Bob Berney

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Bob Berney (born 1953) is an American

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who coinvented scuba diving and foretold the impact of pollution on climate change. Directed by Liz Garbus, the film is scheduled to be released on October 22, 2021. In May 2021 the company released Fatima, a historical drama directed by Marco Pontecorvo and starring Joaquim de Almeida, Goran Višnjić, Stephanie Gil, Lúcia Moniz, Sônia Braga and Harvey Keitel.[1][2][3]

Berney has guided the acquisition, marketing and/or distribution of many notable independent films, including

Pan’s Labyrinth and Drive.[4] The films he has been associated with have won multiple Academy Awards and grossed more than $1 billion at the North American box office.[5]

Early years

Berney studied film history and production at the

Hearts of Darkness) and Orion Classics (Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, Prisoner of the Mountains, Ulee's Gold). Berney released Todd Solondz’s Happiness under the Good Machine Releasing banner and Christopher Nolan’s Memento under the Newmarket Films banner. The success of the latter film led to the formation of Newmarket Films as a theatrical distribution company.[7]

2000 to 2005

In October 2000 Berney became SVP, Marketing & Distribution at

Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Safety of Objects and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In 2002 Berney founded Newmarket Films’ theatrical distribution division with Newmarket Capital Group owners Will Tyrer and Chris Ball.[9] Their releases included Real Women Have Curves, Whale Rider, Monster and The Passion of the Christ
.

Initial tenure with Picturehouse

In 2005 Berney was hired to launch

La Vie En Rose, which garnered Marion Cotillard an Oscar for Best Actress; and Sergei Bodrov’s Genghis Khan biopic Mongol, an Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.[11]

2009 to 2012

Berney and producer/financier

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, The Rum Diary and In the Land of Blood and Honey, Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut.[13]

Reopening Picturehouse

In 2013 Berney and his wife Jeanne took ownership of Picturehouse and relaunched the label as an independent theatrical distributor. That same year they released Nimród Antal's

Grammy Award nominee for Best Music Film. The company's other initial releases included Adriana Trigiani’s Big Stone Gap, starring Ashley Judd, and Christian Keller's Gloria, with Sofía Espinosa.[14]

Amazon Studios

Berney joined

Amazon Studios in 2015 as head of marketing and distribution. There he built and oversaw the company's theatrical distribution arm and oversaw the release of more than 50 films including double Academy Award winner Manchester by the Sea (the first Oscar nominee for Best Picture released by a streaming platform), The Big Sick (Oscar nominee, Best Original Screenplay), Cold War (nominated for three Oscars, including Best Director) and The Salesman (Oscar winner, Best Foreign Language Film).[15]

Picturehouse acquires Fatima

In 2019 Picturehouse acquired Fatima, a historical drama directed by Marco Pontecorvo and starring Joaquim de Almeida, Goran Višnjić, Stephanie Gil, Lúcia Moniz, Sônia Braga and Harvey Keitel.[1]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ a b Fleming, Mike (October 28, 2019). "Bob & Jeanne Berney Reopen Picturehouse With North American Rights Deal For 'Fatima'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  2. ^ Thompson, Anne (September 1, 2021). "NatGeo Unveils Four Documentaries at Telluride, from 'Fauci' to 'Becoming Cousteau'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  3. ^ Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2021). "Nat Geo Documentary Films Set To Dominate Telluride Film Festival; 'Fauci', 'The Rescue', 'Becoming Cousteau' And More To Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  4. ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (December 19, 2004). "The Distribution Artist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  5. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (June 29, 2019). "OKC native Bob Berney leaves Amazon Studios". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  6. ^ Becker, Stephen (March 14, 2009). "SXSW Film: A Conversation with Bob Berney". Art and Seek. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  7. ^ Nichols, Max (October 3, 2005). "Love of OKC Theaters Started Bob Berney's Path to Head of Film Company". The Journal Record. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  8. ^ Moss, Linda (October 1, 2000). "IFC Adds Films Unit". Multichannel News. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  9. ^ Harris, Dana (July 30, 2002). "HBO 'Curves' into distrib'n". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  10. ^ Thompson, Anne (March 4, 2008). "Warner Bros. shape shifts". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  11. ^ McIntyre, Gina (February 6, 2007). "Del Toro's 'Labyrinth' gains Oscar momentum". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  12. The Wrap
    . Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  13. ^ Smith, Nigel M. (September 27, 2010). "GK Films Branches Out with Bob Berney to Form FilmDistrict". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  14. The Wrap
    . Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  15. ^ Nickolai, Nate (June 24, 2019). "Bob Berney to Leave Amazon Studios' Head of Marketing and Distribution Position". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-08.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Berney&oldid=1191241850"