Letterboxd: Building a Global Community of Film Lovers w David Larkin
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
Release Date: 06/27/2024
Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for World Cinema featuring Meret Ruggle
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
How can independent distributors build a sustainable future for world cinema in an era of content saturation and shrinking public support? In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Meret Ruggle, Co-head of Trigon Film, the Swiss foundation and distributor that has spent more than three decades championing outstanding films from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Meret shares how Trigon has developed a holistic and community-driven model for distribution, combining theatrical releases, educational outreach and its own VoD platform Filmingo to extend the life of its films and...
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How Independent Films Can Thrive in a Changing Market featuring Jonathan Sadler
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
Independent filmmakers face a fast-evolving landscape: rising costs, fragmented audiences, and tougher routes to market. Yet with more platforms and opportunities than ever before, smart strategies can still give films the best chance to succeed. In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jonathan Sadler — veteran marketer and author of Film Marketing and Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide. With over two decades of experience at companies including Universal Pictures, Momentum, Revolver, Warner Music and Arrow Films, Jonathan has worked on everything from Amélie and Lost in...
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From KNEECAP to FLOW: Inside Curzon's Marketing Playbook featuring Susie Bould
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
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...
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Bringing International Actions Films to the US Market featuring Maxwell Riesberg
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
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...
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Distributors on the Move: Insights from Europa Distribution's Groundbreaking Programme featuring Elin Boijens and Giulia Amadio
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
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...
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Building a New Theatrical Marketplace featuring Jackie Brenneman
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
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...
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Decentralising Distribution and Building the 'Shopify for Film' featuring Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
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,...
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Community is the Audience: A New Approach to Independent Film Success featuring Shawn Dawes
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
"Community isn’t just the audience—it is the audience. And that shift in thinking is where real change begins." – Shawn Dawes In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz is joined by filmmaker, producer, and platform founder Shawn Dawes, the visionary behind IndieScene—a new SaaS-based platform aiming to transform the independent film ecosystem through transparency, data, and community collaboration. With over 20 years in the creative industries—ranging from directing and development to producing and distribution—Shawn has firsthand experience of...
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Navigating the Future of Screen Entertainment featuring Guy Bisson
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Guy Bisson, Executive Director at Ampere Analysis, a leading firm in media and entertainment analytics. Guy brings over two decades of expertise in the global TV, film, and entertainment industries, offering unparalleled insights into the transformations reshaping content creation, distribution, and consumption. Together, they dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s entertainment landscape. Guy explores the ongoing impact of streaming, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic boom and the Hollywood strikes. Guy...
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Creating Big Screen Experiences for Passionate Fanbases featuring Shannah Miller and Lynne Schmidt
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
"Our goal is to make every theatrical release feel like an event." Lynne Schmidt, SVP Operations and Strategic Partnerships Fathom Entertainment In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz sits down with Shannah Miller, Vice President of Marketing, and Lynne Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Operations and Strategic Partnerships at Fathom Entertainment. Fathom has long been known as a leader in event cinema, bringing live performances, special screenings, and classic films to theaters worldwide. But as the theatrical landscape evolves, so has Fathom....
info_outlineDavid Larkin is Head of Business and Parnerships at Letterboxd, the global social network for grass-roots film discussion and discovery. In this episode we go 'under the hood' of the only film-centric social platform, to understand more about how it has successfully built a loyal community of 14mm+ film fans across the world. This includes how Letterboxd supports targeted film campaigns, understanding different industry-use cases on the site and insight into Letterboxd's big decision about including TV content.
In a wide ranging conversation, we also learn more about David's long and varied career as an executive and entrepreneur- including several successful exits - at the intersection of tech and entertainment as well as how and why he began his working life learning how to open manholes in New York City and his involvement in an outrageous pot-themed alteration of the Hollywood sign!