NEW YORK – July 11, 2023 – AMC Networks announced today the appointment of Scott Shooman as Head of its Film Group, encompassing IFC Films, RLJE Films and films for the Shudder streaming service. In this role, Shooman oversees acquisitions, theatrical film distribution, production and development across all three of these distinctive and differentiated film brands, as well as the IFC Center, reporting to Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks.
“Movies are an important focal point for our company, and we are thrilled to have Scott leading our efforts across our three distinctive, successful and well-established film brands – IFC Films, RLJE Films and Shudder,” McDermott said. “He has extensive background in the industry, but also a fresh eye and a filmmaker-first approach that aligns perfectly with our strong history of elevating independent and thought-provoking storytelling.”
Said Shooman: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and work alongside one of the most passionate teams in the business in supporting and bringing truly independent and boundary pushing films to passionate fans across our IFC Films, RLJE Films and Shudder ecosystems. We will continue to leverage the synergy of our great brands and are incredibly excited about our robust slate of films which underscore the type of innovative, breakthrough stories for which we are known and continue to elevate. AMC Networks’ Film Group is uniquely positioned with this suite of divisions to broadly capitalize on our reputation for quality, curation, and commerciality across all windows in this moment of evolution for filmgoing.”
Previously, Shooman was senior vice president of acquisitions and production for IFC Films, for which he led the acquisitions team in acquiring nearly 30 films per year for both the IFC Films and IFC Midnight slate in all stages of production, from script stage to finished films. Prior to that, he held senior executive roles at Endeavor Content, CBS Films, Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group working across such notable films as INSIDIOUS, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, WE OWN THE NIGHT, HELL OR HIGH WATER, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, HANNA, MACHETE, THE RAID, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and ATTACK THE BLOCK.
Since starting at IFC Films, Shooman has been involved in the acquisition and distribution of films such as WATCHER, SKINAMARINK, THE LOST KING, BAD AXE and CORSAGE.
Shooman’s appointment comes on the heels of a successful run for IFC Film’s BLACKBERRY, directed by Matt Johnson, which launched on May 12 in the U.S. and Canada hitting over $2.5 million in North American Box Office. IFC Films recently debuted the sci-fi comedy BIOSPHERE, starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass and will premiere the documentary LAKOTA NATION VS. UNITED STATES, directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli and executive produced by Sarah Eagle Heart and Mark Ruffalo, on July 14. The high stakes thriller SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, starring Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman, will hit theaters on July 28.
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About AMC Networks Inc.
AMC Networks (Nasdaq: AMCX) is a global entertainment company known for its popular and critically acclaimed content. Its brands include targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and the newest addition to its targeted streaming portfolio, the anime-focused HIDIVE streaming service, in addition to AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Studios), IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv and IFC Films. AMC Studios, the Company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation, is behind some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog and the Agatha Christie library. The Company also operates AMC Networks International, its international programming business, and 25/7 Media, its production services business.