An experienced executive, Kent Sanderson, has been elevated to the position of president at Bleecker Street, an independent movie studio. The studio made this announcement on Wednesday, highlighting that Sanderson has been part of the company since its establishment in 2014 as it marks its tenth year.
Before this promotion, Sanderson was responsible for overseeing the acquisition and additional distribution efforts at Bleecker Street. In this role, he led the selection of films for Bleecker's lineup and the strategy for bringing movies to home entertainment, including co-founding and co-managing the home entertainment label, DECAL, in collaboration with NEON. He will continue to be under the supervision of CEO Andrew Karpen.
Additionally, significant advancements have been made, including the promotion of Vikki Hart from Director of Sales, Distribution to Vice President of Distribution & Sales, and the elevation of Miranda King from Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions to Vice President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions. This new leadership comes at a time when Bleecker Street commemorates its 10th anniversary and is actively working on curating a varied and compelling collection of highly-anticipated films.
Founder and CEO Andrew Karpen expressed his appreciation for the team at Bleecker Street, recognizing their dedication to film. He particularly praised Kent, acknowledging his effective leadership and ability to balance the creative and financial aspects of an independent film studio. Karpen is optimistic about the future of Bleecker Street and its next phase. He also emphasized the critical role of the team in the company's success and commended Kent, Vikki, and Miranda for their achievements over the past decade.
In response, Sanderson expressed his enthusiasm for assuming the new role, marking a momentous milestone for the company. He looks forward to expanding the company's film slate, which includes a diverse range of movies such as sasquatch-themed films, outer space thrillers, Bette Midler's return to lead in a theatrical role after more than a decade, and the latest work from esteemed filmmaker Mike Leigh. Sanderson conveyed his pride in being part of the Bleecker family and eagerly anticipates sharing more of the remarkable upcoming movies.
Hart has a lengthy history with Bleecker Street and previously collaborated with Karpen at Focus Features. As an essential member of the distribution team, Hart is instrumental in actualizing Bleecker's emphasis on theatrical releases. She will continue to work under the guidance of head of theatrical distribution Kyle Davies and contribute to building on the success of recent releases such as Golda, Waitress: The Musical, I.S.S., and One Life.
King joined Bleecker Street from ICM's talent department in 2019. As a senior figure in the acquisitions team, King plays a crucial role in shaping the creative direction of Bleecker Street's lineup strategy. This includes investing in productions in various stages, such as the Cannes-premiering “Rumours” featuring Cate Blanchett, and the upcoming “The Fabulous Four” with Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler, and acquiring completed films like “One Life” with Anthony Hopkins and Ezra with Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro. She will report to Sanderson in her continued role at the company.
In addition to Karpen and Sanderson, the Bleecker Street senior executive leadership team also consists of: Irwin Reiter, CFO; Tyler DiNapoli, President of Marketing, Media & Research; Myles Bender, President of Marketing & Creative Advertising; Kyle Davies, President of Distribution; and Rachel Allen, SVP of Publicity.
Recent Bleecker Street movies include “One Life” with Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins and David and Nathan Zellner’s “Sasquatch Sunset” featuring Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough, which got a lot of praise at this year’s Sundance, Berlinale, and SXSW before being released nationwide this month. More movies coming soon from Bleecker include Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson’s ensemble comedy “Rumours,” starring Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander. It will have its world premiere at Cannes before coming to US theaters later this year, and “Ezra” by director Tony Goldwyn, which will be in US theaters on May 31.
Variety first reported the news.
