Veteran Hollywood studio executive David Spitz has landed his next gig: serving as head of U.S. distribution at Teddy Schwarzman‘s Black Bear Pictures as the leading production and financing company realizes its dream of becoming a full-fledged indie studio.
Spitz — who did a long stint running distribution at Lionsgate — will oversee theatrical Black Bear’s new distribution infrastructure in the U.S., which builds on its established businesses in the U.K., Ireland and Canada, where subsidiary Elevation Pictures is the territory’s top independent distributor. Spitz will manage the theatrical release of up to 12 films per year, curating a slate that boasts both filmmaker-driven fare with action and genre titles. He’ll report to Benjamin Kramer, president of Black Bear’s U.S. theatrical distribution division, who made the announcement.
“David is one of the most respected and accomplished distribution executives in the theatrical business,” said Kramer. “He has a fantastic track record of shepherding the work of outstanding filmmakers and delivering commercial hits to wide audiences. His deep relationships with exhibitors, and proven instincts for release strategies, make him an ideal addition to our growing team. We at Black Bear are deeply excited to work alongside him in delivering transportive theatrical experiences to audiences.”
Added Spitz: “I’m thrilled to join Black Bear at this exciting moment, as they enter an ambitious new chapter. I look forward to working with Ben, as well as the great distribution teams across Black Bear’s other territories, to create theatrical events that drive audiences to theaters and connect with viewers across the country.”
Spitz joins Black Bear from Lionsgate, where he served for 18 years as president of distribution. All told, the films he helped released earned north of $10 billion at the global box office, from such blockbuster franchise as The Hunger Games, John Wick and The Expendables — to Oscar players including best-picture winner Crash, La La Land, Precious and Fahrenheit 9/11. He also handled Knives Out, The Blair Witch Project and The Big Sick for Lionsgate, as well as delivering films to underserved audiences, such as Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film in domestic box office history, Code Black’s All Eyez on Me, Kevin Hart’s Let Me Explain and 19 Tyler Perry films.
Prior to Lionsgate, Spitz was with Artisan Films and its predecessor LIVE Entertainment. Earlier, he handled film sales for MGM Distribution and acquisitions for Mann Theaters.
Black Bear’s early distribution successes in the U.K., Ireland and Canada include Edward Berger’s Conclave, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, Sean Baker’s best picture winner Anora, Osgood Perkins’ Longlegs and The Monkey.
Black Bear’s production and financing business is known for its buzzy titles, and its upcoming slate is no exception as the fall film festival season gets underway, including Mackenzie’s Relay, starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James and Sam Worthington, and which Bleecker Street opens this month; Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, for Netflix; Guy Ritchie’s In the Grey, starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez, which Lionsgate is distributing; David Michôd’s Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney; Daniel Roher’s Tuner, starring Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman and Havana Rose Liu; Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, starring Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman; and Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass and Kurt Russell.
Other films currently in post-production include Ritchie’s Wife & Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike and Anthony Hopkins, and Ric Roman Waugh’s untitled action thriller starring Jason Statham.
Schwarzman founded Black Bear in 2011. The indie outfit has offices in Los Angeles and New York.