The Movie Marketing & Distribution Podcast

• From KNEECAP to FLOW: Inside Curzon's Marketing Playbook featuring Susie Bould

  In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz speaks with Susie Bould, Marketing Director at Curzon, the iconic UK exhibitor, distributor, and streaming platform. Susie shares how Curzon’s unique ecosystem and real-time audience data shape its marketing strategy, enabling bold, authentic campaigns that connect deeply with film lovers. She reveals how Curzon successfully shifted its demographic toward a younger audience, the creative tactics behind indie breakouts like Kneecap and Flow, and how agility and authenticity are driving modern film marketing. Susie also speaks candidly about her experience becoming disabled early in her career, how it shaped her leadership and problem-solving skills, and her views on inclusion and progress in the film industry. From data-driven decisions to cheeky Oscar-winning posters, from immersive family cinema to ensuring accessibility, this conversation offers a rare, inspiring look into how one of the UK's oldest cinema brands and distributor continue to innovate and bring in audiences for original stories. About Susie Bould Susie is Marketing Director at Curzon with 19 years experience in film and entertainment. Formerly at Lionsgate, Think Jam and Hyperlaunch, she is passionate about strategy, creativity, and connecting audiences with great cinema.

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• Bringing International Actions Films to the US Market featuring Maxwell Riesberg

  In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz is joined by Maxwell Riesberg, founder and CEO of Rascal (RSCL) Films – a bold new theatrical-first studio on a mission to bring international action films the big-screen releases they deserve. With a background that includes award-winning campaigns for A Quiet Place and Bumblebee, Maxwell shares how Rascal aims to become the 'A24 of action cinema' by combining cutting-edge AI dubbing technology, premium marketing, and a community-first approach to distribution. He explains how Rascal is building an identity-driven brand that speaks directly to underserved action fans across the U.S., why theatrical still matters, and how user-generated content is shaping the future of film marketing. A deep dive into genre strategy, branding, AI, and the power of building direct audience relationships — this is a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of film distribution. About Maxwell Riesberg Maxwell Riesberg is an accomplished producer, storyteller, and creative advertising professional, as well a seasoned entrepreneur with two successful exits. He is the Founder of RSCL, the first film distribution company devoted exclusively to action cinema. Built as a consumer-facing lifestyle brand, RSCL represents a radical rethinking of film distribution for the AI era, focused on building meaningful, direct relationships with audiences through exceptional international action films, innovative partnerships, and community building. Previously, Maxwell founded Paradise Creative, an advertising agency that specializes in theatrical trailers & digital campaigns for films and TV shows.  Maxwell led the company from a two-person upstart into an industry powerhouse, cementing the agency's status as a go-to partner for clients including Amazon Studios, Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, and many others.  In addition to generating millions of box office dollars and delivering untold eyeballs to streaming titles, Maxwell & the Paradise team garnered many notable awards, including seven wins at the prestigious Clio Awards.  Maxwell was Chief Executive Officer of the agency, until engineering his exit in 2021. Before that, Maxwell founded Lord Danger, a boutique commercial production company.  He developed an in-demand roster of bold commercial directors, sourcing their campaigns and managing their career trajectories.  Clients included Lawrence Lamont, Mike Diva, and Gille Klabin.  Maxwell worked hand-in-hand as producer on his clients' works, from conceptualization all the way through post-production.  Lord Danger created music videos for some of the biggest acts in music (Major Lazer, J. Cole, Steve Aoki, Big Sean, et al) as well as iconic commercials for house-name brands including 1-800-Contacts & Meow Mix.  Maxwell was Co-Chief Executive Officer of the company, leading it to its acquisition in 2015. Maxwell's work has been written about extensively, including in The Hollywood Reporter, Ad Age, Fast Company, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Indiewire, and CNN.  And Eater LA. Maxwell loves to travel, both abroad but also to the furthest reaches of Los Angeles in search of its best food.  When he's not on the road, he enjoys seeing (almost) every movie in theatres, appreciating dogs, rooting for Red Bull Formula 1 and (tragically) the Chicago Bears, and working on his tennis game.

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• Distributors on the Move: Insights from Europa Distribution's Groundbreaking Programme featuring Elin Boijens and Giulia Amadio

  In this special episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Elin Boijens (Searchers, Netherlands) and Giulia Amadio (BIM Distribuzione, Italy), two participants in Distributors on the Move, Europa Distribution’s pioneering professional exchange programme. Together, they reflect on the transformative impact of spending time embedded within each other’s companies and exploring the day-to-day realities of film distribution in a different market.  Giulia and Elin dive deep into the structural and strategic contrasts between the Italian and Benelux cinema landscapes—from differences in audience behavior, cinema-going habits, and marketing approaches to infrastructure realities, dubbing vs. subtitling preferences, and the role of distributor-owned cinemas. They discuss the challenge of attracting younger audiences in Italy, the power of subscription models in the Netherlands, and how local market conditions influence everything from trailer design to influencer collaborations. The episode also explores how each company tackled recent releases like The Apprentice and I'm Still Here, highlighting the nuances of political positioning, poster artwork choices, and physical event strategies. Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build campaigns for niche vs. broad audiences, the growing importance of creator partnerships, and the limitations of using digital campaign data in territories without direct ticketing insight. Offering a compelling case for greater cross-border learning and cooperation, Elin and Giulia speak to the intangible but powerful benefits of the exchange—how simply being in another distributor’s office and absorbing their team dynamics, workflows, and problem-solving approaches can inspire new thinking and lasting relationships. Through this process they suggest how shared challenges—and creative responses—can enrich the entire European film industry. About Elin Boijens Elin Boijens is the marketing coordinator of independent Benelux distributor Searchers. Her passion for promoting cinema started at various film theaters as well as children's film festivals and -education. Her background in exhibition provides her with valuable insights into the desires, needs, and obstacles for the moviegoing audience. As a young film marketing professional, Elin is thrilled to currently operate on the crossroads between arthouse and commercial films, challenged to reach an audience for the wide variety of films Searchers releases.   About Giulia Amadio Giulia Amadio is a marketing officer at BIM Distribuzione, an independent film distributor based in Rome, Italy. With an academic background in cinema and filmmaking, she has cultivated her passion for film promotion through a variety of professional experiences at film festivals and creative agencies. These roles have provided her with a well-rounded perspective on the film industry, blending strategic communication with a strong visual sensibility. Giulia is passionate about working at the intersection of creativity and strategy, helping to bring distinctive and diverse films to an ever-growing, engaged audience.   About Europa Distribution and Distributors on the Move Europa Distribution is the international association of independent film publishers and distributors, created in 2006. With around 130 leading independent distributors representing 32 countries in Europe and beyond, it acts as a network, a think tank and serves as the voice of the sector. Distributors on the Move is designed to offer marketing professionals who work in film distribution an immersive experience in a company abroad. The aim is to help creating personal and professional connections between distribution companies and their employees and to enhance international collaborations based on specific necessities.    

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• Building a New Theatrical Marketplace featuring Jackie Brenneman

  In this episode of The Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz welcomes Jackie Brenneman — a trailblazer in the cinema industry and President & CEO of Attend Theatrical Marketplace, Jackie shares the journey behind ATTEND, the groundbreaking platform she helped launch to empower filmmakers and exhibitors through smarter, more transparent theatrical distribution. A founding partner of The Fithian Group, Jackie brings years of leadership in policy, legal advocacy, and industry innovation. Previously Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), she played a pivotal role during the pandemic, securing over $16 billion in relief for entertainment venues through the “Save Our Stages” program. Jackie also founded the Cinema Foundation, launched National Cinema Day in the U.S., and spearheaded the first-ever State of the Cinema Industry Report. Jackie and Alex dive deep into the structural challenges of theatrical distribution, the opportunity for growth through data and partnership, and why the cinema remains a powerful — and deeply human — space for storytelling. A must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of film, audience connection, and rewriting the rules of theatrical success. In the episode you’ll discover: Why ATTEND is reimagining theatrical distribution with a “matchmaking” platform for filmmakers and exhibitors How data transparency and flexible deal terms can drive higher occupancy and lower distribution costs The role exhibitors can play in supporting mid-range films and rebuilding moviegoing habits What the creator economy means for the future of film marketing and distribution Lessons from launching National Cinema Day and securing historic government funding for theaters Why pricing, programming, and audience identity all matter more than ever in driving cinema attendance   About Jackie Brenneman Jackie Brenneman is a founding partner of The Fithian Group, a global cinema industry consultancy that partners with the creative community, movie theater owners, leading research firms and innovators to bring custom, market-ready solutions to the marketplace. Jackie is also the President and CEO of the Attend Theatrical Marketplace, Inc., a revolutionary new theatrical marketplace developed by The Fithian Group that aims to grow the theatrical marketplace by increasing both the number and range of movies exhibitors can offer and helping them program and market the titles. Prior to forming The Fithian Group, Jackie was Executive Vice President and General Counsel to the National Association of Theatre Owners. In those roles, Jackie was a frequent speaker and panelist at global exhibition events on the importance of data and optimism in shaping the narrative and future of the industry. During the pandemic she achieved $16.1 billion for venue-specific “Save Our Stages” COVID relief grants, with specific grants targeted for movie theater owners. She also formed the Cinema Foundation and acted as its founding President. In that role, she implemented first-ever National Cinema Day in the United States and oversaw the release of the inaugural State of the Cinema Industry Report. Jackie has been awarded the Top Woman in Global Exhibition (2023), Industry Figure of the Year (2022) and Ken Mason Award for achievement in cinema (2022). 

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• Decentralising Distribution and Building the 'Shopify for Film' featuring Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood

  In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz is joined by Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood, co-founders of Olyn, a new digital platform aiming to redefine how independent films are released and monetized. Drawing on their backgrounds in technology, entrepreneurship, and film production, Ana and Malcolm discuss how Olyn seeks to provide filmmakers with direct-to-consumer tools — enabling them to maintain ownership, access audience data, and control the viewing experience. The conversation covers core platform functionalities, including custom landing pages, geo-blocking, revenue splits, and scarcity-based release strategies. The episode also explores broader shifts in the film industry: the growing demand for alternative distribution models, the role of audience data in decision-making, and how creators are beginning to apply startup thinking to their release strategies. Ana and Malcolm share examples of early user behavior, evolving filmmaker mindsets, and the rationale behind their  business model. This conversation provides a detailed look at the evolving digital infrastructure for independent film — and how tools like Olyn could help bridge the gap between creation, monetization, and long-term audience engagement. About Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood Ana Maria Jipa is co-founder of Olyn, a media-fintech company transforming how digital content is monetized and distributed. An entrepreneur since the age of 19, Ana built her career across investment funds, public institutions, and global tech platforms—spanning San Francisco to Europe. Renowned for her expertise in product development, fintech infrastructure, and API systems, she has consistently championed equitable value exchange models that allow consumers to earn through participation. Olyn has raised Silicon Valley capital and secured strategic partnerships with global studios, positioning the company at the forefront of creator-led media distribution.  Malcolm Wood is the co-founder of Olyn, a successful entrepreneur, award-winning film  producer, and environmental advocate with a strong track record in market expansion and global media ventures. Recognized as one of Asia’s most influential figures by Tatler, Malcolm has led multimillion-dollar projects across Media, Technology, Hospitality, and Sustainability. His film credits include A Plastic Ocean, described by Sir David Attenborough as “the most important film of our time”, The Last Glaciers, an IMAX documentary spotlighting the global climate crisis and his most recent environmental documentary with Oscar winner James Reed from my Octopus Teacher, The White Mountain. Malcolm blends business with a commitment to making a positive impact. At Olyn, Malcolm brings deep industry insight and a relentless focus on impact for global growth—reimagining film distribution to empower filmmakers with ownership, direct monetization, and freedom from gatekeepers. Find out more about Olyn at www.Olyn.com

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