Executive turnover dialed up the palace intrigue in the Magic Kingdom this week.
Walt Disney Studios announced on Monday that 15-year veteran Sean Bailey would step down as president of its motion picture production group – a job in which he oversaw splashy live-action remakes of beloved animated properties. In his place, Searchlight Pictures co-head David Greenbaum was elevated and will report directly to top film boss Alan Bergman.
A creative shuffle amongst senior Disney film executives was always going to happen, many industry insiders who spoke with Variety said. As Disney CEO Bob Iger continues to aggressively cut costs amid a nasty proxy battle with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz – and the company’s movies suffer from an uncharacteristic box office slump and creative torpor – many saw a move like Bailey’s as inevitable.
“Disney film needs a shot in the arm, clearly,” said one top agent speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Walt Disney Studios announced on Monday that 15-year veteran Sean Bailey would step down as president of its motion picture production group – a job in which he oversaw splashy live-action remakes of beloved animated properties. In his place, Searchlight Pictures co-head David Greenbaum was elevated and will report directly to top film boss Alan Bergman.
A creative shuffle amongst senior Disney film executives was always going to happen, many industry insiders who spoke with Variety said. As Disney CEO Bob Iger continues to aggressively cut costs amid a nasty proxy battle with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz – and the company’s movies suffer from an uncharacteristic box office slump and creative torpor – many saw a move like Bailey’s as inevitable.
“Disney film needs a shot in the arm, clearly,” said one top agent speaking on the condition of anonymity.
- 2/28/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Sean Bailey, the producer turned executive who has overseen Walt Disney Studios’ live-action division for almost 15 years, is exiting the studio.
In his place, David Greenbaum, who ran Searchlight Pictures with Matthew Greenfield, will take over in a newly created role of president, Disney live action and 20th Century Studios. Greenbaum will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman.
Steve Asbell continues to oversee 20th Century Studios as president while Greenfield takes sole oversight of Searchlight as president.
Per the studio’s announcement Monday, in this new role Greenbaum will lead “a combined studio group that will be home to both iconic film brands, producing a robust collection of original and legacy projects unique to each for theatrical and streaming, while increasing collaboration across the production slate.”
The move is a jump for Greenbaum, who has demonstrated a strong record in the prestige filmmaking space, along with his partner Greenfield.
In his place, David Greenbaum, who ran Searchlight Pictures with Matthew Greenfield, will take over in a newly created role of president, Disney live action and 20th Century Studios. Greenbaum will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman.
Steve Asbell continues to oversee 20th Century Studios as president while Greenfield takes sole oversight of Searchlight as president.
Per the studio’s announcement Monday, in this new role Greenbaum will lead “a combined studio group that will be home to both iconic film brands, producing a robust collection of original and legacy projects unique to each for theatrical and streaming, while increasing collaboration across the production slate.”
The move is a jump for Greenbaum, who has demonstrated a strong record in the prestige filmmaking space, along with his partner Greenfield.
- 2/26/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Effective immediately, Walt Disney’s President of Motion Picture Studios Sean Bailey, who turned the company’s animation vault into a multibillion-dollar live-action movie business, is departing after 15 years on the lot. Searchlight co-president David Greenbaum will take on a newly created role. He’ll be president of Disney Live action and president of 20th Century Studios.
Greenbaum’s new title will be President, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. He’ll report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. Steve Asbell will continue to serve as President, 20th Century Studios, a role he’s had since March 2020. He will report to Greenbaum.
This splits up the Searchlight Pictures executive team of Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, two of the most highly regarded execs in the prestige film space who right now have Poor Things squarely in the Best Picture race and other Oscar categories. That duo succeeded longtime leaders Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley,...
Greenbaum’s new title will be President, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. He’ll report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. Steve Asbell will continue to serve as President, 20th Century Studios, a role he’s had since March 2020. He will report to Greenbaum.
This splits up the Searchlight Pictures executive team of Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, two of the most highly regarded execs in the prestige film space who right now have Poor Things squarely in the Best Picture race and other Oscar categories. That duo succeeded longtime leaders Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Searchlight Pictures’ vice president of national publicity Diana Loomis is leaving the studio after nearly two decades as head of its East Coast office.
Loomis will depart at the end of the summer after completing work on “Flamin’ Hot,” “Theater Camp” and “Poor Things” to launch a consulting operation specializing in theatrical and streaming releases, and awards campaigns for motion picture and streaming companies.
“I’ve had some amazing years at Searchlight with incredible, unique films — truly innovative filmmakers gravitate to this place,” Loomis said in statement on Wednesday. “I’m grateful to Nancy Utley, Steve Gilula, David Greenbaum, Matthew Greenfield, Michelle Hooper, Rebecca Kearey and, of course, our New York and Los Angeles publicity teams and looking forward to new experiences in the industry with new and old friends and colleagues.”
Loomis began her tenure at the studio — known then as Fox Searchlight Pictures — in 2006 with the release of “Little Miss Sunshine.
Loomis will depart at the end of the summer after completing work on “Flamin’ Hot,” “Theater Camp” and “Poor Things” to launch a consulting operation specializing in theatrical and streaming releases, and awards campaigns for motion picture and streaming companies.
“I’ve had some amazing years at Searchlight with incredible, unique films — truly innovative filmmakers gravitate to this place,” Loomis said in statement on Wednesday. “I’m grateful to Nancy Utley, Steve Gilula, David Greenbaum, Matthew Greenfield, Michelle Hooper, Rebecca Kearey and, of course, our New York and Los Angeles publicity teams and looking forward to new experiences in the industry with new and old friends and colleagues.”
Loomis began her tenure at the studio — known then as Fox Searchlight Pictures — in 2006 with the release of “Little Miss Sunshine.
- 7/12/2023
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
I felt ill when the news broke May 11 that my go-to cinema, Landmark Theatres’ flagship Westside location on Pico Boulevard, was shutting down at the end of the month. I have been going to this complex religiously — call it my house of movie worship — ever since its founding 15 years ago. For at least the past decade, my partner and I would have date night there nearly every Saturday night after enjoying dinner downstairs from the theater at the now defunct Westside Tavern. It was a weekly ritual I always looked forward to, until the Covid pandemic kept us from going these past two years.
There is just so much I cherished about the theater. You could always catch the latest and greatest first run indie and foreign films there. The Landmark chain of cinemas was the first national art circuit in our country. The people who worked at the Pico...
There is just so much I cherished about the theater. You could always catch the latest and greatest first run indie and foreign films there. The Landmark chain of cinemas was the first national art circuit in our country. The people who worked at the Pico...
- 5/18/2022
- by Claudia Eller
- Variety Film + TV
When Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley stepped down as co-chairmen of Searchlight Pictures in April, it was the end of one of the most enduring and successful double acts in independent film history. For more than two decades, the pair have shaped cinema history and set the gold standard for independent production, distribution, and awards campaigning.
“Just a few numbers for you: $5.3 billion in global box office, 43 Academy Awards, 47 BAFTAs…and four of the last eight best picture Oscars: 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland,” was how Cameron Bailey, artistic director and co-head of ...
“Just a few numbers for you: $5.3 billion in global box office, 43 Academy Awards, 47 BAFTAs…and four of the last eight best picture Oscars: 12 Years a Slave, Birdman, The Shape of Water, and Nomadland,” was how Cameron Bailey, artistic director and co-head of ...
Screen among TIFF Industry Conference media partners
An industry talk with former Searchlight Pictures co-heads Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula and the first look at Ava DuVernay’s Primetime selection and Netflix series on American Football player and activist Colin Kaepernick are among latest additions to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) programming.
The five-day TIFF Industry Conference running September 9-13 includes panel discussions presented by Screen on toxic behaviour on set and the African film business, as well as a session on Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch programme.
Programmers have two films to Official Selection: John Michael McDonagh’s...
An industry talk with former Searchlight Pictures co-heads Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula and the first look at Ava DuVernay’s Primetime selection and Netflix series on American Football player and activist Colin Kaepernick are among latest additions to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) programming.
The five-day TIFF Industry Conference running September 9-13 includes panel discussions presented by Screen on toxic behaviour on set and the African film business, as well as a session on Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch programme.
Programmers have two films to Official Selection: John Michael McDonagh’s...
- 8/13/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Studio veterans DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas have been tapped to head film production at Searchlight Pictures, overseeing all film development and production.
The announcement was made by Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who previously held the production post prior to being promoted in April after longtime Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced they would retire. (Utley and Gilula departed the famed speciality division having earned the 2021 best picture Oscar for Nomadland.)
Nguyen has been with the studio since 2009 in the company’s U.S. office, while Goodson-Thomas is based in Searchlight’s U.K. office, where ...
The announcement was made by Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who previously held the production post prior to being promoted in April after longtime Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced they would retire. (Utley and Gilula departed the famed speciality division having earned the 2021 best picture Oscar for Nomadland.)
Nguyen has been with the studio since 2009 in the company’s U.S. office, while Goodson-Thomas is based in Searchlight’s U.K. office, where ...
Studio veterans DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas have been tapped to head film production at Searchlight Pictures, overseeing all film development and production.
The announcement was made by Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who previously held the production post prior to being promoted in April after longtime Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced they would retire. (Utley and Gilula departed the famed speciality division having earned the 2021 best picture Oscar for Nomadland.)
Nguyen has been with the studio since 2009 in the company’s U.S. office, while Goodson-Thomas is based in Searchlight’s U.K. office, where ...
The announcement was made by Searchlight presidents Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who previously held the production post prior to being promoted in April after longtime Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced they would retire. (Utley and Gilula departed the famed speciality division having earned the 2021 best picture Oscar for Nomadland.)
Nguyen has been with the studio since 2009 in the company’s U.S. office, while Goodson-Thomas is based in Searchlight’s U.K. office, where ...
Peter Bart: Like Anthony Hopkins, Most Of The Audience Skipped Awards Season; Will 2022 Be A Sequel?
Here’s the question haunting Hollywood about the Oscar show: Why expect next year to be different?
Anthony Hopkins’ no-show put a hole in the show last Sunday, but it was the slate of nominees that represented the biggest “hole.” Audience movies — films that register on some scale of awareness — were on the missing list. But will that change?
The majors are clearly panting to unleash their wannabe blockbusters like Black Widow and A Quiet Place Part II – pricey projects that were pushed back this year. The indies (those that survived) also wait nervously for theater openings and confirmed festival dates. “The pipelines are bulging at the moment but the delivery systems are still iffy,” observes one seasoned distributor.
Hollywood is trying to figure out what sort of product will define the majors in 2022, given their shifting hierarchies and redefined business models. Further, will those indie filmmakers who fueled the...
Anthony Hopkins’ no-show put a hole in the show last Sunday, but it was the slate of nominees that represented the biggest “hole.” Audience movies — films that register on some scale of awareness — were on the missing list. But will that change?
The majors are clearly panting to unleash their wannabe blockbusters like Black Widow and A Quiet Place Part II – pricey projects that were pushed back this year. The indies (those that survived) also wait nervously for theater openings and confirmed festival dates. “The pipelines are bulging at the moment but the delivery systems are still iffy,” observes one seasoned distributor.
Hollywood is trying to figure out what sort of product will define the majors in 2022, given their shifting hierarchies and redefined business models. Further, will those indie filmmakers who fueled the...
- 4/29/2021
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
No matter which film takes home Best Picture Sunday night, that title will be the lowest-grossing in Oscar history.
According to Comscore, Kathryn Bigelow’s 2009 title The Hurt Locker stands as the lowest-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner at the domestic B.O. with $17M. That title will likely be upset this Sunday by Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, which Searchlight didn’t report grosses on during its run, but industry estimates figure has grossed around $2.5M. An Oscar Best Picture win could easily push Nomadland to $3M.
Even if the Best Picture voting math throws Nomadland off from the big prize, the other noms have also posted small results as well, and will rank as the lowest-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner of all-time, including Focus Features’ Promising Young Woman ($6.4M), Warner Bros.’ Judas and the Black Messiah ($5.4M), A24’s Minari ($2.57M) and Sony Pictures Classics’ The Father ($1.6M). While Netflix...
According to Comscore, Kathryn Bigelow’s 2009 title The Hurt Locker stands as the lowest-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner at the domestic B.O. with $17M. That title will likely be upset this Sunday by Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, which Searchlight didn’t report grosses on during its run, but industry estimates figure has grossed around $2.5M. An Oscar Best Picture win could easily push Nomadland to $3M.
Even if the Best Picture voting math throws Nomadland off from the big prize, the other noms have also posted small results as well, and will rank as the lowest-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner of all-time, including Focus Features’ Promising Young Woman ($6.4M), Warner Bros.’ Judas and the Black Messiah ($5.4M), A24’s Minari ($2.57M) and Sony Pictures Classics’ The Father ($1.6M). While Netflix...
- 4/24/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Derek Chauvin remanded in custody until sentencing in two months’ time.
Reactions have poured out of Hollywood on Tuesday (April 20) after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of killing George Floyd after kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes.
Chauvin was led out of Hennepin County Courthouse in handcuffs and faces up to 40 years in prison after the jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Stars and creators from film and TV took to Twitter after Judge Peter A. Cahill read out the verdicts.
Oscar nominee and...
Reactions have poured out of Hollywood on Tuesday (April 20) after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of killing George Floyd after kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes.
Chauvin was led out of Hennepin County Courthouse in handcuffs and faces up to 40 years in prison after the jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Stars and creators from film and TV took to Twitter after Judge Peter A. Cahill read out the verdicts.
Oscar nominee and...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
If you’ve loved Searchlight Pictures films over the years such as “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Black Swan,” “Birdman,” “Brooklyn,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Juno,” “28 Days Later,” “(500) Days of Summer” and “Sideways,” there are two people responsible for bringing them to the screen. Now, after 21 years, those voices are taking leave. In a somewhat surprising announcement, Steve Gilula & Nancy Utley are retiring from their roles as Searchlight Pictures chairman just days away from the studio potentially winning its fifth Best Picture Oscar under their stewardship.
Continue reading In A Surprise, Steve Gilula & Nancy Utley Retire From Searchlight Pictures at The Playlist.
Continue reading In A Surprise, Steve Gilula & Nancy Utley Retire From Searchlight Pictures at The Playlist.
- 4/20/2021
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Disney announced that Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are retiring from the specialty label after more than two decades. The company announced that they will be succeeded by their lieutenants, Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum.
Utley and Gilula, along with Peter Rice, joined Searchlight in 1999, with Rice as president. The pair were named presidents of the studio in 2009 after Rice left to join Fox’s television division. (He is now chairman of Walt Disney Television.) Utley and Gilula were made chairmen in July 2018, when Greenfield and Greenbaum were appointed to a shared role of presidents of film and television.
Greenfield and Greenbaum will now lead Searchlight, which has been under the Disney umbrella since the company acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019. They will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The announcement comes just days before the...
Utley and Gilula, along with Peter Rice, joined Searchlight in 1999, with Rice as president. The pair were named presidents of the studio in 2009 after Rice left to join Fox’s television division. (He is now chairman of Walt Disney Television.) Utley and Gilula were made chairmen in July 2018, when Greenfield and Greenbaum were appointed to a shared role of presidents of film and television.
Greenfield and Greenbaum will now lead Searchlight, which has been under the Disney umbrella since the company acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019. They will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The announcement comes just days before the...
- 4/20/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum both promoted to president. Expanded role for Searchlight Pictures International head Rebecca Kearey.
In a surprise announcement in the run-up to Sunday’s Oscars where Searchlight Pictures is in contention with awards heavyweight Nomadland, chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an...
In a surprise announcement in the run-up to Sunday’s Oscars where Searchlight Pictures is in contention with awards heavyweight Nomadland, chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum both promoted to president. Expanded role for Searchlight Pictures International head Rebecca Kearey.
In a surprise announcement, Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an expanded role for respected president of Searchlight Pictures International Rebecca Kearey, who now adds business...
In a surprise announcement, Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an expanded role for respected president of Searchlight Pictures International Rebecca Kearey, who now adds business...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley will retire after more than two decades at the company, Disney announced on Tuesday.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president and will jointly run the company. They will report to Disney’s Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history, and we commend and thank them for their incredible leadership, especially throughout the integration of Searchlight at Disney,” Bergman and Horn said. “They are leaving the studio in the talented hands of Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who have been a critical part of Searchlight’s success over many years and we’re confident they will...
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president and will jointly run the company. They will report to Disney’s Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn and Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history, and we commend and thank them for their incredible leadership, especially throughout the integration of Searchlight at Disney,” Bergman and Horn said. “They are leaving the studio in the talented hands of Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, who have been a critical part of Searchlight’s success over many years and we’re confident they will...
- 4/20/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
A seismic shift here in the independent film sphere in the walk-up to Oscar Sunday: Longtime Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley (65) and Steve Gilula (70) have announced their retirement after a two decades-plus run with the classic label which Disney purchased from Fox.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to President, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.
The news comes just before Oscar Sunday when Searchlight’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand is expected to notch the Best Picture and Best Director win for filmmaker Chloe Zhao. Should Zhao win Best Director, she’ll be the second woman to do so at the Oscars and the first person of color. To date, Nomadland has won the PGA, DGA,...
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to President, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.
The news comes just before Oscar Sunday when Searchlight’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand is expected to notch the Best Picture and Best Director win for filmmaker Chloe Zhao. Should Zhao win Best Director, she’ll be the second woman to do so at the Oscars and the first person of color. To date, Nomadland has won the PGA, DGA,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Indie film stalwarts Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula are retiring as co-chairmen of Searchlight Pictures.
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In a stunning development on the eve of the Academy Awards, Disney announced Tuesday that longtime Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula will be retiring from the specialty division, home of numerous Oscars.
At Sunday’s Oscar telecast, for example, Searchlight’s Nomadland is considered a frontrunner for best picture, among other top awards. Utley and Gilula told staffers of their looming exit in the coming weeks during a lunchtime town hall.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, Searchlight’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company.
News of ...
At Sunday’s Oscar telecast, for example, Searchlight’s Nomadland is considered a frontrunner for best picture, among other top awards. Utley and Gilula told staffers of their looming exit in the coming weeks during a lunchtime town hall.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, Searchlight’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company.
News of ...
- 4/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In a stunning development on the eve of the Academy Awards, Disney announced Tuesday that longtime Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula will be retiring from the specialty division, home of numerous Oscars.
At Sunday’s Oscar telecast, for example, Searchlight’s Nomadland is considered a frontrunner for best picture, among other top awards. Utley and Gilula told staffers of their looming exit in the coming weeks during a lunchtime town hall.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, Searchlight’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company.
News of ...
At Sunday’s Oscar telecast, for example, Searchlight’s Nomadland is considered a frontrunner for best picture, among other top awards. Utley and Gilula told staffers of their looming exit in the coming weeks during a lunchtime town hall.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, Searchlight’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company.
News of ...
- 4/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.
‘Tis the season to offer your Oscar contenders for free for the whole world to see.
In a follow-up to last week’s column where I questioned how Searchlight’s so-called “world premiere,” as listed on the invite for the February 18 event for Nomadland, could possibly be touted as that since it has essentially been premiering in one form or another since its official “world premiere” on September 11, 2020 at Venice/Toronto/Telluride at the Rose Bowl, I now have the answer. A Searchlight exec called to explain the studio felt this was genuinely the world premiere of the much-lauded Oscar contender since they were offering it up to the entire world in one evening, and at no cost, before it hit Hulu and select theatres the following day. Semantics aside, having seen the film at that first premiere in September,...
‘Tis the season to offer your Oscar contenders for free for the whole world to see.
In a follow-up to last week’s column where I questioned how Searchlight’s so-called “world premiere,” as listed on the invite for the February 18 event for Nomadland, could possibly be touted as that since it has essentially been premiering in one form or another since its official “world premiere” on September 11, 2020 at Venice/Toronto/Telluride at the Rose Bowl, I now have the answer. A Searchlight exec called to explain the studio felt this was genuinely the world premiere of the much-lauded Oscar contender since they were offering it up to the entire world in one evening, and at no cost, before it hit Hulu and select theatres the following day. Semantics aside, having seen the film at that first premiere in September,...
- 2/20/2021
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Two days after picking up Sundance’s Documentary Grand Jury Prize, Summer of Soul has been picked up by Searchlight and Hulu.
The acquisition of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s directorial debut is for worldwide rights, parent company Disney says, in a deal put together by Disney General Entertainment’s Bipoc Creator initiative, led by Tara Duncan and brokered by Cinetic Media.
With appearances by Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, the Staples Sisters, Stevie Wonder, Glady Knight and the Pips, Max Roach, Abby Lincoln and many more, the music-themed documentary is set for a theatrical release as well as streaming on Hulu in America and internationally on Star and Star+.
A true time capsule of then and now, Summer of Soul is packed with newly unearthed footage of the nearly forgotten but star-studded Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969. In that vein,...
The acquisition of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s directorial debut is for worldwide rights, parent company Disney says, in a deal put together by Disney General Entertainment’s Bipoc Creator initiative, led by Tara Duncan and brokered by Cinetic Media.
With appearances by Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, the Staples Sisters, Stevie Wonder, Glady Knight and the Pips, Max Roach, Abby Lincoln and many more, the music-themed documentary is set for a theatrical release as well as streaming on Hulu in America and internationally on Star and Star+.
A true time capsule of then and now, Summer of Soul is packed with newly unearthed footage of the nearly forgotten but star-studded Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969. In that vein,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
“Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” has become Sundance’s next major acquisition title, selling to Searchlight Pictures and Hulu.
An individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap it’s the biggest documentary sale in history, although no specifics were given. Another individual close to the transaction pegged the sale at $15 million. Buzz has been building around the film since its premiere last Thursday, sparking a bidding war for the documentary from The Roots bandleader Questlove. It was also the winner of the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.
Searchlight Pictures and Disney General Entertainment’s Bipoc Creator initiative, led by Tara Duncan, acquired the worldwide rights to “Summer of Soul,” while Hulu will exclusively stream the doc domestically and Star and Star+ will stream it internationally.
“I’m so honored to be allowed to manifest my dreams after all this time,...
An individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap it’s the biggest documentary sale in history, although no specifics were given. Another individual close to the transaction pegged the sale at $15 million. Buzz has been building around the film since its premiere last Thursday, sparking a bidding war for the documentary from The Roots bandleader Questlove. It was also the winner of the Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.
Searchlight Pictures and Disney General Entertainment’s Bipoc Creator initiative, led by Tara Duncan, acquired the worldwide rights to “Summer of Soul,” while Hulu will exclusively stream the doc domestically and Star and Star+ will stream it internationally.
“I’m so honored to be allowed to manifest my dreams after all this time,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
(From L-r): Director/Writer Chloé Zhao, Director of Photography Joshua James Richards and Frances McDormand on the set of Nomadland. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2020 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced today a series of global screenings to commemorate Chloé Zhao’s upcoming feature film Nomadland’s invitations to Venice, Toronto, Telluride, and New York Film Festivals.
Zhao’s third film, an exploration of modern-day van dwelling life on the road, will World Premiere with simultaneous screenings on September 11th at the 77th Venice International Film Festival and the 45th Toronto International Film Festival, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor, and director Zhao, and producer and actor Frances McDormand. Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the global pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening,...
Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced today a series of global screenings to commemorate Chloé Zhao’s upcoming feature film Nomadland’s invitations to Venice, Toronto, Telluride, and New York Film Festivals.
Zhao’s third film, an exploration of modern-day van dwelling life on the road, will World Premiere with simultaneous screenings on September 11th at the 77th Venice International Film Festival and the 45th Toronto International Film Festival, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor, and director Zhao, and producer and actor Frances McDormand. Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the global pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening,...
- 7/27/2020
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Chloé Zhao’s drama “Nomadland” will get a joint world premiere on September 11 via both the Venice and Toronto film festivals, with additional fall screenings from the Telluride and New York film festivals, Searchlight Pictures chairs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced Monday.
While Telluride was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, executive director Julie Huntsinger plans to host a drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening of Sept. 11, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and star Frances McDormand. The film was also set as the centerpiece selection of the New York Film Festival.
The move is part of a “united platform” that the four major fall festivals announced earlier this month in response to the pandemic, vowing to move away from competing with each other for world premieres and specific films and to work together to keep the “film ecosystem” thriving.
Also Read: Fall Film Festivals Venice, Telluride,...
While Telluride was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, executive director Julie Huntsinger plans to host a drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening of Sept. 11, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and star Frances McDormand. The film was also set as the centerpiece selection of the New York Film Festival.
The move is part of a “united platform” that the four major fall festivals announced earlier this month in response to the pandemic, vowing to move away from competing with each other for world premieres and specific films and to work together to keep the “film ecosystem” thriving.
Also Read: Fall Film Festivals Venice, Telluride,...
- 7/27/2020
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
The full lineup for the Venice Film Festival will be announced tomorrow morning in Rome, but today it was unveiled that Chloe Zhao’s upcoming feature Nomadland has been set to world premiere on September 11 on the Lido. It will also have a simultaneous screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor, and director Zhao, and producer and star Frances McDormand.
In a show of solidarity amongst the major fall festivals, Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced today that Zhao’s third feature has also been invited to Telluride and New York. Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the global coronavirus pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening of September 11, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and McDormand. Additionally, the New York Film Festival has...
In a show of solidarity amongst the major fall festivals, Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula announced today that Zhao’s third feature has also been invited to Telluride and New York. Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the global coronavirus pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening in Southern California later in the evening of September 11, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and McDormand. Additionally, the New York Film Festival has...
- 7/27/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Chloé Zhao’s road drama “Nomadland” starring Frances McDormand, will screen at Venice, Toronto and New York as part of the fall festivals’ solidarity pact in the wake of the pandemic. It will also play as part of a special Telluride-hosted drive-in event.
Zhao’s third film will world premiere with simultaneous screenings on Sept. 11 at Venice and Toronto, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor and director Zhao, and producer and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” star McDormand.
Meanwhile, Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening later in the evening, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and McDormand. In addition, New York Film Festival will screen the film as the Centerpiece Selection of the 58th edition of the festival, leading into a domestic theatrical release this fall, and subsequently rolling out internationally.
Searchlight Pictures...
Zhao’s third film will world premiere with simultaneous screenings on Sept. 11 at Venice and Toronto, both of which will feature virtual introductions by producer, writer, editor and director Zhao, and producer and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” star McDormand.
Meanwhile, Telluride, which canceled its 47th edition due to the pandemic, will host a special “Telluride from Los Angeles” drive-in screening later in the evening, featuring in-person appearances by Zhao and McDormand. In addition, New York Film Festival will screen the film as the Centerpiece Selection of the 58th edition of the festival, leading into a domestic theatrical release this fall, and subsequently rolling out internationally.
Searchlight Pictures...
- 7/27/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Searchlight Pictures announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to David Bruckner’s psychological thriller The Night House following its world premiere in Park City as part of the Sundance Midnight program of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Based on an original screenplay by Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski (Stephanie), The Night House follows a widow (Rebecca Hall of The Town) who begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. Bruckner returns to Sundance with this film, having most recently premiered his first solo-directorial feature, The Ritual, at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. The Night House was financed and produced by Sébastien Raybaud’s company, Anton. David Goyer’s Phantom Four developed the script, and also produced. The producers are Phantom Four’s David Goyer (The Dark Knight), and Keith Levine (47 Meters Down), and Anton’s John Zois (Hotel Artemis). Executive Producers are David Bruckner, François Callens, Ben Collins,...
- 2/7/2020
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
As Deadline first reported during Sundance, Searchlight has taken global rights to David Bruckner’s psychological thriller The Night House. A theatrical release is being planned for this year. The rights deal is in the neighborhood of $12M and continues the specialty’s label move into the genre space following its recent late summer success with Ready or Not which made $57.6M WW, and the upcoming Scott Cooper horror pic Antlers on April 17.
Based on an original screenplay by Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski, The Night House follows a widow (Rebecca Hall) who begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. Pic was financed and produced by Sébastien Raybaud’s company, Anton. David Goyer’s Phantom Four developed the script, and also produced. Producers are Phantom Four’s David Goyer and Keith Levine, and Anton’s John Zois. EPs are Bruckner, François Callens, Ben Collins, Hall, George Paaswell, Luke Piotrowski,...
Based on an original screenplay by Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski, The Night House follows a widow (Rebecca Hall) who begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. Pic was financed and produced by Sébastien Raybaud’s company, Anton. David Goyer’s Phantom Four developed the script, and also produced. Producers are Phantom Four’s David Goyer and Keith Levine, and Anton’s John Zois. EPs are Bruckner, François Callens, Ben Collins, Hall, George Paaswell, Luke Piotrowski,...
- 2/6/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Emma Watts has resigned as chief of 20th Century Studios less than a year after the Disney merger closed in March 2019.
Her existing team remains in place at 20th Century and a successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.
Watts, who had served as vice chairman and longtime president of production at 20th Century Fox before the studio was absorbed into the Disney empire, was one of the few top Fox execs to survive the union alongside Searchlight co-chiefs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. (Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler, who was initially set to join Disney,...
Her existing team remains in place at 20th Century and a successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.
Watts, who had served as vice chairman and longtime president of production at 20th Century Fox before the studio was absorbed into the Disney empire, was one of the few top Fox execs to survive the union alongside Searchlight co-chiefs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. (Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler, who was initially set to join Disney,...
- 1/30/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Emma Watts has resigned as chief of 20th Century Studios less than a year after the Disney merger closed in March 2019.
Her existing team remains in place at 20th Century and a successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.
Watts, who had served as vice chairman and longtime president of production at 20th Century Fox before the studio was absorbed into the Disney empire, was one of the few top Fox execs to survive the union alongside Searchlight co-chiefs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. (Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler, who was initially set to join Disney,...
Her existing team remains in place at 20th Century and a successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.
Watts, who had served as vice chairman and longtime president of production at 20th Century Fox before the studio was absorbed into the Disney empire, was one of the few top Fox execs to survive the union alongside Searchlight co-chiefs Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. (Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler, who was initially set to join Disney,...
- 1/30/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wes Anderson will officially return to the big screen on July 24, 2020. Searchlight, which picked up worldwide distribution rights to the filmmaker’s next film last September, announced the official release date today. The journalism-centric drama is Anderson’s 10th directorial effort. A brand new log line for the film describes it as “a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th century French city.” A previous synopsis described it as a “love letter to journalists.”
The film’s cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Mathieu Amalric, Lyna Khoudri, Stephen Park, Owen Wilson, Lois Smith, and Bill Murray.”
The July release hints at a potential Cannes Film Festival debut for the star-studded film. While not his regular festival choice, Anderson is no stranger to Cannes. His delightful boy scout comedy “Moonrise Kingdom...
The film’s cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Mathieu Amalric, Lyna Khoudri, Stephen Park, Owen Wilson, Lois Smith, and Bill Murray.”
The July release hints at a potential Cannes Film Festival debut for the star-studded film. While not his regular festival choice, Anderson is no stranger to Cannes. His delightful boy scout comedy “Moonrise Kingdom...
- 1/29/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Newly knighted Sir Sam Mendes mixed with onscreen sovereigns (from “The Crown” and “Game of Thrones”) and Hollywood royalty at the 20th annual AFI Awards, presented Jan. 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Mendes was there representing “1917,” one of the 22 film and TV works saluted by the awards. Though the guest list was regal, the mood is always relaxed, since there are no TV cameras, no acceptance speeches, no pressure and no suspense: honorees were announced on Dec. 4.
Walt Disney Television’s Peter Rice schmoozed with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Billy Porter chatted with Kit Harington, and Laura Dern was deep in conversation with Pitt as other guests talked on subjects ranging from Iran to the accelerated Oscar schedule; all of them offered mutual congratulations for a year that was exception for both films and TV works.
Aside from “1917,” the chosen movies were “The Farewell,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,...
Mendes was there representing “1917,” one of the 22 film and TV works saluted by the awards. Though the guest list was regal, the mood is always relaxed, since there are no TV cameras, no acceptance speeches, no pressure and no suspense: honorees were announced on Dec. 4.
Walt Disney Television’s Peter Rice schmoozed with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Billy Porter chatted with Kit Harington, and Laura Dern was deep in conversation with Pitt as other guests talked on subjects ranging from Iran to the accelerated Oscar schedule; all of them offered mutual congratulations for a year that was exception for both films and TV works.
Aside from “1917,” the chosen movies were “The Farewell,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,...
- 1/4/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Heading into Golden Globes weekend, the annual American Film Institute Awards is a civilized, untelevised gathering that plays into the hands of awards campaigners who nab any chance to put their contenders in front of the media. This lunch at the Four Seasons is more relaxed and convivial than most because, as AFI president Bob Gazzale pointed out, everybody’s a winner.
Each January, top players from the 10 movie and 10 TV winners know all they have to do is socialize for an hour or so, pick at their salmon, and applaud 20 clips. Actually, this year there were 22, as the juries gave special awards to two foreign imports, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt bounded across the room to greet the director Bong and the cast of “Parasite,” whose clip earned rousing applause.
Gazzale pointed out several AFI...
Each January, top players from the 10 movie and 10 TV winners know all they have to do is socialize for an hour or so, pick at their salmon, and applaud 20 clips. Actually, this year there were 22, as the juries gave special awards to two foreign imports, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt bounded across the room to greet the director Bong and the cast of “Parasite,” whose clip earned rousing applause.
Gazzale pointed out several AFI...
- 1/4/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Heading into Golden Globes weekend, the annual American Film Institute Awards is a civilized, untelevised gathering that plays into the hands of awards campaigners who nab any chance to put their contenders in front of the media. This lunch at the Four Seasons is more relaxed and convivial than most because, as AFI president Bob Gazzale pointed out, everybody’s a winner.
Each January, top players from the 10 movie and 10 TV winners know all they have to do is socialize for an hour or so, pick at their salmon, and applaud 20 clips. Actually, this year there were 22, as the juries gave special awards to two foreign imports, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt bounded across the room to greet the director Bong and the cast of “Parasite,” whose clip earned rousing applause.
Gazzale pointed out several AFI...
Each January, top players from the 10 movie and 10 TV winners know all they have to do is socialize for an hour or so, pick at their salmon, and applaud 20 clips. Actually, this year there were 22, as the juries gave special awards to two foreign imports, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star Brad Pitt bounded across the room to greet the director Bong and the cast of “Parasite,” whose clip earned rousing applause.
Gazzale pointed out several AFI...
- 1/4/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
As Disney CEO Bob Iger introduced former Fox properties to the Disney discipline, Fox Searchlight appeared to be an outlier. Earlier this year, co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula said things were “business as usual;” indeed, the label will release new films by Wes Anderson and Armando Iannucci in 2020, and production began this week on the Michael Showalter’s “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
However, on Thursday Iger revealed that he plans to tap Fox Searchlight to create original content for Hulu — showing there’s no such thing as business as usual as the streaming wars accelerate.
Searchlight is developing “original content” that will land on Hulu, Iger said, offering no details about what that might include. But it’s likely such productions could go straight-to-streaming, which would push Searchlight — known for its awards titles — in an adjacent path to Disney’s other film efforts.
There’s no suggestion that...
However, on Thursday Iger revealed that he plans to tap Fox Searchlight to create original content for Hulu — showing there’s no such thing as business as usual as the streaming wars accelerate.
Searchlight is developing “original content” that will land on Hulu, Iger said, offering no details about what that might include. But it’s likely such productions could go straight-to-streaming, which would push Searchlight — known for its awards titles — in an adjacent path to Disney’s other film efforts.
There’s no suggestion that...
- 11/8/2019
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Veteran of more than 22 years played key role in acquiring close to 50 Searchlight titles.
Ray Strache, who most recently served as executive vice-president global acquisitions and co-productions at Fox and Fox Searchlight and enjoyed a broad remit with an emphasis on international projects, has left the studio.
Strache, a Fox veteran of more than 22 years, played a key role in acquiring close to 50 Searchlight titles such as Armando Iannucci’s current BAFTA contender and May 2020 Us release The Personal History Of David Copperfield and Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, as well as Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, Brooklyn, Jackie,...
Ray Strache, who most recently served as executive vice-president global acquisitions and co-productions at Fox and Fox Searchlight and enjoyed a broad remit with an emphasis on international projects, has left the studio.
Strache, a Fox veteran of more than 22 years, played a key role in acquiring close to 50 Searchlight titles such as Armando Iannucci’s current BAFTA contender and May 2020 Us release The Personal History Of David Copperfield and Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, as well as Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, Brooklyn, Jackie,...
- 11/7/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
When details of Jojo Rabbit, in which director Taika Waititi plays an imaginary comedic version of Adolf Hitler, first emerged earlier this year, some concern was raised about how the film might go down with Fox Searchlight’s new family-friendly owners at Disney.
As it turns out, this concern was also felt at Fox Searchlight.
Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday in a wide-ranging discussion celebrating their 20 years at the helm of the prestige banner, co-chairs Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley admitted that Jojo Rabbit had been a “big test” following Disney’s $71.3 billion takeover ...
As it turns out, this concern was also felt at Fox Searchlight.
Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday in a wide-ranging discussion celebrating their 20 years at the helm of the prestige banner, co-chairs Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley admitted that Jojo Rabbit had been a “big test” following Disney’s $71.3 billion takeover ...
- 10/4/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When details of Jojo Rabbit, in which director Taika Waititi plays an imaginary comedic version of Adolf Hitler, first emerged earlier this year, some concern was raised about how the film might go down with Fox Searchlight’s new family-friendly owners at Disney.
As it turns out, this concern was also felt at Fox Searchlight.
Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday in a wide-ranging discussion celebrating their 20 years at the helm of the prestige banner, co-chairs Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley admitted that Jojo Rabbit had been a “big test” following Disney’s $71.3 billion takeover ...
As it turns out, this concern was also felt at Fox Searchlight.
Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday in a wide-ranging discussion celebrating their 20 years at the helm of the prestige banner, co-chairs Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley admitted that Jojo Rabbit had been a “big test” following Disney’s $71.3 billion takeover ...
- 10/4/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Fox Searchlight has acquired the rights to the next film from director Wes Anderson. As with most of Anderson’s films, this one already has a large and impressive star-studded cast that includes Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Lea Seydoux (Spectre), Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange), Kate Winslet (Titanic), Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained), Bill Murray (Ghostbusters), Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), Rupert Friend (Homeland), Benicio Del Toro (Sicario), Owen Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums), Cecile de France (Hereafter), Frances McDormand (Fargo), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), and Henry Winkler (Barry).
Deadline says the movie is “a love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city.” The movie will bring to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch magazine.
Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley,...
Deadline says the movie is “a love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city.” The movie will bring to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch magazine.
Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley,...
- 9/20/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
Fox Searchlight Pictures has picked up world rights to Wes Anderson’s next movie, The French Dispatch.
The all-star cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Mathieu Amalric, Lyna Khoudri, Stephen Park, Owen Wilson, Tony Revolori and Bill Murray. Released is slated for 2020.
Pic is described as “a love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city.” The movie will bring to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch magazine. Anderson and Indian Paintbrush are producing.
The deal was negotiated by Megan O’Brien, Evp of Business Affairs for Fox Searchlight, and Gene Kang, Evp of Business and Legal Affairs, and Deborah Wettstein, Chief Financial Officer, on behalf of Indian Paintbrush.
Searchlight has a long-running partnership with Anderson, including on movies Isle Of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel,...
The all-star cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Mathieu Amalric, Lyna Khoudri, Stephen Park, Owen Wilson, Tony Revolori and Bill Murray. Released is slated for 2020.
Pic is described as “a love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city.” The movie will bring to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch magazine. Anderson and Indian Paintbrush are producing.
The deal was negotiated by Megan O’Brien, Evp of Business Affairs for Fox Searchlight, and Gene Kang, Evp of Business and Legal Affairs, and Deborah Wettstein, Chief Financial Officer, on behalf of Indian Paintbrush.
Searchlight has a long-running partnership with Anderson, including on movies Isle Of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Wes Anderson is officially returning to the big screen in 2020. Fox Searchlight Pictures has announced it has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Anderson’s next feature film, “The French Dispatch.” The journalism-centric drama is Anderson’s 10th directorial effort. The Fox Searchlight acquisition is hardly a surprise and was expected by many in the industry considering the studio was behind Anderson’s “The Darjeeling Limited,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and “Isle of Dogs.” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was distributed by Searchlight’s parent company 20th Century Fox. Now that Disney owns Fox, “The French Dispatch” will be Anderson’s first Disney film since “The Life Aquatic” release.
“We are excited to dive back into the unmistakable and entirely original world of Wes Anderson,” Fox Searchlight Pictures chairmen Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley in a statement. “Our collaborations with Wes in the past have been exceptional, and we’re thrilled to...
“We are excited to dive back into the unmistakable and entirely original world of Wes Anderson,” Fox Searchlight Pictures chairmen Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley in a statement. “Our collaborations with Wes in the past have been exceptional, and we’re thrilled to...
- 9/19/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” extending the indie studio’s long collaboration with the filmmaker.
The company has released four of Anderson’s films, including his two most recent pictures, “Isle of Dogs” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
“The French Dispatch” is described as “a love letter to journalists” and is set in an American backed newspaper’s French offices. The film will premiere in 2020.
“The story is not easy to explain,” Anderson told Charente Libre in April. “[It’s about an] American journalist based in France [who] creates his magazine. It is more a portrait of this man, of this journalist who fights to write what he wants to write. It’s not a movie about freedom of the press, but when you talk about reporters you also talk about what’s going on in the real world.”
The film’s cast includes Benicio Del Toro,...
The company has released four of Anderson’s films, including his two most recent pictures, “Isle of Dogs” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
“The French Dispatch” is described as “a love letter to journalists” and is set in an American backed newspaper’s French offices. The film will premiere in 2020.
“The story is not easy to explain,” Anderson told Charente Libre in April. “[It’s about an] American journalist based in France [who] creates his magazine. It is more a portrait of this man, of this journalist who fights to write what he wants to write. It’s not a movie about freedom of the press, but when you talk about reporters you also talk about what’s going on in the real world.”
The film’s cast includes Benicio Del Toro,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Taika Waititi’s serio-comic”Jojo Rabbit” won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday (Sept. 15). This New Zealand director is a triple threat. He adapted Christine Leunens‘ novel “Caging Skies” and co-stars as Adolf Hitler, the imaginary friend of Jojo “Rabbit” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a young boy whose mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in the attic. This crowd-pleaser will be released by Fox Searchlight on Oct. 18 just as awards season kicks into high gear.
While higher profile pictures played at bigger theaters multiple times, Tiff ensures there is fairness in the process by giving this award to the film that inspires the biggest percentage of its total audience to vote online. Second place went to Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” (which also showcases Johansson) while Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes champ “Parasite” was third.
This win for “Jojo Rabbit” certainly raises its Oscar hopes.
While higher profile pictures played at bigger theaters multiple times, Tiff ensures there is fairness in the process by giving this award to the film that inspires the biggest percentage of its total audience to vote online. Second place went to Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” (which also showcases Johansson) while Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes champ “Parasite” was third.
This win for “Jojo Rabbit” certainly raises its Oscar hopes.
- 9/15/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Director Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit” took home the Toronto International Film Festival’s 2019 Audience Award on Sunday, with Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” claiming the runner-up prizes.
The Tiff People’s Choice Award has, in recent years, presaged an eventual Best Picture Academy Award nominee — and, in some cases, a winner. Last year’s prize went to Best Picture winner “Green Book,” and previous winners include “La La Land,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “Room,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Critics were not in love with “Jojo Rabbit,” as the film currently sits with a score of 52 on Metacritic. This is an arthouse movie, not a destined-for-the-mainstream global phenomenon, which is anomaly in Tiff Grolsch People’s Choice Award history.
“We saw firsthand how Toronto International Film Festival audiences responded to ‘Jojo Rabbit.’ We’re incredibly proud of this film,...
The Tiff People’s Choice Award has, in recent years, presaged an eventual Best Picture Academy Award nominee — and, in some cases, a winner. Last year’s prize went to Best Picture winner “Green Book,” and previous winners include “La La Land,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “Room,” and “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Critics were not in love with “Jojo Rabbit,” as the film currently sits with a score of 52 on Metacritic. This is an arthouse movie, not a destined-for-the-mainstream global phenomenon, which is anomaly in Tiff Grolsch People’s Choice Award history.
“We saw firsthand how Toronto International Film Festival audiences responded to ‘Jojo Rabbit.’ We’re incredibly proud of this film,...
- 9/15/2019
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Jojo Rabbit is the winner of this year’s Toronto Film Festival Grolsch People’s Choice Award. First runner-up was Netflix’s Marriage Story, and the second runner-up was Neon’s Cannes winner Parasite.
The trophy is considered a bellwether of sorts for the awards-season race even if it is selected by festival moviegoers who vote online following a screening. The festival assures they double check the legitimacy of each vote, and that it came from a ticket holder so as to prevent gaming the system. In theory, no stuffing of the ballot box is allowed according to Tiff.
At its world premiere screening last Sunday evening, director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit was rapturously received by the opening-night audience, perhaps the most enthusiastic reception of the festival I thought at the time. However, critics were decidedly mixed when reviews hit and the film currently stands at 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
The trophy is considered a bellwether of sorts for the awards-season race even if it is selected by festival moviegoers who vote online following a screening. The festival assures they double check the legitimacy of each vote, and that it came from a ticket holder so as to prevent gaming the system. In theory, no stuffing of the ballot box is allowed according to Tiff.
At its world premiere screening last Sunday evening, director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit was rapturously received by the opening-night audience, perhaps the most enthusiastic reception of the festival I thought at the time. However, critics were decidedly mixed when reviews hit and the film currently stands at 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
- 9/15/2019
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit had its world premiere last night at the Toronto Film Festival, and though it will certainly have its naysayers due to a controversial approach to its subject matter — it features a comical Adolf Hitler character, among other things — the movie was rapturously received with a raucous standing ovation by the first night crowd who seemed to eat it up. Early critic reviews are more divided on Rotten Tomatoes, split just about down the middle.
The crowd reaction, however, justifies distributor Fox Searchlight and Disney’s decision to debut it at Tiff in front of a more urban/cosmopolitan city audience, where they thought it would be an audience-pleaser (at least this audience), and that strategy certainly seemed to work at the Princess of Wales theater last night, followed by a party at Arcane which was so crowded a few guests looked exhausted just trying to...
The crowd reaction, however, justifies distributor Fox Searchlight and Disney’s decision to debut it at Tiff in front of a more urban/cosmopolitan city audience, where they thought it would be an audience-pleaser (at least this audience), and that strategy certainly seemed to work at the Princess of Wales theater last night, followed by a party at Arcane which was so crowded a few guests looked exhausted just trying to...
- 9/9/2019
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox Searchlight Pictures on Thursday announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights to Armando Iannucci’s “The Personal History of David Copperfield” — a display of early enthusiasm and faith in the satirist’s latest film two weeks before its word premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Fox Searchlight is planning a 2020 theatrical release for the Scottish director’s film based on the Charles Dickens novel, which stars Dev Patel in its titular role
“Armando Iannucci is a wonderfully original filmmaker and expert storyteller; he brings his irreverent and imaginative take to this iconic and beloved story,” said Fox Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula said in a statement. “As for Dev, he has consistently impressed since his unforgettable breakout roles in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.’
The satirist’s last two films, “The Death of Stalin” and “In the Loop” were distributed...
Fox Searchlight is planning a 2020 theatrical release for the Scottish director’s film based on the Charles Dickens novel, which stars Dev Patel in its titular role
“Armando Iannucci is a wonderfully original filmmaker and expert storyteller; he brings his irreverent and imaginative take to this iconic and beloved story,” said Fox Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula said in a statement. “As for Dev, he has consistently impressed since his unforgettable breakout roles in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.’
The satirist’s last two films, “The Death of Stalin” and “In the Loop” were distributed...
- 8/22/2019
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The writer-director’s version of Dickens classic is set for the Toronto and London festivals.
Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired North American rights to writer-producer-director Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield ahead of the film’s world premiere at next month’s Toronto festival.
Searchlight, which did the rights deal with international seller FilmNation Entertainment, is planning a 2020 theatrical release for the film, also set to open the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Iannucci’s take on the classic Charles Dickens story stars Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw and Paul Whitehouse.
Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired North American rights to writer-producer-director Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield ahead of the film’s world premiere at next month’s Toronto festival.
Searchlight, which did the rights deal with international seller FilmNation Entertainment, is planning a 2020 theatrical release for the film, also set to open the BFI London Film Festival in October.
Iannucci’s take on the classic Charles Dickens story stars Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw and Paul Whitehouse.
- 8/22/2019
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
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