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From the "Biz" Archives: Werner Moves into Theatrical Distribution Position at Palm by Brian Brooks
(indieWIRE: 01.08.03) -- Already a fixture on the New York film scene at 28, Ryan Werner is settling into his new digs at Palm Pictures after serving as V.P. of Magnolia Pictures. The official announcement from Palm came yesterday, trumpeting Werner as the new Head of Theatrical Distribution for the audio/visual entertainment company. He is spearheading marketing, distribution and publicity for the company for eight to ten pictures per year, including Baltasar Kormakur's "The Sea" and "Fulltime Killer" by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai. Werner reports to Karol Martesko-Fenster, Head of Film & RES Media Group and David Koh, Head of Acquisitions & Production. Werner is also working closely with Koh to acquire films for theatrical and DVD distribution. While at Magnolia Pictures, Werner worked with the year-old distributor's chief Eammon Bowles on the releases of Jacques Audiard's "Read My Lips" and "Late Marriage" by Dover Kosashvili. Prior to Magnolia, Werner worked with Bowles as Vice President of Acquisitions & Distribution for the Shooting Gallery. Werner assisted with the launch of the Shooting Gallery Film Series as well as the releases of numerous films, including Mike Hodges' "Croupier," Bahman Ghobadi's Camera d'Or winner, "A Time for Drunken Horses," and Eric Mendelsohn's "Judy Berlin." He held positions at the Sundance Channel and the Independent Feature Project (IFP) during his early career and now serves as the programmer for the Woodstock Film Festival and he served on the 2003 Spirit Awards Committee for the Someone to Watch Award. "It was a hard decision to leave Magnolia. I learned an incredible amount from Eamonn Bowles and I'm very proud of what we accomplished both at Shooting Gallery and then at Magnolia," Werner told indieWIRE yesterday. Continuing he added, "I'm really excited about the opportunity I have at Palm." Werner also highlighted the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, where Palm will launch Baltasar Kormakur's latest film, "The Sea." It will release the movie this Spring. Palm Pictures was founded in 1998 by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Chris Blackwell who also founded Island Records, Island Pictures and Island Outpost. Palm Pictures' entertainment divisions include the film division, a music label, Manga Entertainment, sputnik7.com, epitonic.com, Arthouse Films and RES Media Group. [DISCLOSURE: indieWIRE Managing Member and Co-Founder Karol Martesko-Fenster is part of the management team of Palm Pictures.] | |
