Ryan Werner, Veteran Awards and Marketing Guru, Joins Neon as President of Global Cinema

by

Neon has appointed experienced film marketing and publicity specialist Ryan Werner as their new global cinema president, according to an announcement made on Wednesday from Cannes. The newly established position places Werner high up in Neon’s theatrical distribution hierarchy, with the esteemed studio looking to further broaden its influence within international cinema driven by auteurs.

Werner’s scheduling coincides with a hectic Cannes schedule for Neon, as they present five films in this year’s lineup – such as Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” and Julia Ducournau’s “Alpha,” both competing, and Raoul Peck’s “Orwell: 2+2=5,” shown as a special presentation. This news comes after an impressive awards season for the company, culminating in Sean Baker’s “Anora” claiming last year’s Palme d’Or and subsequently receiving five Oscars, including best picture.

Tom Quinn, founder and CEO of Neon, expressed that Ryan’s limitless appreciation, enthusiasm, and intuition for filmmaking are exceptional. With his extensive experience, strong connections, and impressive history, we eagerly anticipate further developing Neon as a top destination for innovative cinema. It would be an understatement to say we’re excited about collaborating with Ryan; it’s one of the most significant events of the year.

Werner departs from Cinetic Marketing, the small agency he founded in 2014, to join Neon. Over the last ten years, he and his team have established themselves as a crucial part of film festival infrastructure, organizing many acclaimed publicity and award-winning campaigns for independent films. They have worked on five Best Picture Oscar winners and six of the past ten Palme d’Or recipients. Cinetic Marketing has had a significant impact at major festivals, particularly in Cannes, where Werner has been a powerful yet discreet figure behind the scenes. Despite his departure, Cinetic Marketing plans to carry on independently, as confirmed by the companies.

In the year 2021, Werner joined forces with Jonathan Sehring and Janus Films to establish Sideshow, a distribution venture focused on showcasing modern art-house masterpieces alongside the esteemed collection of Janus Films. This collaboration introduced critically acclaimed international films like Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car”, Jerzy Skolimowski’s “EO”, and Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” to U.S. viewers.

In my role as a dedicated fan, I’m thrilled to share that at Neon, I will be diving headfirst into the realm of theatrical distribution. My responsibilities will encompass spearheading our release strategies, fostering connections with filmmakers and cinema exhibitors across the globe. It’s anticipated that I’ll be a pivotal player in refining Neon’s marketing approach and awards strategy as we expand our production and global acquisition endeavors.

Werner expressed great enthusiasm about the chance to work alongside Tom and Neon’s outstanding team,” he said. “I hold them in high regard for their achievements. This collaboration represents a unique opportunity to collaborate with some of the best minds in cinema. frankly, I’m overjoyed at the prospect.

Read More

2025-05-15 16:24