Neon has tapped veteran film marketing and publicity pro Ryan Werner as its new president of global cinema, the company announced Wednesday from Cannes. The newly created role positions Werner near the top of Neon’s theatrical distribution operations as the award-winning studio continues to expand its footprint in auteur-driven international cinema.
Werner’s appointment comes amid a busy Cannes for Neon, with five titles in this year’s festival lineup — including Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, both premiering in competition, and Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5 screening as a special presentation. The announcement also follows a stellar awards season for the company, capped by Sean Baker’s Anora winning last year’s Palme d’Or followed by five Oscars, including best picture.
“Ryan’s taste, passion, and instincts for cinema are boundless,” said Neon founder and CEO Tom Quinn in a statement. “Together, combined with his extensive knowledge, wealth of relationships and envious track record, we look forward to continue growing Neon as a premiere home for groundbreaking cinema. To say we’re thrilled about working with Ryan would be the understatement of the year.”
Werner arrives at Neon from Cinetic Marketing, the boutique agency he launched in 2014. Over the past decade, he and his team have become a pillar of industry infrastructure at film festivals, orchestrating some of the most celebrated publicity and awards campaigns in independent film, with credits spanning five best picture Oscar winners and six of the past ten Palme d’Or laureates. Cinetic’s influence at major festivals has been especially pronounced in Cannes, where Werner has long been a quiet but potent presence behind the scenes. Cinetic Marketing will continue to operate independently following Werner’s exit, according to the companies.
In 2021, Werner partnered with Jonathan Sehring and Janus Films to launch Sideshow, a distribution shingle dedicated to releasing contemporary arthouse gems alongside Janus’ revered library. Together, they brought acclaimed international features such as Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car, Jerzy Skolimowski’s EO, and Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light to U.S. audiences.
At Neon, Werner will pivot fully into theatrical distribution, leading the company’s release strategies and deepening its relationships with filmmakers and exhibitors around the world. He is expected to play a key role in sharpening Neon’s marketing and awards positioning as the company scales its production and global acquisitions pipeline.
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Tom and the exceptional team at Neon,” said Werner. “I deeply admire everything they have accomplished. This is a very special opportunity to create something with some of the most talented people working in film. I am honestly thrilled by the prospect of it.”