Black Bear, the independent studio that produces, economics and distributes films globally, expands to the US’s theater distribution. Benjamin Kramer will monitor this new division as Black Bears President of US Distribution. This enlargement is described by the company as “a natural development from its increased production production and track record of building leading theater companies in Canada and the UK” and will see the company release up to 12 theater titles per year, “focusing on a curated slate of filmmaker-driven ticket and VID-release action and genre films.” The team will be expanded in the coming months during Kramer, which will report to Black Bear CEO Teddy Schwarzman.
Black Bear’s titles include everything from A24’s critically acclaimed “Sing Sing” to Guy Ritchies period’s action movie “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” to Osgood Perkins Horror Hit “The Monkey.” Upcoming Black Bear titles include Netflix Prices Hopeful (and Sundance Breakout) “Train Dreams” and Ritchies “In The Gray” and “Wife & Dog.”
“Today, a big step for Black Bear marks, when we strengthen our studios capacity from development to release,” Schwarzman said in an official statement. “By building on the successful distribution companies that we have created in Canada and the United Kingdom, our American theater company will now have Black Bear connect directly to the audience across the country, which remain hungry by quality and commercial event cinema. I am proud to spear this growth, to gain a great deal of understanding, an expertise, a resident market, the domestic market. A big and is a world meeting. On behalf of myself and Black Bears Michael Heimler and John Friedberg, we are pleased to support him in expanding a studio for today and into the future.
Kramer said in an official statement, “It is extremely exciting to go with Black Bear at this moment of good opportunities in our business. I have had the pleasure of working with Teddy, John, Michael and the team on many successful films. I have spent my career evaluating what makes films resonated creatively and commercially and look forward to the proof of The Black Bear team and getting cooking to make the Black Bears US distribution a strength to be counted on. ”
Kramer most recently served as a head of the Media Finance Department at CAA, where according to the official edition “he specialized in packaging and arrangements of financing and distribution for independent films, as well as television series and digital content, while giving advice to top producers and financiers on their media investments.” While at Caa Kramer worked on several Black Bear movies, including “Sing Sing”, “Nyad” and “Dumb Money.”
Black Bear’s US expansion complements its more established distribution operations in other English -language markets. John Friedberg, president of International, monitors a London -based team with a focus on international sales, direct theater distribution in the UK and Ireland and international productions and acquisitions. In Canada, Black Bear owns Elevation Pictures, the leading independent theater distributor at the territory, supervised by co -chair Laurie May and Noah Segal.
