Who are the new US indie distributors?
By Jeremy Kay | Screen Daily
Stiff headwinds in the US theatrical marketplace have not stopped a host of fresh distribution companies from springing up, looking to take advantage of new ways to reach audiences.
The most prolific American buyer at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival was scarcely known in Hollywood when it touched down in Canada in early September. Theatrical distributor Row K, named after the prime seating location inside cinemas, announced itself on the eve of the festival, and went on to snap up four films, including Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire.
Around the same time, Teddy Schwarzman’s Black Bear confirmed the first release of its new US distribution venture would be its own Toronto selection Christy starring Sydney Sweeney. A couple of weeks later, fledgling arthouse buyer 1-2 Special acquired North American rights to Erupcja, Pete Ohs’ Toronto premiere starring Charli xcx.
These companies are among a cohort of new and mostly independent US theatrical distributors to emerge in the past year or two that will be watched closely at the Berlinale and European Film Market. The space has been crying out for a shot in the arm, beset by secular box-office decline exacerbated during the pandemic and mired in a cycle of industry cost-cutting and streamer domination. Heading into the first major international festival and market of the calendar, the hope among filmmakers and exhibitors is that these new entities will play their part, alongside established peers, in revitalising a challenged sector and boosting the supply line to cinemas that have remained on edge since Covid.
Alongside Row K and Black Bear, well-capitalised companies taking the plunge into distribution include David Glasser’s production company 101 Studios, which is expected to unveil the first titles this year on an annual slate of six to eight theatrical releases budgeted in the $5m-$50m budget range. Glasser has pacted with Glen Basner’s FilmNation as 101’s international sales partner.
Besides 1-2 Special, rising arthouse and specialty buyers include Willa, Watermelon Pictures, genre outfit Chroma and the auteur-driven multi-platform Subtext. Eyes will also be on two players from the studio space: a revitalised Paramount global acquisitions group led by Lia Buman, and a new specialty division at Warner Bros of all places, led by former Neon marketing head Christian Parkes, which will target two to three releases a year aimed at the Gen Z crowd and is so new it still does not have a name.