a wide ranging conversation, we learn how MOOOV do a number of things differently to traditional distirbution. This includes the way they work with venues, how they develop audiences and their operation of a non-competitive model. When another Belgian film distributor is interested in a film, they aim to work together to ensure that films get as many opportunities as possible, opportunities they would otherwise not get. Since 2023, they have worked mianly with event-based releases and have started a single screening circuit: FOMOFILM - a model that means working very closely with cinemas to maximise the potential of that single event. 

What have Taylor Swift, BTS, the National Theatre and Peppa Pig all have in common? One thing, at least, is that they have all been brought to the big screen by the leading event cinema company, Trafalgar Releasing.  In this episode we speak with Trafalgar's SVP Programming and Content Acquisitions, Kymberli Frueh to discuss all aspects of the event cinema business - from how content is sourced to what makes a great cinema experience and the future of the theatrical business. From devleoping one night only and limited theatrical programs for event cinema in 2005, Kymberli's career spans two decades as a major contributor to acquiring and developing content and programming strategies for exhibition partners. She has been named one of the top 50 women in Global cinema by Celluloid Junkie three times, in 2018, 2022 and 2023. Kymberli first began her career in event cinema with U.S Based Fathom Events where she contributed significantly to the growth of Fathom and the various verticals that remain today. During her tenure, the event cinema company grew from $2M to $75M.  Before her exit, Kymberli managed the acquisitions team in focusing on several vertical offerings that remain today.  Kymberli joined Trafalgar Releasing in 2018 Career highlights include bringing live boxing back to cinemas with the Golden Boy/Mayweather franchise; exhibiting the first BTS event in cinemas globally (with such success that BTS now has recurring events with TR), and most recently working with major artists including The Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Metallica, Machine Gun Kelly, Billie Eilish and many more.

Mathieu Robinet is an award-winning film producer and distributor from France. In 2020 he created TANDEM, a film distribution company devoted to up-and-coming filmmakers and innovative marketing strategies. He was involved in the financing and theatrical distribution of over 100 films, working with directors such as Wim Wenders,  Ruben Ostlund, Kirill Serebrennikov and Park Chan Wook. In this episode we explore Mathieu's remarkable jounrey of setting up TANDEM during the pandemic, his commitment to theatrical distribution and strategies for bringing in younger audiences. In a wide ranging conversation, we also learn how TANDEM recently scored the most successful French horror film at the box office with VERMINES as well as why TikTok is a marketing gamechanger for the company. 

With over 1.9 billion users globally, TikTok is the entertainment juggernaut that is impossible to ignore. And in 2023, its users in the UK spent more time on average on the platform than any other video platform - including Netflix. But how can film marketing professionals effecfively leverage TikTok to engage audiences in our releases?   Nikolaj Mathies stands out as one of the few marketing professionals who have worked with a diverse array of film distributors across Europe and America to promote their films online. To date, he has contributed to well over 300 theatrical releases in more than 30 different countries. From the onset of his career, he has dedicated himself to developing innovative strategies for how theatrical films and their digital promotions can transform audiences from mere consumers to active participants and co-creators. In 2022, Nikolaj founded Vievo, a content and creator agency that aims to bridge the gap between traditional feature film trailers and the unprecedented volume of user-generated content that the industry is currently witnessing. He envisions a realm of opportunities for film producers—the world's best storytellers—to extend their narratives beyond the big screen and into the rapidly evolving domain of social media platforms, with a particular emphasis on entertainment-centric ones like TikTok. The era where the industry could simply condense a film into a trailer or a cut-down is over. In the fierce competition for consumer attention, it is essential to engage audiences with authentic and fan-centric content that doesn't necessarily originate from the feature film itself.

"As a distributor, I've learned that you have to be agile and ready to embrace change" Elba McAllister CEO and Co-Founder Cineplex Elba McAllister is the Co-founder of Cineplex, the Colombia-based Independent film distributor and other countries in Latin America since 1993. In this episode, Eliba discussed her distirbution jouney, the changing face of Colombian distirbution, international sales and how she found herself exec producing content for major streaming platforms. In her 30 years of the film distribution, Elba has succeeded in promoting over 500 titles in Colombia and Internationally in all media (theatrical, video & TV) from well-known directors such: Ang Lee, Asghar Farhadi, Wong Kar Wai, Susanne Bier, Ken Loach, Lars von trier, Katherine Bigelow, Aki Kaurismaki, Nadine Labaki among others. Elba represents Colombian productions for international sales and has Executive Produced content for SVOD Platforms (Netflix & Amazon). Cineplex content for Colombia is available in www.cineplex.com.co and international in www.cineplexusa.com

In 2023, outside of the phenomenon of 'Barbenheimer', one film and release stands out as truly remarkable: SOUND OF FREEDOM. The hard hitting thriller, starring Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino, currrently stands at a colossal box office of $184m in the US and Canada and over $220m globallly. In this episode, we meet one of the key architects of this success, Angel Studios' EVP Global Theatrical Distribution, Brandon Purdie. In this conversation, Brandon sheds light on Angel Studios' unique model for acquistions and approach to distirbution, including how the innovative 'Pay it Forward' model - so key to the film's success - actually works. In a wide renaging conversation, Brandon also shares his career journey from tearing tickets at his local theatre and his thoughts on the future of thetrical in 2024 and beyond. About Brandon Purdie Since childhood, Brandon Purdie has been obsessed with bringing inspiring films to captive audiences. After moving up from tearing tickets and sweeping floors at his local theater to managing a regional theater chain, Purdie immersed himself in box office numbers, concession margins, team management, and the cinematic experience. This blossomed into a career at the indie distributor Excel Entertainment, moving from Marketing Director to overseeing the marketing and release of dozens of projects a year in theaters and on DVD. Shortly after, he founded Purdie Distribution, advising filmmakers on how to make and sell their films. In 2023, Angel Studios enlisted Purdie to launch their theatrical division, and out of the gate Purdie and his team beat the odds. The first theatrical release, HIS ONLY SON, a film that was made for only $250,000 grossed over $12M in domestic box office. This was followed by the global blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM (Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino) that grossed over $183M domestically since its July 4 release, and continues to launch in new markets internationally and boasts a worldwide gross of over $230M. Upcoming Angel theatrical titles include AFTER DEATH (Oct 27, 2023), THE SHIFT (Dec 1, 2023), and CABRINI (March 8, 2024). Purdie is also a proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Zions Indie Film Festival.

In an increasingly competitive and congested distribution marketplace, better and more informed decision making upstream is increasingly essential. However, formulaic and algorithmically influenced content continues to enter the system, often leaving audiences cold. Is there a better way? How can we support intuitive creativity with robust data analytics, audience insights and distribution intelligence? What are the tools, resources and information that can underpin more effective commissioning or investment decisions? Where are the information blindspots and how can filmmakers formulate a more robust investment opportunity? How can we create more inclusiveness in the greenlight process? These are some of the questions explored with 3 leaders in their field across film, data and technology featuring legendary producer Ted Hope, Co Founder and Co-CEO of Film Chain, Irina Albita and Anjali Midha, Founder and CEO of Diesel Labs.  Ted Hope has been a producer on over 70 films, studio executive on over 60, CEO of a start-up streamer, co-head of 3 production companies, executive director of a film society & festival, a Professor Of Practice at 2 universities, and founder of a post-production facility, 2 websites, 2 think tanks, & an app. Ted launched Amazon's foray into feature film production, leading them to 19 Oscar nominations and 5 wins. As a producer, his films have received 25 Oscar nominations, with 6 wins. Ted's memoir and newsletter Hope For Film, are both must reads. Ted helped launch the feature film careers of Ang Lee, Nicole Holofcener, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry and many others. His most recent films include the first narrative from Oscar-winning documentary director, Roger Ross Williams, Cassandro, as well as the documentary Invisible Nation on Taiwan, directed and produced by Vanessa Hope. Irina Albita is a technologist with over 12 years experience in the London/NYC tech scene, with a mathematics-economics background. Her passion is exploring how emerging tech radically transforms creative industries, and she is a prominent figure at film & tech events worldwide. She co-founded FilmChain alongside Maria Tanjala. The platform is transforming how producers, financiers, and sales agents get paid. With a digital collection account management (CAM) for indie films and a royalties management solution for content distributors, FilmChain brings transparency to payments and modernises royalties. Former EFM Startups 2018, they have won awards such as ‘Startup of the Year' London Business Awards 2020, Startup Challenge at San Sebastian Film Festival 2020, Makers and Shakers 2020, and Unchain Fintech Festival 2022, to name a few. Anjali Midha is an entrepreneur with a passion for driving innovation in media and marketing analytics. She is the co-founder & CEO of Diesel Labs, a content analytics company that addresses the toughest questions facing media companies today. Before starting Diesel Labs, she was the Global Director of Media Research at Twitter where she developed the ‘playbook' for television - illuminating the synergies and opportunities across traditional and new media. She joined Twitter via their acquisition of Bluefin Labs (the pioneer of Social TV Analytics), prior to which she was the VP of Strategy & Analytics at Digitas. Anjali holds a BA in Economics from Tufts University and an MBA from MIT Sloan This session is part of the Reimagining the Ecosystem Series presented by usheru and Screenovators: a series of talks featuring industry pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders exploring whether it is time to reimagine the film ecosystem?

Enrique Costa  is CEO of the Spanish production and distribution company Elastica Films, which he co founded In 2021 together with María Zamora. In a little over 2 years the company has built a reputation for dynamic markeing and savvy acquisitons, releasing the last 2 Palm D'or Winners “Triangle of Sadness” and “Anatomy of a Fall” as well as prestige titles such as “Drive my Car,” “The Worst Person in the World”, “Aftersun” and more. In this conversation, Enrique talks about the jounrey of establishing Elastica, his principles on marketing (and poster design), acquistion strategies and techniques for attracting younger audiences to arthouse films Enrique holds a degree in Economics from the European University of Madrid and a Master Degree in Audiovisual Production and Distribution from the Media Business School. In June 2021 he founded the production and distribution company ELASTICA FILMS together with María Zamora. Among the films released are two last Palm D'or “Triangle of Sadness” and “Anatomy of a Fall”, “Drive my Car,” winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, “The Worst Person in the World”, “Aftersun”, “Annette”, “Petite Maman” and “Alcarràs”, Golden Bear at Berlinale 2022. During the next months, the following releases are “The Zone of Interest”, “Past Lives”, or “La Chimera”. Elastica is committed itself to auteur and independent cinema, maintaining its faithful engagement to films of great cinematographic quality and supporting new female directors. With a strong vocation for the film industry, Elastica's philosophy is to produce and distribute films that the company itself would enjoy as an audience. Enrique was recently awared the Distirbution Innovation award at the International Disstribution Summit 2023.

Where do film festivals stand in a transformed and often fragmented film landscape? What is the underlying value that they can provide and how can we measure and capture that value? In a film ecosystem that often feels siloed, how can festivals become more robust and connected to other parts of the value chain, particularly with distribution? Is there an argument for festivals to work across the year to deliver that value and are there innovative business models or funding venues that can help sustain this activity? These are some of the topics that our expert panel discussed in this discussion as part of the Screenovators Reimagining the Ecosystem series. Screenovators is the free online community dedicated to innovation in the screen industries. Discover more and sign up today here: https://screenovators.com/ Speakers: Marcin Pieńkowski Director New Horizons Film Festival. Festival director (since 2021) and former artistic director (2016-2021) of the New Horizons International Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland. Head of distribution of New Horizons Association. Co-founder of New Horizons VOD platform devoted to arthouse cinema. He is a lecturer, film historian, editor and co-author of several books about films. Member of European Film Academy. Sarah Mosses Sarah is the Founder & CEO of Together Films, a marketing, distribution, and technology company serving the international film community from our offices in London & NYC. She has acted as the Head of Marketing for leading Film Festivals including Sheffield DocFest (Sheffield, UK), DOC NYC (NYC, US), Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London, UK & NYC, US), and the Athena Film Festival (NYC, US). She is passionate about serving filmmakers to increase their social impact, reach, and revenue for multi-award-winning titles like For Sama, Unrest, The Tale & Roll Red Roll. She also helps a variety of industry and brand clients to optimize their business performance through technology and operational support, such as Sony & Patagonia. Sarah recently graduated from the prestigious Inside Pictures film leadership course and was selected for the Mayor of London's International Growth Programme (including trade visits to NYC & LA). Together Films are expanding into international sales in Brian Newman Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), GoDaddy John Deere, Oatly, Patagonia, Publicis Sapient, Purina, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Tazo, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers. Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, produces independent films, and writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.

In this episode we welcome to the show Matt Rotondo, Head of Brand Division at Sugar23. Matt reveals how Sugar23 are shaking up the entertainment space through an innovative co-creation process with brands from the earliest deevelopment stages. With extensive experience in advertising and brand partnerships, Matt shares insights into how he is helping brands to strategically leverage entertainment to impact business positively - and create exciting new projects. Traversing the development of projects like scripted comedies, and the distribution process, the converstion delves into the power of brand partnerships, with Matt sharing success stories of brands like Mattel and Dove transitioning their products into cultural phenomena. The episode concludes with a discussion on how brand activations, film festivals, and theatrical releases can foster deep connections with audiences. Tune in to learn how brands can systematically engage with their consumers through theatrical and streaming releases.    About Matt Rotondo  Matthew Rotondo began his marketing career at Wieden+Kennedy, an independent, fiercely creative advertising agency where he contributed meaningfully to some of Nike and Microsoft's greatest work. Matt then worked globally for some of the top marketing networks – McCann and BBDO - living in NY, Hong Kong and LA. In LA he pivoted towards entertainment, in a marketing leadership position at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), building creative campaigns for corporate brands from within the entertainment industry. Matt helped his corporate clients find and develop opportunities to connect with consumers unlike any other marketing agency, identifying global opportunities for Budweiser, Burberry, Diageo, Harley-Davidson, QVC, Ralph Lauren, Unilever, Virgin and many more. At CAA Matt became a leading source of corporate revenue, delivering $40M+ in retainer earnings during the 10 years of his tenure. Substantially more was earned through his ability to parlay marketing relationships into talent and creator client opportunities. In 2019 Matt executive produced an IMAX documentary titled Superpower Dogs, securing $4M from Mars Petcare. This project pioneered new forms of sponsorship value from edutainment projects. The film continues to run in the global network of museums and science centers. Today Matt leads the branding division of Range Media Partners, responsible for developing the business model for this nascent group. Out of the gate Matt secured representation for Waffle Iron Entertainment, Nike's entertainment production division. Further, Matt is leading talent business deals for several of Range's largest clients, driving business models, branding and partnerships. He's lived in Nashville, TN since 2014.

In this podcast episode, Sarah Mosses, the founder and CEO of Together Films, shares her unique perspective on film marketing and distribution. Sarah discusses her Impact based approach to film distribution, using films as a tool for community mobilization, citing her strategy of rallying passionate individuals, partnering with NGOs and influential platforms to create impactful releases.  Sarah also discusses the evolution and growth of Together Films and how they managed to grow during the Pandemic as well as highlighting how efficient systems enable them to operate on a large scale with a small team.  Sarah also shares highly valuable and practical advice on implementing a well-managed project management system and customer relationship management (CRM) into film base operations. Tis episode is packed full of insights and tips for  This episode is dedicated to Sarah's mentor Jess Search who very sadly passed away recently. Jess was the Founder of Doc Society, an industry leader and inspiration to many and she will be sorely missed.  Sarah Mosses is the Founder & CEO of Together Films, a marketing, distribution, and technology company serving the international film community from our offices in London & NYC. She has acted as the Head of Marketing for leading Film Festivals including Sheffield DocFest (Sheffield, UK), DOC NYC (NYC, US), Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London, UK & NYC, US), and the Athena Film Festival (NYC, US). She is passionate about serving filmmakers to increase their social impact, reach, and revenue for multi-award-winning titles like For Sama, Unrest, The Tale & Roll Red Roll. She also helps a variety of industry and brand clients to optimize their business performance through technology and operational support, such as Sony & Patagonia. Sarah recently graduated from the prestigious Inside Pictures film leadership course and was selected for the Mayor of London's International Growth Programme (including trade visits to NYC & LA). Together Films are expanding into international sales in 2023.

"Marketing is about breaking through to audiences ... but also inspiring enthusiasm so that everyone else also finds out about your content, because marketing dollars can really only go so far." Anjali Midha co-founder and CEO of Diesel Labs. Anjali Midha, an entrepreneur with a passion for driving innovation in media and marketing analytics. She is the co-founder & CEO of Diesel Labs, a content analytics company that addresses the toughest questions facing media companies today. Before starting Diesel Labs, she was the Global Director of Media Research at Twitter where she developed the ‘playbook' for television - illuminating the synergies and opportunities across traditional and new media. She joined Twitter via their acquisition of Bluefin Labs (the pioneer of Social TV Analytics), prior to which she was the VP of Strategy & Analytics at Digitas. Anjali holds a BA in Economics from Tufts University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

"For FastX, we wanted to do something different... we created an unforgettable experience that brought people to the cinema and brought audiences to the brands. It's giving value to everyone in the whole system." Tega Williams Tega Williams Uwagho is Marketing Manager for Silverbird Film Distribution (SFD). Based in Lagos, Nigeria, SFD holds the exclusive rights to distribute Universal and Paramount Pictures titles in West Africa.  Tega has over eight years working experience in Marketing, Public relation and Event activation earned Diploma in Digital marketing from Team7Project academy Lagos. Project Management professionals (PMP) a graduate of statistics and Business administration from the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Auchi,  Edo State. Tega Williams is  passionate about Marketing, public relations and brand activation and in this episode discusses the startegies that are provinf successful for launching films in the West African market including the launch of FAST X that brought together multiple brands and experiential elements. Tega also discusses the challeneges and opportunities of releasing films in a growing market including multiple languages, the local cinema infrastructure as well as the differences between Hollywood and Nollywood.

In this episode, Thaddeus Bouchard, president of Screendollars, discusses the evolution of movie theatre advertising and how the industry is navigating the current movie consuming landscape. Providing a compelling overview of the industry's dramatic last few years - and an insightful analysis of its current status, Thaddeus identifies the challenges and opportunities facing today's movie theaters highlights the crucial role of marketing in exhibition. Drawing from his experience working with theatres across across North America as well as a rich family history in the industry, Thadddeus also outlines how cinemas can enhance the customer experience and attract new audiences through innovative film promotion and, crucially, community engagement. About Thaddeus Bouchard Thaddeus Bouchard is the Founder and President of Screendollars, a leading publisher of information and insights about movies and the movie industry. Each week, over 200,000 film industry professionals, enjoy the Screendollars Newsletter, with comprehensive details on upcoming movie releases, a run- down of the latest box office results and a a discussion of the key trends shaping the movie industry. Screendollars partners with distributors to optimize the box office of their movies and with exhibitors to tap into new revenue streams through in-theatre advertising programs. Prior to Screendollars, Bouchard held senior technical and marketing roles at a series of technology providers including AT&T, IBM, Lotus Development, Omtool and NetValu. He made a variety of contributions in these roles, from managing teams of software developers, executive-level sales and product evangelism through extensive public speaking engagements.

Eduardo Escudero the founding partner and business manager of A Contracorriente Films, a Spanish leading independent distribution and production company, which manages also 4 cinemas in Madrid and Barcelona and its own SVOD platform Acontra+. A Contracorriente Films also has 2 x Cinema FAST channels. Eduardo graduated from the University of Barcelona with a degree in Law and an MBA in Audiovisual Business Management from Ramon Llull University. From 1998 to 2000, he was Responsible for Business Affairs at Filmax. From 2001 to 2004, he worked at DeAPlaneta, first as Head of Business affairs and then as Head of TV Sales. He was Partner of Notro Films from 2004 to 2007, and from 2008 to 2009 he was named Deputy Director of Vértice Cine and General Manager of Notro Films. Since 2014, Eduardo has been on the board of Europa Distribution.

Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema, a social cinema platform building a world-wide network of screening hosts, filmmakers, and filmgoers. Under her helm, the company raised a $2M seed round led by Kindred Ventures and is actively expanding access to engaging film and effectively eliminating theater deserts. Prior to launching Kinema, Marchese founded a consulting practice that turned into the leading impact agency Picture Motion, and served as CEO for 9 years generating over $10M in revenue and boasting a client roster that included award-winning filmmakers, major studios & streamers, brands and foundations. There she led a team of impact producers, marketing strategists and communication specialists in over 100+ list of campaigns cross a range of issue areas and mediums, including Leonardo DiCaprio's Before the Flood, Ava DuVernay's 13TH, Michael Moore's Where to Invade Next, Katie Couric's films Gender Revolution, Fed Up and Under the Gun, Shonda Rhimes and Norman Lear's series America Divided, Dick's Sporting Goods' Keepers of the Game, Discovery's Racing Extinction, The Weinstein Co's BULLY and Fruitvale Station, and renown artist JR's Ellis.  She was previously the Director of Social Action at Righteous Pictures, and led Digital Strategy for the Social Action team at Participant Media, managing initiatives for Waiting for “Superman”, Food Inc, and The Cove among others.  Christie is known as an expert in utilizing film and storytelling to mobilize change, and has presented her work at film festivals and conferences around the world, including Sundance, SXSW and TIFF, and for both governments and activists in Dubai, Peru and Pakistan. Before moving to a career in impact film, Marchese ran digital strategy for Norman Lear's nonprofit, Declare Yourself, and spent time at Human Rights Watch and the International Rescue Committee. She has also served as a contributing writer for Mashable and The Huffington Post.  Previously recognized as one of Business Insider's 30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30 and Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. She currently sits on the board of Reinvent Stockton, a foundation dedicated dedicated to supporting students in their pursuit of higher education and supporting innovative ways to address poverty and violent crime, as well as Subject Matter, which provides funds & resources to documentary films highlighting urgent social issues and to nonprofits tackling the featured topics. Marchese holds a BA from SDSU, in both International Security and Conflict Resolution (ISCOR) and Comparative Religions, with a concentration in Arabic and the Middle East.    

In this episode, Noortje van der Sande, founder of the pioneering virtual cinema platform Picl.nl, discusses the innovative ways in which movie marketing and distribution are being transformed. Noortje shares insights into the development of Picl, which allows cinemas to offer films online simultaneously with their theatrical releases. Noortje delves into the concept of the "hybrid consumer" and reveals research that the same people often watch movies both online and in cinemas, making virtual cinema a valuable tool for fostering loyalty among customers. We also explore how offering an online component to in-cinema can enhance the consumer experience and foster a stronger connection to the cinema. About Noortje van der Sande: After a 20+ year career in the film industry Noortje van de Sande is co-owner of film marketing agency Herrie Film & TV. Together with Anke van Diejen, she currently forms the management of virtual cinema platform Picl in The Netherlands and Belgium. She is momentarily conducting research into the new hybrid film consumer and the Creative Europe financed research into the future of Virtual Cinema in Europe under the title REACHM. Together with Babette Wijntjes and Anke van Diejen she is also owner of distribution company Vedette Film.    

In this episode, Algirdas Ramaška, CEO of the Vilnius Film Festival and Kino Pavasaris Distribution, discusses the festival's incredible journey, including overcoming COVID-19 shutdowns, adapting with innovative approaches, and maintaining a deep connection to their audience. Algirdas shares how the Vilnius Film Festival has survived and thrived by adapting to unique circumstances, such as hosting film screenings in hotel rooms and setting up drive-in cinemas at an airport. The conversation also covers the importance of creativity in creating a successful film festival experience, connecting film festival screenings and distribution, and the need for generational change in the film industry. Listen to this episode for an inspiring conversation on overcoming challenges, embracing innovation, and fostering a deep connection with audiences in the world of film festivals and distribution. Algirdas Ramaska is the CEO of “KINO PAVASARIS” organization, that focus on cinematic, cultural, educational events in Lithuania. The most important is Vilnius International Film Festival ‘Kino Pavasaris' – the largest cinema and cultural event in Lithuania. He is also the head of distribution company “KINO PAVASARIS DISTRIBUTION”. Algirdas has over 20 years of international experience working in the film sector, with a skillset that covers business management, cultural event organization, film distribution, communication, marketing and sponsorship.

Tilane Jones is the President of ARRAY, the multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change founded by filmmaker Ava DuVernay in 2011. Jones leads ARRAY Alliance, the non-profit group, as well as programming and production hub ARRAY Creative Campus. She continues to oversee ARRAY Releasing, the company's film distribution arm, where she is responsible for the acquisition, booking and marketing of more than 40 independent feature films. Jones was recently honored with the Slamdance Founders Award, the film festival's highest accolade. She is the fifth recipient and first woman and person of color to receive the award which is bestowed on an individual that supports the filmmaker community of Slamdance throughout their career. Jones is also a member of the executive branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and honored to be on the advisory board of Illuminative and the 2022 Gold Open Advisory Council.

Mandy Kean is Founder + CEO of Mustard Studio Pioneer of cinema's wow factor, Founder & CEO Mandy Kean, knows about personalised experiences. Previously International Director of Cinema for Soho House & Co, including the world-renowned Electric Cinema brand, Mandy is well versed in the value of elevated hospitality and cinema. Her approach and vision were echoed in her international operations from Berlin to Hong Kong ensuring complete consistency from brand to delivery. As a creative producer of sensory and visual events, she is also the Immersive Cinema Director for Dirty Soup, trailblazers in creating content that will shape the course of sonic experiences to come. Mandy's fundamental understanding of cinema is unique. Her ambition to create experiential events fusing music, film and food and her attention to detail has resulted in unique and memorable experiences in the cinemascape. Kate Gerova is Founder + Creative Director of Mustard Studio and comes from an exhibition and distribution background, most recently as Group Director of Brand and Marketing for boutique cinema circuit Curzon Cinemas. Whilst there, she blended strategy, numbers and customer-centric campaigns to increase membership, spearhead the brand identity and combine the vision for cinemas and the Home Cinema platform. Previously creative director of the Bird's Eye View film festival, Kate launched Filmonomics, a training development programme for female filmmakers.  She has recently completed a 10-month programme in UX and UI strategy and design to enhance her understanding of customer behaviour and implement better experiences. Find our more about Mandy and kate's work here: https://www.mustardstudio.co.uk/

Emma Jamieson is a freelancer marketing and social media consultant specialising in film, creative arts and hospitality. Emma has been a marketeer for over 12 years, working across both hospitality and tourism, luxury brands and entertainments sectors for PR agency PRCo, PPHE Hotel Group, Merlin Entertainments amongst others. Since 2020 Emma has pivoted to film - as a self-confessed lifelong movie-nerd, bringing her knowledge, experience and fresh ideas to the industry and starting her own freelance consultancy full-time in 2022. She is Head of Marketing for the UK-wide French Film Festival and for the past year she has worked with Cinetopia growing their social media presence and brand awareness. Cinetopia is a Scotland-based film hub and production company, providing events and spaces where people can be inspired and engaged in film and filmmaking through public-facing film screenings and festivals, workshops, masterclasses and networking events. An early adopter of digital, starting her first blog on Livejournal back in '99, Emma has applied digital marketing and social media skills to bring brands up to speed and help them embrace new technologies in each of her roles. With her consultancy, she now hopes to help smaller film projects and film-related businesses get the marketing support and training they need to promote their work and generate audiences On the side, Emma runs Dolly Shots, an Etsy store selling illustrated, movie-themed greeting cards and prints. You can find Emmma Emma at www.emmajmarketing.com and @emmajmarketing on social media.

John Donnelly has 32 years of experience in the cinema industry. He launched the first UCI Cinemas multiplexes in Ireland in the 1990s before moving to Poland to establish multiplexes under the Multikino brand as Managing Director. In 2004, he became Managing Director of UCI Kinowelt in Germany heading up the turnaround of the company's operations in Germany. Following the acquisition of UCI/Odeon by Terra Firma, John moved to Spain as Operations Director for the group responsible for the expansion of the company in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Austria, and Germany, opening and acquiring 54 cinemas. In 2014, he was promoted to Strategic Programmes Director for Odeon and was part of the executive team that completed the sale of the Odeon Group to AMC. John joined Dolby Laboratories in 2018 as Business development of EMEA and was also on the board of Usheru, a company specializing in movie marketing. Currently, John is Group General manager for Light House Group, an independent chain of cinemas in Ireland. He is also on the board of governors for Rathdown school and is involved in music having just released an album with his band Dark Isle.

Nikki Stier Justice is an independent producer and seasoned entertainment executive with a background in film production and distribution. In 2014, she moved to start-up production company Good Deed Entertainment (GDE), where she helped grow the company into a multi-million dollar studio. As Chief Operating Officer she oversaw development, financing, production, distribution, corporate branding and marketing on a slate of 7-10 releases a year. As Head of Distribution for Buffalo 8, Justice helps to champion diverse voices and support the independent filmmaking community. Justice also teaches at UConn in the Digital Media & Design Department.

Michael Matrenza is a senior marketer with over fourteen years of experience working in distribution in Australia. Having previously worked at Roadshow Films and on Melbourne International Film Festival, Michael has worked in the marketing team at Madman Entertainment since 2011, currently heading up marketing for the business across theatrical, home entertainment and streaming platform DocPlay. With a passion for collaborating with local filmmaking teams to define audience strategies and finding local audience for international cinema, some of Michael's favourite campaigns include High Ground, Nitram, Parasite, Ali's Wedding, That Sugar Film, The Death of Stalin, Searching for Sugar Man and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

Patrick O'Neill is Founder and Managing Director of Wildcard, Ireland's leading film distributor working across Theatrical, Video on Demand, and TV in Ireland and the UK. Wildcard projects include The Young Offenders, Bobby Sands: 66 Days, Cardboard Gangsters, Black 47, The Hole in the Ground, Wolfwalkers, and Deadly Cuts. Wildcard regularly manage Irish distribution campaigns on behalf of UK Distributors and Platforms, with clients including Amazon, Altitude, Apple, Netflix, and Vertigo. Patrick's Executive Producer film credits include The Hole in the Ground, Black 47, Extra Ordinary, Redemption of a Rogue, and KATIE, and he is Co-Producer on Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan. Patrick sits on the Board of the Irish Film Institute and the Cork Film Festival, is a member of the WRAP Fund Investment Committee, and the Arts Council Peer Panel. Patrick has over 20 years experience in the film industry across a variety of roles, including seven years as an Executive at Screen Ireland and positions in International sales and film production. Qualifications include an MA in Audio-Visual Management, MSC in Cyberpsychology, and a BA in Business Studies.

Dorothee Pfistner spearheads acquisitions, TV sales as well as distribution strategies at Neue Visionen Filmverleih since 2014, a leading independent Berlin based film distributor, after several years at France's production and sales outfit MK2.   Neue Visionen was founded in 1997 by Torsten Frehse and Wulf Sörgel and has been under the joint management of Torsten Frehse and Sylvia Müller since 2017. We bring an average of 14 first showings to the big screen every year. Neue Visionen emerges from a collective cinema enterprise. The first film releases by Neue Vision after it was founded in 1997 included a revival of the surrealist film "Black Moon“ by Louis Malle, the Austrian film "Suzie Washington“ and "Express, Express“ by Igor Šterk.  

For seven years Nicholas Camacho has been director of marketing for the boutique distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories and has worked on theatrical, VOD, and home video releases for dozens of acclaimed and cult favorite films including Embrace of the Serpent, Kedi, The Love Witch, Buzzard, and Saint Frances. His branding and film marketing efforts aim to position Oscilloscope as an outspoken champion of the underdog, both cinematically and culturally. 

Roxanne Avent Taylor is emerging as one of Hollywood's most prolific and successful independent producers as well as the driving force behind several social justice and youth advocacy initiatives. As co-founder of Hidden Empire Film Group with husband director Deon Taylor, Ms. Taylor has developed, packaged and produced an impressive slate of films. Her most recent, Lionsgate's “Fatale,” stars two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank and Golden Globe® nominee Michael Ealy is currently a box office leader while simultaneously steaming up PVOD streaming platforms. Additional theatrically releases include Sony Pictures' “Black and Blue” starring Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris, NAACP Image Award® winner Tyrese Gibson, and Frank Grillo; Sony Pictures' “The Intruder” with Golden Globe nominee Dennis Quaid, Ealy, and NAACP Image Award nominee Meagan Good; NAACP Image Award nominated “Traffick” starring NAACP Image Award nominee Paula Patton, SAG Award® nominee Missi Pyle, and NAACP Image Award winners Omar Epps and Laz Alonso; “Meet the Blacks” starring NAACP Image Award winner Mike Epps and ALMA Award® winner George Lopez, and “Supremacy” starring two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali, Spirit Award® winner Derek Luke, and SAG Award nominee Julie Benz. Ms. Taylor's upcoming films include “Grave Hill,” a remake of the Vietnamese horror-thriller film “The Housemaid,” adapted by Oscar® winner Geoffrey Fletcher (“Precious”) and Derek Nguyen; “The House Next Door” starring ALMA Award nominee Danny Trejo, Emmy Award® winner Kat Williams, and Mike Epps; and “Don't Fear”. Along with Robert F. Smith and Deon Taylor, Ms. Taylor co-produced the digital series Be Woke. Vote, a social media philanthropic initiative to engage young people in political issues impacting our communities. The bipartisan series was hosted by CNN political contributor Van Jones, TV journalist Roland Martin, and GRAMMY Award® winning singer/songwriter Tameka ‘Tiny' Harris and features interviews with Kim Kardashian West, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, Chelsea Handler, GRAMMY winner will.i.am, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters among other high- profile newsmakers. Be Woke. Vote won two Webby Awards in 2020. In 2019, along with Mr. Taylor, she launched C.L.I.M.B., a non-profit which connects disadvantaged youth with resources and support. Additionally, the Taylors have partnered with organizations like Baron Jay Foundation to provide opportunities for at-risk youth to gain on-set experience. Ms. Taylor received that organization's prestigious Trailblazer's Award in 2019 the same year Hidden Empire Film Group was recognized with the “Humanitarian of the Year Award” by the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) The year prior, Ms. Taylor was honored with the Women in NAACP Leadership Award. When not on location, she lives in Northern California with her family.

Niels Alberg is CEO and co-founder of PUBLIKUM.io. For the past 20 years, Niels has worked in applied research, strategy and creative business development. Niels specializes in designing innovative research methods for a large number of clients in projects that combine human insight and business strategy with the goal of developing new, creative connections between companies, organisations and people. Niels holds a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Copenhagen.

DiNapoli serves as President of Marketing for Bleecker Street where he oversees media, research and brand strategy for the NYC based film studio. He has been with the company since its inception and worked on 50+ Bleecker Street films including: THE ASSISTANT, LOGAN LUCKY, HOTEL MUMBAI, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (Academy Award Nominated), DISOBEDIENCE, TRUMBO (Academy Award Nominated), LEAVE NO TRACE and most recently, MR MALCOLM'S LIST.  Prior to Bleecker Street, Tyler was Vice President of Advertising & Field Marketing at Focus Features and oversaw teams who conceptualized, created, and executed on the positioning and promotion of Focus films across all verticals. Titles range from commercial to specialty releases such as ATONEMENT, CORALINE, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, MILK, MOONRISE KINGDOM, THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES and THE WORLD'S END. A veteran entertainment executive, Tyler had previously held senior marketing posts within the exhibitor space (Bow Tie Cinemas), agency world (Terry Hines & Associates) and toward domestic and international marketing at Miramax Films.  DiNapoli is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, with a Bachelor of Arts.  He also has the distinction of being a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS), the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Film Independent (FIND)

Bill Guentzler joined Gravitas Ventures as Senior Director of Acquisitions in 2021. After spending a summer studying in Berlin in 1998, Bill joined the Cleveland International Film Festival as an intern and grew with the organization, ultimately being named Artistic Director in 2005, a position he held for 15 years. During his time at CIFF, he was part of the team making the festival one of the largest and most well-respected film festivals in the US and one of the first in the world to transition to an online format in 2020. In his brief hiatus from the film industry, he worked for Medworks, a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization linking people who are uninsured and underinsured with vital healthcare services. He holds a BA in Communications from Cleveland State University, which named him one of its inaugural 50 Fascinating Alumni. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Cleveland Social Venture Partners.