SPC, ROW K, 193, 30WEST EXECS TALK Awards and Hot Button Films
“In periods of great challenge come periods of great opportunty and i think we’re living through right now,” Megan Colligan, President of New US Distributor Row K Entertainment, Told a panel on the Economics at the Zurich Summit on Saturday.
The forms IMAX ENTERTAINMENT President, and before that paramount Pictures EXEC, was at the zurich film festival of industry summit for the first, and just five week she was announced in her POSITION AT MEDIA CAPITOLOGES-BACKED ROW K.
“The reason i tu to be so optimistic is gcause there’s a lot of different Kinds of Content and We’re Content at an alarming rate. Just have your phone tel you how you were looking at this.
“The other thing that is also on rise is the experienceiential economy. It”s Growing and Growing, Meaning People Are Wanting to their Wallet, and to go out, all kinds of things, and movies are going.
She added that wherever a distributor was handling a documentary in the vein of Becoming LED Zeppelin or a Christopher Nolan Movie, They Had to Create an Event Around Its Launch.
“Thats Becomes a Challenge we have had small budgets and maybe a small movie. But it is about figure out who your target audience is and using digital, which democratizes that process, and allows an audience and create an experience.
Colligan was joined on the panel by 193 CEO Patrick Wachsberger, Sony Pictures Classics Co-President Michael Barker and 30West Co-President & Coo Daniel Steinman.
Awards & Festival Selections
The discussion touched on the impact of a-list festival selection and wins as well as Victory at the Academy Awards.
Spc’s Barker Talked Anecdotally About the Company’s Involvement in Brazilian Director Walter ‘Political Drama I’m still herewhich was a book Office Hit at Brazil at the Same as Enjoying a Buzzy Awards Season, Ultimately Winning the best International Feature Film oscar as Being nominated in the best picture Category.
He suggested the company’s Involvement in the film was quasi written in the stars, follow its previous collaboration with the halls on Central Stationmore than 25 years preiviously.
“In 2019 Cannes, Walter Halls Asked with them with Him in Vincent Maravel’s Office,” he said to the french sales agent and producer.
“We have had a two-and-a-half-hour session. He literally told with the entity of I’m still here. It was unbellievable… he said, ‘iT”s going to take several years to do it and once i done, have all the faith in the world `re going to be doing itert because we have haad Central Station Together, ”he continued.
“I have to thank walter, caa and vincent maravel for helping maken that happy came but i will think in a way, it was kind of meant to be. It was also fortuitous, we try to buy as many counries as we can, that sony hazil as well. Triumph in Brazil. ”
He recounted how they Kicked the Awards season Campaign off in la just as fires were ravaging the City, and saying it was co-star fernanda Torre’s Golden Gold for Best Actress that Helped Put the Spotlight on the Film in the Film Stages of the Campiaign.
Colligan cautioned that even while an awards win culd change a Flory at the Box Office, Needed Distributors to make Calculated Choices, Gioven the industry has sprung up arund awards and the subseuent costs.
“If you’re Capable of Getting Nominations, if You’re Capable of Getting A Win, It ‘Massive Change to the Fate of Your Movie,” She Said.
“It ‘s a choice though, because especially at the Independent Studio Level, you’re taking a chunk of Money and Putting a bet on that versus putting a bet on something,” she added.
Barker Said the Biggest Challenge of an Award Campaign was getting academy voters to see the film.
The panelists also debated the power of a venice or selection, with Wachsberger suggesting vanice was now placed in the Calendar for Awards Runs in the Main Categories, while Said and Felt Had Gained Extra Cact with Audency MoreLy Recent Years.
“Actual Award Wins and Happy Nominations Feel Authentic and Organic in a Way That’s More Necessary than it used to be,” Said Steinman.
He touched on past comments from neon Head Tom Quinn on the Positive Cannes Effect Who Did Not Exist “Half a Generation Ago”.
“I see it with my own kids,” Said Steinman. “One would be think that gen z was at all about a very Old, Kind of Storid and a Little Old Folk-Sy, Maybe, Film Festival and Market, but think the opposite is true actually. They’re’re look for rob.”
Barker Suggested, Howver, That the Importance of Awards for Independent Fills was noting new.
“They have been always been a lifeline for the Independent Films. The fact that they are more numerous is great for all of us.
Hot Button Films
The panel Also Tackled How Festival Buy or an an Academy AWARD DOES NOT ALWAYS GUARANANT A US INDIE Deal, especilantly for films on the button subjects.
The wills was raising in relation to the fact that 2025 best documentary oscar winner No other LandAbout Settler Violence in the West Bank, was eschewed by US Distributors, while more recently venice Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize Winner The Voice of Hind Rajababout the killing of a six -ear-op girl by Israeli force in Gaza, has also yet to secure theatrical distribution in the us
Barker Said he did would have to think about The Voice of Hind Rajab but did comment on No other LandSaying that Spc’s Decision Not to Acquire the Film Was Based Purely on Projections Around Its Potential Box.
“Really like that film, but we look at what theatrical posseiricals were long before the movie won the oscar, and we didn’t feel that the movie was well in the box office theatrically. That is why we dedn’t pursue that film.”
Talking More Generally, Barker Said a Thorny Topic Woul Never Stop Spc from Acquiring a Film.
“I do not really think about that. I’ve had a lot of Movies with difficults subjects. What i think about, and so do my partners in the sony classics team, is, ‘is there audience for the film and Will People’s Theatrical, and Can. say? ‘. “IT’S’S NOT BECAUSE OF AN INCENDARY PLAY POINT OR WHAT.”
Wachsberger Pushed Back, Countering: “I Think there are subjects tooday that People are Basically Concerned About Getting Involved in.”
He asced Whether A Work Like Michael Moore’s 2002 Documentary Bowling for ColumbineAbout the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre, Waled Get a Release Today.
Colligan, Howver, Concurred with Barker, Saying: “Your Time is not infinite and your Money is not infinite. You have to watch a movie and say. Movie and that you’re capable of del tying that. ”