Neon has tapped Cinetic founder Ryan Werner to fill the newly created role of president of global cinema, where he will help lead distribution efforts for the studio behind Best Picture-winner “Anora.”
Werner founded Cinetic Marketing in 2014, where he helped guide the release of titles like “Drive My Car,” “Flow” and “All We Imagine as Light.”
At Neon, Werner will focus full-time on theatrical distribution and will “deepen the studio’s commitment to creative, filmmaker-first releases,” according to a press release. He will work closely with Neon’s senior leadership to elevate the studio’s marketing and release strategies as the company continues its expansion in both production and global distribution.
This is the latest move from Neon amidst the Cannes Film Festival, as the studio tapped Alison Cohen as general counsel and president of business and legal affairs earlier this week. Neon also struck a first-look deal with filmmaker Osgood Perkins, whose films “Longlegs” and “The Monkey” were both hits for the studio.
“Ryan’s taste, passion, and instincts for cinema are boundless,” said Neon CEO/Founder Tom Quinn in a statement. “Together, combined with Ryan’s 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.”
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Tom and the exceptional team at Neon,” added 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.”
Cinetic Marketing will continue to operate independently and Courtney Ott has been elevated to lead the company.
“I have felt like the luckiest person in the world getting to create Cinetic Marketing with an incredible team of film lovers,” Werner said in a statement. “We have been together for the vast majority of my time here. We created this to support filmmakers and in the process have been surrounded by some of the most creative and brilliant people on both sides of the camera. It’s bittersweet to leave the team and the work we did behind, but they will be in the extremely capable hands of my long-term collaborator and friend Courtney Ott. There’s nothing she can’t do and I am excited to see what comes next.”
“Ryan has been an incredible leader, collaborator, and friend over the years, and I am so proud of the work we have done together. I have no doubt that we will continue to find ways to collaborate in the future,” said Ott. “I am honored to be continuing to work alongside an incredible team at Cinetic Marketing, and to keep building on what Ryan started many years ago. The passion and inspiration for supporting filmmakers will continue to be our priority.”
